Rapha Men's Core Bib Shorts

Rapha's Core bib shorts are an impressive mix of knowhow from premium ranges – giving good quality, comfort and a great fit.

The new Core range from Rapha is aimed at simplicity: no frills, just good performance and elegant design. A review the Core jersey and the women's non-bib Core shorts are to come, but the men's bibs achieve those aims convincingly.

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Let's start with the showpiece of any bib short: the chamois. Rapha has used the same pad you find in its Classic range of bib shorts, and it's a well-regarded design. It's not as comfortable as the Cytech pad seen in Rapha's Pro Team and Pro Team Lightweight bib shorts, but it's certainly adequate for most rides.

During my testing, I wore them on several 100km rides, all of which the pad took in its stride, providing great comfort and as much padding as is needed (but no more, which will suit some).

It's also testament to the thought gone into the fit that the shoulder straps are very comfortable too – especially so when you get down in the drops into a more aero position. They're not meshed, so coolness in hot weather might be limited. They do have a stretchy quality, which means if you have a particularly long or short body, the Core bibs are going to mould somewhat to your body shape – and this goes for the leg fabric, too. That means you can stick to Rapha's sizing charts, and customise the fit to your needs. For example, I usually wear mediums when it comes to Rapha bibs, but can also get away with large quite easily for a slightly more relaxed fit, as demonstrated by my test pair.

The bib is cut low enough for easy comfort breaks, while the leg grippers – a textured variety, rather than ribbed – are generous enough for legs larger than mine (I have quite skinny thighs). Get into the saddle and start pedalling, and they settle into a very comfortable, flush and neutral position up the leg.

The fabric in general is a comfortable blend of 82% polyester and 18% elastane, but in the absence of any Roubaix lining, they're not for cold winter use. Milder conditions are the bibs' forte, and they will be at home in UK spring, summer and autumn weather. The fabric is dense, too, so even when stretched across the skin they don't become at all see-through.

> Check out our guide to the best bib shorts here

Comfort is also good where the seams are concerned, despite them being more pronounced than you see on Rapha's more expensive bib shorts. While the stitching is flatlocked, from the outside you can easily see the where the seams meet. It's not bad quality and they don't rub or chafe, but they can leave a slight mark in the leg after a long ride.

The bibs wash easily, retaining an as-new feel after several machine cycles. So even though £100 still represents a quite significant investment, you're likely to get a good lifespan out of them.

Overall, these are very well-designed, comfortable and good performing bib shorts at a competitive price point – for Rapha. You can go cheaper – like the Merlin Elite bib shorts I reviewed recently for nearly half the price – but against rivals in the same price range, the Core bibs more than hold their own. They're also available in two options, with black or white straps. 

Verdict

The new 'value' offering from Rapha that doesn't skimp on quality