• Specification

• Price: £150
• Sizes: XS-XXL
• Size tested: M
• Colours: Navy blue; black
• Website: Le Col

I experienced this on Alpe d’Huez on a recent holiday, and despite the sweat pouring off me in the midday sun, one area I didn’t feel hot was around my sit bones. It was trend that continued throughout my test rides, and left me in no doubt that, whether I sat right on the nose of my saddle at full gas or further back taking in the scenery, this was one of the most comfortable pads I’ve ever used.

The rest of the shorts back up the excellent performance of the chamois, with a compressive ‘Sport Lycra’ that helps wrap your muscles without feeling restrictive, with a leg length that I’d describe as ‘medium’. It’s not long in the way Rapha’s Pro Team winter bib shorts are, or as short like you tend to find the likes of Alé tend to be.

Up top, the bibs are also very good, featuring well made flat stitching to match the rest of the bibs, and laser cut holes to boost ventilation throughout. Make no mistake, the Pro bib shorts are absolutely ideal for summer use, or if you tend to run hot when working particularly hard.

What’s more is that they fit comfortably over the shoulders and cater well for my relatively long back, while the overall fit means that the shorts don’t feel like they are pulling up or overly tight in any area, not something I can say of every race-cut bib short I’ve tested in a medium (my usual size). And, that fit and quality is retained through the wash too, eradicating any worries about delicacy.

What’s more is that they fit comfortably over the shoulders and cater well for my relatively long back, while the overall fit means that the shorts don’t feel like they are pulling up or overly tight in any area, not something I can say of every race-cut bib short I’ve tested in a medium (my usual size). And, that fit and quality is retained through the wash too, eradicating any worries about delicacy.

Without anything bad to say about them – save to say that blue bib shorts seldom match many jerseys unless they’re blue themselves, and even then you can have these in black – they fully justify the £150 premium price tag.

Conclusion

The Le Col Pro bib shorts are genuinely ‘pro-level’, with a chamois that’s seriously impressive and an overall construction to match.

Pros

• Ideal for summer use
• Excellent Dolomiti chamois
• Comfortable fit and cut
• Available in blue and black

Cons

• Silicone grippers around legs feel unnecessary