RedWhite Apparel The Bib shorts

While the cut and fit of RedWhite Apparel’s The Bib bib shorts weren’t right for me (though I did send RedWhite my measurements, and you can do the same thing on their website), these shorts did succeed in standing out for a couple reasons — especially if you don’t fit into the Froome-skinny mold.

First, the chamois is nice and thick for long rides, so if you’re looking for an all-day cushion, these are a good choice. The chamois shape and position is just about perfect too, especially as you get tired toward the end of your ride and start to sit up more. But it gave me a wedgie in and out of the saddle because it’s a fairly large chamois overall and it has a tendency to fold in the middle. If you’ve got a more supple bottom, this might be a more comfortable fit for you than it was for me.

I like the lay-flat thighs, but I found the cut to be too short. I prefer the legs to extend about an inch and a half above my knees, and these were quite far up the thighs. The short legs are a surprise, given how wide the chamois is and how forgiving the overall cut can be (there’s a stretchy piece of lycra material across the belly to accommodate the slightly-beer-gutted among us).

My preference for bib straps always leans toward lay-flat, thin, and when possible, seamless. While these straps don’t fit the lay-flat or seamless criteria, they are thin and feel light on the shoulders. The seams weren’t bothersome, and the straps are wide enough to stay put all ride long. Most importantly, they didn’t bunch up after plenty of upper-body movement in the saddle.