10 Amazing Bike Shorts and Bibs

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​Stay in the saddle longer with a more comfortable, durable chamois. Our experts pick the year's top shorts.

The L1 Dottore is an evolution of the superb original L1 Salopette bibs from premium roadwear brand Q36.5, but it's a worthwhile evolution. The two biggest changes are a move to laser-cut, no-stitch leg openings; and a shift to woven – not knit – fabric constructed with variable, graduated compression instead of traditional panels. (A great pair of bibs will improve your ride, but so can sharpening your skills. If you're wanting to improve, take a look at Bicycling's Complete Book of Road Cycling Skills.)

The bibs take an extra minute to put on as you position the fabric just right, but once everything is properly in place, they feels fantastic. The body is compressive and supportive but not constrictive; there's a very natural feel to the motion, and the high-quality chamois pad is comfortable on long rides despite being relatively thin. Silver anti-microbial thread helps keep the funk factor down. And the wear has been exceptional. In over a year of testing, with almost weekly wear followed by a gentle-cycle machine wash and air dry, they still look and feel new.—Joe Lindsey

Q36.5 Salopette L1 Dottore bibs, $310.00, Above Category

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The Attaquer All Day Bib Shorts, like the rest of the All Day collection from the brand, are designed with durability in mind. The shorts achieve that: They perform under pressure and stand up to dozens of double-rinse cycles while maintaining their ‘like-new’ look. The fit is super-comfortable, which is crucial for long hours in the saddle.

I gravitate towards neutrals—even the slightest hint of color can be a turn-off when it comes to my sartorial cycling style—but these shorts made my favorites list because of their detailing. Despite being all black, a shiny embossed skull detail on the back makes them decidedly badass, not boring. Despite having a big pile of shorts to choose from, these simple shorts have become one of my go-to pairs. —Molly Hurford

Don't let rainy weather stop you from taking your bibs out for a ride. Here's how to buy a great waterproof jacket:

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Attaquer Women's All Day Bib Shorts, $280.00, Attaquer

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Few brands have found a way to combine ultra-simple styling with high-quality extras for women in cycling like Velocio, and these bibs are the perfect example. This new version of their classic bib shorts is a noticeable upgrade to previous iterations, with straps and leg grips that stay in place without hindering movement.

These shorts are the most compressive that the brand offers, but you won't feel like a sausage—you’ll just notice the solid support through your quads. The chamois is easily the most comfortable I’ve owned, and whenever there's a long ride, this is the pair of shorts that I turn to. And despite the insane amount of wear-and-tear and countless wash-and-dry cycles I’ve put them through, they endure.—Molly Hurford

RELATED: 12 Women's Kits That Make You Want to Ride ASAP

Velocio Women's ES Bib Shorts, $199.00, Velocio

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The Rapha Core bib shorts were launched in 2016 as part of the budget-friendly Core line. Rapha managed to out-simple themselves on the aesthetic side by creating a line of essentials that are all about practical performance.

The Core bib shorts utilize the same chamois pad as the higher-end Classic bibs, and are constructed of plush, thick Lycra meant to survive high-mileage use. My pair has maintained the same level of support for more than a year of riding. I find myself choosing these bibs regularly for long days in the saddle because the padding provides plenty of coverage to keep you cushioned and comfortable as you adjust your riding position.

The bib straps provide enough stretch to fit riders of all heights, but are tight enough to stay in place without constricting. The leg grippers are wide to provide a snug fit and secure the shorts, without the "bite" of a silicone strip (meaning you won't end up with an imprint on your thigh). The flatlock seams give the bibs a solid construction while keeping a low-profile to reduce friction and potential hot spots.—Pat Heine

Rapha Core Bib Short, $150.00

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I’m one of the rare beasts who still prefers a good pair of shorts to bibs—probably because I do a lot of ultra-endurance racing, and I get weary of taking off all my upper layers just to pee behind a tree somewhere. These Bontrager Anaras have become my favorite go-to shorts.

They have nice wide leg grippers and a yoga-style waistband, so there's no binding anywhere, and you get a nice silhouette. The women's chamois is the ideal density and size to be super-comfortable without being at all obtrusive, while staying securely in place. The Lycra is thick and compressive, so you get that energizing feeling of your muscles being supported and protected from vibrational fatigue. And the details are classy and feminine without being too flowery. —Selene Yeager

RELATED: Our Favorite Bike Shorts for Riding Around Town

Bontrager Anara Women's Cycling Short, $110.00, Trek

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In the past year I’ve put in thousands of road miles, slid down trails, bounced off gravel roads, brushed trees on the cross course, and generally abused the Giordana FR-C bibs in numerous ways. I wore them under baggies, in cold rain, and in sweltering heat. I left them lying in the hamper wet for a few days and then washed them on "hot," and after that, tossed them in a hot dryer. Torture testing might be an understatement.

Through it all they have remained comfortable, and never chafed despite all that friction. The grippers on the legs have not given out, the fabric still retains its slight compressive hold, and the bib straps still lie flat and stay put under hard efforts. But most importantly, the chamois never bunched, rode up, or frayed. It's still pliable and comfortable even after all that abuse. I’m not sure you could ask more from a set of cycling shorts.—Mike Yozell

Giordana Fr-C Bib Short, $250.00, Giordana

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Dropper bibs can be somewhat problematic—zippers chafe, fasteners are difficult to open and close, and the body positions required to properly utilize them can be pretty contorted. That's why I like Giro's dropper bibs. Rather than use two shoulder straps, they have one that goes around the back of your neck. Taking them off is simple: The strap stretches enough that you don't even have to take off your helmet to slide it over your head and down the front of your jersey.

I’ve found halters to be irritating in the past on other garments (wearing a swimsuit for more than a few hours gives me back pain), but these bibs have a mesh panel that circles your torso up to mid-chest—it keeps the bibs in place, letting the neck strap be loose and comfortable. Plus, the other features are excellent as well: They fall at a great mid-quad length, and the wide, slightly tacky leg bands hold them in place without pinching or unduly sticking to your skin. And the chamois is plush and comfortable.—Taylor Rojek

RELATED: First Look: Giro's Chrono Apparel

Giro Women's Chrono Expert Halter Bibs, $150.00, Backcountry

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The chamois in Assos’ women's shorts is easily the best of any in my closet, providing comfort and protection without an overly thick pad. I rode 90 miles in these shorts out of the box, and I felt as cushioned from the seat and the road at the end of the ride as I did at the start. Now I save these bibs for my longest rides.

A scalloped elastic leg band terminates before it reaches the fleshy inner thigh to prevent squeezing and causing sausage leg, and a highly compressive fit in the legs feels good from the moment you pull the shorts on. A Y-shaped yoke is made of very soft, stretchy, and seamless material that doesn't rub or chafe, and while the design isn't particularly potty-friendly (you still have to take off your helmet and unzip your jersey to go to the bathroom), the magnetic clasp makes it super-easy to re-attach once you’re done.—Gloria Liu

Assos t.laalaLai Lady, $249.00

Waistbands on cycling shorts can do ungodly things to your upper body, but Castelli nailed the construction on these shorts so they keep everything in place without constricting. The mid-rise waistband is comfortable and flattering, as are the wide leg grippers, which are designed to be low profile and aerodynamic.

The dimpled fabric on these shorts is definitely a little tight when you first squeeze into it but doesn't feel like it's squeezing your thighs. The seamless chamois rides like a cloud. It's not too puffy and the right size to avoid chafing, while also providing coverage where you need it most.

Castelli claims that these shorts will save you 10 watts at 50 kilometers an hour. I can't prove that, but I do know that they helped me crush 70 miles with over 7,000 miles of elevation—and helped me look good throughout the entire ride.—Elspeth Huyett

​Castelli Women's Free Aero Shorts, $170.00, Competitive Cyclist

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Whenever you pull on a new pair of bibs, there's always that slightly cringey moment where you wonder what's going to bunch, or pull, or bulge. More often than not my feelings about bibs end up being a sort of grudging acceptance—my favorites are usually just the ones that offend me least.

That's not the case with the Specialized SL Pro Torch bibs. Not only do they fit and look great, but they have little elements that prove that they were designed for women's bodies.

First, the cut. The wide silicone leg bands eliminate binding while staying in place, and the seaming is super flattering. They also have a cute and comfortable crossover waistband and my favorite feature: a genius clip-closure bib strap.

If you’ve ever had to take off your sweaty jersey with full pockets to access your bib straps in a port-a-potty on race day, you know it's not ideal. So Specialized made your nature break a bit more convenient with a minimalist clip between the shorts and the back of your bibs. It's easy to unclip with one hand, and it's magnetized to make it easy to clip back together by feel.

Note that these shorts do run a little big, so if you’re between sizes it's probably safe to size down. —Lydia Tanner

RELATED: A Softer Ride: A History of Chamois

Specialized Women's SL Pro Bib Shorts—Torch Edition, $126.00, Specialized

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