Weight Weenies

A question for you who normally wear Castelli.
Have you noted any changes in their sizes?
Are the new crop of bib shorts similarly sized as the 2015-2019 line was?
I used Large at bibs and L and XL at tops. But last top i got felt larger.
Also heard the bibs have been changed?

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I don't know if I "normally" wear Castelli, but I have bought and worn various Castelli items over the years. I've found their sizing incredibly inconsistent over the years and various lines, with no clear or consistent standards for whether an item is a "race" or "relaxed" fit. I do feel, in general, as though they are getting larger over the years. I remember in the somewhat distant past purchasing a pair of "XL" size bibs which were comically too small for my then 6'1" 175 lbs (80 kilo) frame, as in I could not even get them over my legs; I've not had that issue in recent years, even with the "race" fit bibs, despite adding about 10 lbs (4-5 kilos) since then. I think one issue is that Castelli uses various factories in eastern europe and asia to actually manufacture their gear, and as a result, their sizing is something of a crap shoot.

I have in my cycle wardrobe M,L & XL Castelli items, but in general I'd say they've got more relaxed over the last few years.

Haven't noticed a change in bibs.

However, different product lines vary massively. Their original Gabbas, I wear a size small pretty comfortably for aero reasons (...bearing in mind I'm about 6 foot-2). Their current range, I'm a large, or my shoulders would tear it apart. Part of this is that they took all the stretch out of the fabric.

Not sure if you noticed all the lines of jerseys and bibs have different fits like the Aero, Performance and on the other end of the scale Comfortable. It seems as though most manufacturers are doing this fit system were typically race fit is the tightest of all which means going up one size for me and then standard which means staying at my normal sizing and then relaxed meaning going down one size.
For me Castelli is typically a XXL for jerseys but I do have a couple jerseys at XL which feel the same in size. When you are on the Castelli site browsing jerseys or bibs and then scroll down you will see what fit it is with a little symbol to the side and when you hover your mouse over the symbol it shows the text, "fit tool" but you cant click on it ffs.
Haha I hope this is a little clearer than mud.

Castelli free aero rc, would a size medium be almost like the previous large??
Or do these fit same? I've seen complaints of the more forward positioned chamois which is a bit worrying.

Free Aero RC fits tighter than last gen aero series. If you have a higher torso:leg ratio, the tight bibs will not work for you.

Climbers SL jersey fits tighter than the last non-SL Climbers jerseys.

I would assume if its an aero fit then its going to be like race fit which means tight fit. I am not as familiar with their bibs as I am with the jerseys since I dont care much for their chamois. Their site has free returns if you spend enough for the free shipping which I am sure the bibs cost more than the free shipping. Their site also has pretty good sizing info.

jlok wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 3:01 am

Free Aero RC fits tighter than last gen aero series. If you have a higher torso:leg ratio, the tight bibs will not work for you.

Climbers SL jersey fits tighter than the last non-SL Climbers jerseys.

Ah, i get it. So it would be safe to say that i would use large. I use medium on all other bib shorts.

Yes. In addition to the above, their free aero range bibs are getting longer in the leg and a little higher around the front. On the aero erseys, the competizione is obv way different e.g. comp medium fits like free aero xl, but across the race cut range, they seem to be growing in size across the shoulder, waist and arms. I used to run xl now comfortably run L, even after gaining weight. But take my sample of 1 with a grain of salt.

My 2020- Free Aero Race 4.0 bib straps are way shorter than my 2017-2019 era Free Aero Race bib straps. Aero Race 6.0 jerseys are slightly smaller than previous generation aero jerseys too.

TobinHatesYou wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 5:36 am

Aero Race 6.0 jerseys are slightly smaller than previous generation aero jerseys too.

This. I used to fit Castelli/Sportful L just about perfectly, and recently purchased a Free Aero 6.0, had to return it because L had become way to small for me. Hoping XL would fit better, hasn't arrived yet.

mrlobber wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 6:04 am

TobinHatesYou wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 5:36 am

Aero Race 6.0 jerseys are slightly smaller than previous generation aero jerseys too.

This. I used to fit Castelli/Sportful L just about perfectly, and recently purchased a Free Aero 6.0, had to return it because L had become way to small for me. Hoping XL would fit better, hasn't arrived yet.

I will say that the Aero Race 6.0 and San Remo 4.x are the best kits I've ever owned for sweat management / wicking.

The jackets are definitely bigger now and I've moved from L to M in the Gabba, Perfetto and Alpha lines. I think the sizing is a bit more realistic now as I am usually an S in normal, everyday t-shirts and jackets, and M or S in most other brands' cycling apparel.

TobinHatesYou wrote: ↑

Fri Sep 01, 2023 5:36 am

My 2020- Free Aero Race 4.0 bib straps are way shorter than my 2017-2019 era Free Aero Race bib straps. Aero Race 6.0 jerseys are slightly smaller than previous generation aero jerseys too.

Never noticed that, but yeah. Here we have free aero RC 2022, free aero 2017/18, and free aero 4. All size L. The free aero RC are 30-40mm longer. I have to pull/scrunch them up to stop them annoying me behind the knee.

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