The 10 Best Cycling Shorts for a comfortable ride

Cycling shorts feature an array of different chamois pads and come in all sorts of colours, designs and materials. Investing in a good pair of bib shorts is one of the most effective ways to improve comfort and performance on the bike. It’s a common misconception that having an expensive pad automatically reduces chaffing and discomfort. While the pad is extremely important, it’s also crucial that the shorts fit properly and remain in one place throughout your training ride or race.

In order to get the most out of your chamois pad, you need a pair of cycling shorts with good grippers on the legs, breathable materials throughout and elasticated bib straps. Check out our bib shorts buying guide as well.

The Chamois Pad

The chamois pad is designed to reduce friction, cushion your sit bones and wick away sweat. The type of saddle you ride and your position on the bike should be considered when choosing a pair of bib shorts. If you use a saddle with a cut-out groove to relieve pressure you’ll want a chamois pad with slightly wider cushioning. If you ride in an aggressive position you’ll need more padding towards the front of the chamois. All high-quality cycling shorts feature pads with multiple foam densities to offer varying levels of support to different areas.

Leg Grippers

It’s important that your shorts don’t ride up as this can lead to a build-up of material high up the leg which can cause chaffing. Leg grippers come in a range of widths and designs. Some are narrow and made using a silicone grip while others are wide and mesh-like. Make sure when choosing a pair of shorts you choose a pair with good leg grippers.

Materials

Gone are the days of simply using any old lycra for the leg panels on cycling shorts. The best cycling shorts are produced with all sorts of different fabrics designed for specific purposes. Some are water repellent to keep you dry when it’s wet, others are fleece lined to keep you warm when it’s chilly. Premium cycling shorts are designed in such a way that they provide a small amount of compression while still being breathable enough to allow your skin to perspire.

Bib Straps

Bib straps prevent your shorts from slipping down during a ride. They also ensure the chamois pad is positioned correctly and doesn’t move around which causes friction. Bib-straps are designed to evenly distribute pressure over your shoulders, the best don’t cause any irritation and lay flat against your skin.

Cycling Bib-Short Suggestions

1. 

   Castelli Endurance 3 Bib Short

   It’s hard to go wrong with a set of Castelli bib shorts. If it’s a reliable set of endurance bibs you’re looking for to ride for hours on end in comfort, look no further.

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2. 

   PBK Crux Bib Shorts

   Quality doesn’t have to come with extortionate prices. We work hard to ensure that any PBK branded product meets the standard we expect. Of course, we’ve tested these for ourselves and know they perform as well as products two or three times the price. There might not be anything fancy about these but they’ll get the job done.

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3. 

   Castelli Premio Black Bib Short

   Of course there’s going to be another entrant from Castelli in this list. The Premio bib short, as the name implies, is top-of-the-line for comfort and performance. The design of these shorts is simple, but using a four-way stretch fabric, these shorts are anything but simple in terms of technology. The fabric means there’s no need to stitch separate panels together, increasing comfort.

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4. 

   Fifty Four Degree Meso Bib Shorts

   Fifty Four Degree is an exclusive brand to ProBikeKit. The Meso bib was developed with one purpose in mind: speed. The shorts are cut to be at their most comfortable in an aggressive-aerodynamic position, making them the perfect choice for racing or fast bunch rides with your friends.

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5. 

   PBK Altitude Bib Shorts

   These are some of our best-selling bib shorts and show that top-quality doesn’t necessarily need to come with a premium price tag. These use a breathable Lycra, flat seams, and mesh braces to ensure comfort. These really are one of the best performing shorts at this price point.

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6. 

   Castelli Tutto Nano Bib Short

   As much as we’d like all our rides to take place in the beaming sunshine of the Mediterranean, as a British-based company we’re well aware that this can’t always be the case. The Tutto Nano bibs offer excellent protection against cold and rain. The Nano Flex 3G fabric is specifically designed to be water repellant and keep you dry during spells of rain.

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7. 

   Santini Cubo Bib Shorts

   Santini have a long history in the cycling industry and have produced clothing for numerous champions over the years. The Cubo bib short is made from a lightweight, breathable fabric, combined with mesh bib straps, and you have an ideal summer short.

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8. 

   Santini Mago Bib Shorts

   Continuing with Santini, the Mago is another excellent option. This is another lightweight short, perfect for a mixture of summer riding. This is a comfortable but snug fitting bib, which is great for mixing it up on fast bunch rides with your friends.

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9. 

   Castelli Free Aero RC Bib Short

   The Castelli Free Aero Race RC bib shorts are some of the best cycling shorts on the market. If you want the very best in performance and comfort, then look no further. High-compression Forza 2 fabrics offers high-levels of muscle support and comfort. Using only five panels there is fewer seams than traditional fabrics to create irritation and the leg gripper is designed to stay in place without silicone grippers.

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10. 

    Kalas Motion Z2 Bib Shorts

    Producing kit for the Great Britain cycling team for a number of years, Kalas know a thing or two about producing great kit for various disciplines. The Motion bib is made from a very durable Lycra and uses Kalas’s Zoom X pad to offer high levels of comfort on medium to longer rides.

    Buy now with free delivery