Rapha Pro Team Shadow Bib Shorts

The Rapha Pro Team Shadow Bib shorts offer very good weather resistance to keep you comfortable when riding in wet and changeable conditions, but the lofty price is an issue for most of us.

There are many weather-resistant jerseys out there these days but far fewer weather-resistant shorts. The Pro Team Shadow Bib shorts, like the matching jersey (review to come), are made from a nylon/elastane mix. The yarn is given a durable water repellent (DWR) treatment before being stretch-woven into fabric. Then a steam-pressure treatment shrinks it down to half its initial size and another DWR treatment is applied.

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This results in a dense fabric. It feels more substantial than most shorts' fabrics and there's a slight rustle when you flex it.

The material isn't completely windproof but it is highly wind resistant. You'll feel warmer in these than in standard Lycra shorts because very little cold air gets in. You do take a slight hit in terms of breathability but the difference isn't as large as you might think. Things would get tropical inside if you wore these on a hot summer day, but for spring and autumn use and cooler summer conditions, the level of breathability isn't a problem.

Road spray beads up and rolls off the surface of the shorts, as does mist, drizzle, and light rain. Heavier rain will get in, though, especially if you're out in it for a while – water comes in most where your hips bend the fabric and via the untaped seams – but you get a lot more protection than you do from most shorts.

> Check out our guide to the best cycling bib shorts

I've found the Shadow bib shorts most beneficial in keeping spray out. When you're riding on wet roads without mudguards, most shorts will allow spray to get in constantly, often making you feel cold. By stopping the spray, the Shadow shorts make a big difference to your warmth and overall level of comfort. This is where they really score.

You'll eventually need to re-proof the fabric with something like Rapha's Apparel Re-proofer once the DWR treatments wash out and water stops beading up on the surface.

The Elastic Interface seatpad is the same one used in all of Rapha's shorts. It offers a good depth of padding even for longer rides, although it's bulky compared to some. I've used others from Elastic Interface that I prefer, personally.

The panelling is good and I didn't find any areas unduly tight nor any of the seams at all uncomfortable. The legs are cut long so they cover your quads almost completely, with silicone rubber on the inside of the ends providing plenty of stickiness against your skin to hold them in place. I've heard comments from people saying the leg openings are too baggy; they were just about tight enough for me, but without anything to spare. Any looser and they could have gaped, so you might want to check that area when you try them on.

The bib section is made from a perforated polyester/elastane fabric that sits well without much pressure over your shoulders. You get two small side-by-side pockets right where the uppers and lowers meet that make a handy stash point for something like an emergency energy gel and/or a spare inner tube.

Verdict

Very good weather-resistant shorts that make a big difference to your comfort on wet/changeable days, but you have to dig deep