I’m curious…I’ve recently joined a couple of Rapha club rides of various sorts, and noticed lots of Rapha jerseys (and socks) being worn, but very few Rapha bibs or shorts paired with them. I’m not suggesting that one must pair kit (I mismatch all the time), and I haven’t tried their bibs myself, but it was just something I observed and wondered if it’s a deliberate thing, or just happenstance.
I noticed the same when I joined at the start of this year after a few sporadic guest rides last year.
A lot of MAAP bibs. However, I’ve noticed a massive shift with the pro team bibs iii that came out in spring. Everyone now has them.
I bought a pair and I can hand on heart say they are the best bibs I own. Better than my castelli, universal colours and MAAP team evo.
I don’t have any Rapha bibs to compare them to as they are my first pair of Rapha bibs. I’ll definitely buy more of these though.
The longer term members have discussed the real jump in quality from the last lot of years.
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I own 4-5 pairs, and every single one has developed a hole right above the butt crack. This is a known issue according to Rapha, and it occurs when the nose of your saddle rubs against it when standing at lights etc. However I’ve yet to experience that with any other brand.
For that reason I’ve stopped buying them. Which is too bad because I find them quit comfortable.
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I bought the core bibs 6 years ago when restarted cycling. They were semitransparent 3/4 year later with like 3-5h/week. Never considered Rapha again 
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Very much this
Their core line is super low quality for the price
I really think their pro line is about the only quality left, but for that price they’re in a competitive space with brands that I get discounts on thanks to EC
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I have a lot of pro teams bibs (thanks to friends and family sales from HQ). Around 10 pairs. They have the best pad and hold of any bibs I own, but pretty much all of them have loose stitching or holes. I wouldn’t spend anywhere near RRP for them.
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Unfortunitly fit is often personal and it takes some time/money to find what works, as well as what you desire.
I bought their Classic bibs 5+ years ago and the pad felt like a diaper, way too big for me. I’m 6’ 2" and 34" waist, but my friend who is more slim got on well with the pad and didn’t have the same impression. I thought the material felt premium and aside from the pad, overall contoured well to the body.
The previous version Rapha Pro bibs always felt a bit plasticy to the touch and I was wary of the pad, it was largely one piece, one density with no shaping or tapering at the edges. It didn’t seem to match the performance message that was being promised by the brand - my highly subjective opinion.
It’s been hard to go away from Assos and more recently Q36.5, as I feel the pad, materials and contour is great and I’m happy to pay a bit more.
The updated Rapha Pro (pad) does seem intriguing and I’d probably consider them when I need a new pair.
Every pair I’ve owned has developed separation between the edge of the chamois and the external fabric. Castelli bibs have not — even very old shorts. I’m 140lbs and ride a 142mm Power with a slick top. Which is to say, there is nothing remarkable I can think of that explains this other than manufacturing.
My Core bibs have been fine and a few years old but dont get thst much usage. Comfort wise they are fine but if i recall they suffer from the modern bibshort trend of being too long in the leg for their size. I probably wouldn’t choose them except to match other kit or unless there was a good deal to be had.
I love rapha jerseys but have castelli bibs. One main deterrent is that I don’t like bibs with the logo stuck on as they look rubbish once they start cracking (which always seems very early).
Yes, you need a vey good friend to let you know on a ride that your bib shorts are ready for turbo use.
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Leg length was the issue that stopped me buying them, too, @Tim_Wellman
Like most bike parts, bibs are wear items. When you actually use them, they won’t last forever.
For all the popular brands, you’ll find plenty of people complaining about disintegrating bibs. I generally like Castelli Premio Black, but despite the price tag they don’t last very long for me. I’ve had a pad come loose (probably from rubbing against the stitching), a pad disintegrated (the sitbone padding came loose), and the material becomes transparent over time, similar to the Core bibs.