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It's simply heavenly. You stand at the start of the marathon full of anticipation, surrounded by enthusiastic cyclists who are looking forward to a dream day in the mountains with a gigantic panorama. And then this: after just a few kilometres, your bum starts to ache. Getting out of the saddle soon doesn't help any more and when you reach the summit, you feel as if Lucifer himself is working on your sit bones with his trident. It burns as if your own seat flesh is stewing over hellfire!
Up to 91 per cent with sitting problems
Seat discomfort is one of the most common problems when cycling. Depending on which study you look at, up to 91 per cent of cyclists are affected. The saddle is quickly identified as the main suspect, but the influence of cycling shorts on seating comfort is often overlooked. The right padding and small but crucial details are particularly important on long-distance rides. We tested 22 endurance shorts for women and men in the price range between 70 and 270 euros and were surprised at how well the current generation of shorts performed.
We tested these cycling shorts for women and men
12 Bib shorts for men
- Alé Voltage >> available here
- Castelli Unltd Endurance Bibs >> available here
- Dynamics Rapido II
- Gobik Lancer >> available here
- Gonso Ride Miles Bib Circle >> available here
- Gorewear Distance Bib Shorts+ 2.0 >> available here
- GripGrab Grinta Bib Shorts
- Löffler M Bike Bibshort Concept SQL >> available here
- Shimano Distanza Bib Shorts >> available here
- Sportful Supergiara 2 Bibshort >> available here
- SQlab SQ-Shorts One12R >> available here
- Van Rysel cycling shorts road bike short EDR Ultra >> available here
11 Bib shorts for women
- Alé Voltage >> available here
- Castelli Unlimited Endurance W DT Bibshort >> available here
- Gobik Ultralite 2.0
- Gonso Ride Mildes Bib Circle W >> available here
- Gorewear Distance Bib Shorts + 2.0 Womens >> available here
- GripGrab Women's Pacr Bib Shorts
- Löffler W Bike Bibshort Concept SQL >> available here
- Shimano W's Eleganza Bib Shorts
- Sportful Supergiara 2W Bibshort
- SQlab SQ-Shorts One12 Women >> available here
- Van Rysel cycling shorts road bike short summer Racer 3 ladies >> available here
Contemporary bib shorts with an elaborate finish
Particularly striking: many manufacturers join their bib shorts with as few seams as possible and keep them particularly flat to prevent chafing. Seamless, wide bib straps are now standard, attached leg cuffs such as Löffler's are the absolute exception. In our experience, the less playful the details of the trousers are, the better they work in the saddle. Some models manage with just one seam on the thigh and the leg cuffs no longer slip up when pedalling, even without sticky silicone tape. This is particularly beneficial for those who like to ride long distances. After many kilometres in the saddle, silicone strips can sting like whip lashes on the skin and seam knots can feel like pinpricks.
When it comes to the choice of materials, most manufacturers don't let themselves get carried away and use high-quality yarn. High-quality yarn with high elasticity and a robust surface surrounds the wearer with pleasant compression and still feels supple and soft - no longer a comparison to the often flabby fabrics of the past.
Focus on women
Manufacturers are responding to the fact that more and more women are discovering a love of long-distance cycling with high-quality women's models - some with clever details. Until a few years ago, women often had to make do with entry-level or waistband trousers, but now there is a large selection of bib shorts that are on a par with men's trousers. The female anatomy also plays a role here - for example in the straps. Some of these are centred and some are positioned on the outside of the chest, which can be an advantage, especially if you have a larger bust, as our long-distance expert Sandra Schuberth explains.
So-called drop-tail designs make it easier to pee - you simply pull the trousers down over your bum. And the padding is no longer nappy-soft, but offers real support for hours in the saddle. No pressure at all This is also the case with the men's trousers. Plush, soft "sofa cushions" can hardly be found in this test. Denser foams with a lower height also promise good support in the long term.
SQlab is taking this trend to the extreme with its ultra-firm padding, which is only four to six millimetres thick (also available from Löffler). Well-trained endurance athletes will feel like they're floating on clouds - but it's definitely not for occasional cyclists. So everything is fine? Not quite, because some manufacturers still rely on seat pads that can be compressed like a marshmallow. And here we can already see Lucifer standing at the summit waving his trident!
A lot has changed since our last test. Of course, at least 150 euros for one of the top shorts is a lot of money. However, many of the bib shorts are extremely elaborate: seamless leg cuffs that stay in place even without silicone; tight, robust materials that are also ultra-comfortable; seamless straps with perfect elasticity and seat pads that you won't want to get up from even after hours in the saddle. Well worth the investment! - Stefan Frey, BIKE editor
The evaluation at a glance
Here you can find an overview of all the partial scores and the overall score for each pair of trousers. You can find the detailed test of the individual models under the link further up in the article.
Bib shorts men
Bib shorts women
The cycling shorts in detail
These details and features particularly caught our eye during our test.
The perfect seat cushion: tips + facts + 1 myth
What does the ideal seat cushion look like? Soft and thick or thin and firm? It all depends. We reveal which factors play a decisive role in the choice of trouser padding.
1. the right width
As with the saddle, the width of the seat pad also plays an important role. This must match the individual sit bone distance. A distance of between ten and fourteen centimetres is typical for women and men. The basis for the choice should always be a measurement of the sit bones. Caution: Some seat cushions are stepped towards the outside and only offer maximum comfort in a narrow area. It is better to have thick trouser pads throughout.
2. the state of training
The more hours you spend in the saddle, the more "settled" your bum becomes. The sit bones get used to the pressure peaks with increasing training and develop a kind of insensitive callus, which hurts less quickly than in untrained riders. Well-trained bikers will therefore always be better able to cover many kilometres with a thin and tight seat pad. On short laps and for less trained riders, the padding can sometimes be a little thicker and softer.
3. the upholstery shape
Steps, bumps, seams - any unevenness on the seat cushion can lead to pressure points or friction in the long term. The seat pad should therefore be designed to be as flat and seam-free as possible. A small channel as a recess in the centre can possibly prevent pressure points in the perineal area. Important: There should not be too much fabric in the pad area, otherwise the familiar spongy nappy feeling will set in, the material will lie in waves, causing chafing and pinching blood vessels and nerve tracts.
4. the myth
Thick and soft equals comfortable. Many bikers have fallen for this misconception. In the meantime, many manufacturers have realised that the opposite is true. As a result, flatter and firmer padding is increasingly being used in endurance trousers. Thick, low-density padding quickly settles over time and often causes pressure problems in the perineal area. Tighter pads retain their shape over time and provide more support for the sit bones.
Stefan Frey
Editor
