CastelliMen's Free Aero Race Bib Shorts ( Discontinued )(Return to Product Page)

Castelli is one of my favorite apparel suppliers and this bib is why, For the price these outperform anything I have ridden and I see them everywhere now so it must be catching on. In the morning when I go to the drawer, I pull these out first!

In the last year, I have made the transition from shorts to bib shorts. The Castelli Men's Free Aero Bib Shorts provide all the benefits of no slippage, perfect placement and no constriction around the abdomen. I am 5'11 and 165lb and the large size fits to perfection. I also really enjoy the mesh top portion which is extremely well ventilated. They cost a bit more, but feel great!

This is the first Castelli product I've ever purchased - usually I just buy Pearl Izumi's best bib shorts. The size large Castelli is smaller than the size medium PI, but I'm able to squeeze into them and once on they feel great. I have a long torso relative to my waist size and I find these bib straps more comfortable than those of the PIs. The true testament to their comfort is that I don't think about them at all when I'm riding.

A thread came loose on the chamois after the first wash, but after four washes now it hasn't gotten worse.

I tried out the Castelli Body Paint bibs last year and love them. Expecting the Free Aero Race to be very close, I am certainly pleased. Fit is great, comfortable, excellent chamois. They are a little sturdier than the Body Paint, which is what I was looking for as after a year of use the Body Paint are starting to show wear a bit. I hope these hold up a bit better, though it is too early to tell.

I got these for a great price, around what PI PRO go on sale for. I feel they are a more comfortable bib than the PI, and while that is still a lot of money, they are well worth it.

I love Castelli bibs. The Progetto X2 chamois is simply the best on the market, it's not bulky and has just enough padding in all the right places. The overall fit is excellent. The upper fabric is so comfortable that you really don't even feel like you're wearing bibs. Great compression on the legs, too. I also appreciate how low the front panel drops, allowing you to answer nature's call without having to contort yourself into some sort of hunchback. My only complaint about these is durability. On the front of the bibs at the top of the chamois stitching (where the bottom of my jersey rubs against it), the fabric is already pilling after only a handful of rides. I worry this will eventually become a hole.

Bought this on one of Biketiresdirect.com's daily deals, and it is an AWESOME value. I normally wear high-end Assos and Gore bib shorts, and the Castelli Aero Race Bib Short is as good or better. I actually prefer the fit of these, and the fabric, over Assos F1 Mille. And I like the Progetto pad as well. I'm 5'9 tall, 165 lbs, 33 waist, and the Large fits perfectly, medium was too tight. Terrific service from BTD as well, kudos! If they offered the same price again, I'd buy another!

I've been buying different types of mid range bib shorts to see which I like best and so far these are my favorite.

I ordered a Medium size after reading that these sizes are closer to that of a European size. I normally wear a small in club style mid range bibs and a medium in the tighter pro style bibs. These are what I'd call mid to high materials and I feel I made a good choice in going with Medium over small as they do run a little small.

I haven't found much I don't like about these yet. The style of the cut of the chest bib straps is what free denotes in the name and it does fit differently than the other bibs I own where the straps go over my nipples and could potentially rub them (has never happened on any of my bibs) and I don't know if its necessary or not but I can see where in these since they don't rub against them it could make a difference... I don't hate it.

After years of riding $100 bibs, I stepped up for these Castelli's back in January. Bought one pair. I now own four. The most comfortable chamois imaginable! Why do so many manufacturers make their chamois with corduroy ribs and such?! The chamois flexes naturally on the saddle and never feels bulky, yet also provides good comfort. My rides are typically 30-50 miles. They also have good protection up front and I experience no numbness as I have had with some other bibs. The compression on your thighs is firm, but not strangling (I'm XXL with 25 thighs) and the fabric warms up and the fit eases after just a couple of minutes. Excellent construction throughout. Nice bit of graphic flare without being too loud. Love 'em!

My first pair of Castellis, and I'm a believer!! About me I'm 5'9, 168 lbs, with (I think) average thighs.... I bought the Large size and they are snug but not too tight. The shoulder straps feel a bit snug at first, but once on the bike, and after a few wearings, the fit is perfect for me. As some have mentioned the length on the shorts may be a BIT on the short side compared to some others, but I like it, I don't care for some shorts today that seem to hit your knees, so this may be a personal choice. The cut in the front of the shorts is on the lower side which is great for mid-ride nature breaks (as Phil and Paul would say - ha ha ha). All in all, a great investment, and I'll definitely be putting this on my Christmas wish list. More color options would be nice, but that's a minor nit for a great pair of bibs. Get yours now!

Century riding often

Excellent fit and compression. Nice chamois. Could be a little longer

My bib inventory looks like this...only Castelli. My friends ride my 'other' brands castoffs. They will never get my Castelli bibs.

I bought these for the chammie. I normally get regular but these are tight. After riding a while, they seem to loosen up

The most comfortable bib shorts I have worn. Excellent padding, no points of discomfort, above average durability.

my first pair of bib shorts. Researched for days before pulling the trigger. Love 'me! Great fit and very comfortable.

I have many different bibs from most major vendors. I've used these bibs for about 1 year maybe 30 times. The stickers are all delaminating (most other manufactures have figured this out)--gentle wash, never used dryer. And, the pad is holding up okay. Frankly, I think Capo for same price point is probably a better buy, at least for me.....

Paid a little extra to get these shorts, it was well worth it. They work flawlessly and fit comfortably. I am 5' 11 185 and the XL fits great. I did not realize this is part of Castelli's Rosso Corsa line.

These bibs are awesome. The Chamois is very well padded and the leg grippers do exactly what they should on these bibs. I'd recommend them to anyone!

I've only had these bibs through the winter season, so only one ride outside but several on indoor trainer and spin classes. The chamois is fantastic! Very comfortable and contours well to the body. It truly does feel invisible to the skin. I can't yet speak for it's long distance comfort. The fabric and construction are excellent and offer solid support and compression without feeling constrictive. I also love the styling on the black/black kit - just enough graphic edge without being gaudy.

My caution on the fit is this The free aero design sets the straps wide apart across your chest and is deeply cut down the front. I'm a 50-something ex-track and Crit racer and 6'-1205. If you've got a bit of a belly (like me) these bibs don't give the gut supporting (hiding!! ) effect of higher-cut bibs. Also, the wide-set of the support straps takes them along the outer edges of my rib cage and outside my nipples. This is great for cooling but does force me to wear band-aids as the straps ride against the side of my nipples rather than over them. However, this issue may only arise based upon your chest size.

The best thing about this short is its snug and compressive fit. Others recommend ordering one size up, but I order two sizes up. At 6 feet and 185 pounds I no longer have a 25-year-old physique, but I do not have a potbelly. The short is still tight across the thighs and snug over the shoulders. They remain comfortable with no sag over 25 to 50 mile brisk daily road rides. I like the minimalist chamois better than my more thickly padded Assos. One improvement that I would welcome is heavier gauge fabric in the shoulder straps, along the lines of the Assos. The Castelli tends to bunch at the shoulder.