Cycling shorts should fit snugly and be muscularly filled, look good and last as long as possible. So much for the look. Turned inside out, they reveal their inner values: at the centre is the seat pad; often surrounded by different types of fabric and inserts, numerous seams, cuffs, straps ... Visually, the whole thing is not very attractive, but recognisably complex.
This piece of fabric, which weighs around 200 grams, owes its complex structure to the demanding task it has to fulfil. The contact surface between the cyclist's bottom and the narrow racing bike saddle is only a few square centimetres, and the cyclist never sits still in this small space. Depending on the speed and topography, the buttocks on the saddle sometimes move further back or forwards, the rider stands up and sits down again and, above all, the legs are constantly in motion. During a three-hour ride, the legs pedal a good 16,000 times in a circle, the seat cushion is kneaded, the braces or waistband tighten and relax. If a seam is wrong, too bulging, the seat pad is too big, too hard or too soft, the braces or waistband are too tight, this means 16,000 more or less discreet brakes on the fun.
To find out how the current generation of cycling shorts performs, we ordered the best-selling men's and women's shorts from 20 manufacturers. The spectrum ranges from simple, black women's shorts from Giordana for 36 euros to high-tech men's shorts from Craft or Gore for 200 euros. Men's trousers cost an average of 130 euros, while the mostly strapless women's trousers cost just under 110 euros. That's a lot of money, especially as one pair of trousers is usually not enough.
You can find these cycling shorts in the test:
- Gentlemen:
Assos T FI.Uno S5
Campagnolo Raytech Bib
Castelli Body Paint
Craft Elite Attack Bib
Etxeondo Dilar,
Gonso Philadelphia
Gore Xenon Sonic
Löffler Hot Bond
Mavic HC Bib Short
Nalini Anemone
Pearl Izumi Elite Ltd Bib Short
Protective San Remo Bib 2
Rose T-Select
Scott RC Pro Bib Shorts
Shimano Premium bib shorts
Specialised BG Pro RBX
Sportful Total Comofrt Bib Short
Sugoi RSE Bib Short
Vaude Elite Bib Pants IV
X-Bionic Bib Tight Short
- Ladies:
Assos H FI. Lady S5
Castelli Vizio Due Sport
Etxeondo Sbaren
Giordana Fusion I
Gore Xenon Sonic Lady
Löffler Hot Bond
Pearl Izumi W's P.R.O. Short
Scott Shorts W's Shadow
Sportful Total Comfort W Short
Sugoi RSE Bib Short
You can find the test results below as a PDF download.
Downloads:
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