Gore C5 Optiline Bib Shorts+

The C5 Optiline Bib Shorts+ are part of a new range from Gore (formerly Gore Bike Wear, since rebranded with new logo and shorter name) aimed at enthusiast road cyclists. They provide outstanding comfort, while a panel of Windstopper fabric in the front of the shorts gives a little added, ahem, protection from cold winds.

• Pros: Great fit, nice style, good comfort, windproof 'cup'
• Cons: Some more colour options would be nice for the patterned hem

The C5 Optiline Bib Shorts+ are aimed at warmer days so to ensure good breathability they are made entirely from a lightweight meshy material that is thin and comfortable next to the skin. Flatlock stitching is used throughout, with seams strategically place to ensure a good fit and prevent any potential irritation.

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The fit is excellent, with a perfect shape around the legs and hips, the material sitting flat next to the body in all areas and the bib straps being stretchy and comfortable over the shoulders. No complaints. There's absolutely no restriction anywhere, they feel like someone has painted a pair of bib shorts onto your body.

The wide elasticated hems spread the pressure around the legs while prevent slippage, and perform as well as the best shorts I've tested in this regard. I also love the bold patterning; it's nice to see Gore taking a more confident approach to styling for a change. You have a choice of white or red, but c'mon Gore, a few more colours would be nice for colour matching purposes.

The 'advanced road' pad uses various densities of foam to ensure there's more padding where you need it most, and less where you don't. It's well executed, feeling comfortable on the saddle whether cruising along in a sitting-up position or perched on the nose when hunkered down in the drops. Long-distance comfort was excellent: a five-hour ride posed no issues at all, nor did two and a half hours on the indoor trainer.

What really sets the padded insert apart from others is the panel of Windstopper material to the front of the shorts. It's integrated right into the chamois and Gore calls it 'Gore Windstopper Cup Technology'. I think you get the gist. The simple idea is to provide a little extra protection from the elements and stop any chilly breezes from getting between your legs. It's not a new idea, Gore has been using this concept in previous bib short products, but it does work. You have nicely breathable mesh on your legs but a bit of extra insulation for your tackle, ensuring that the shorts work in a broader range of temperatures.

It's noticeable in the cooler weather of spring, that area feeling a little less chilly than the mesh material covering the legs. It also means these shorts are okay to wear on chillier spring days than the hot Alpine weather they are really designed for. Paired with leg or knee warmers, they provide a nice setup for fresh temperatures.

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I'll come back to this review once I've tested the shorts in some proper hot weather. I will add that I've used them for several hot and steamy indoor training sessions and here they've been noticeably nicer to wear because they feel so light and breezy compared with a lot of regular Lycra bib shorts.

Getting this close to £100 means there is plenty of choice in the bib shorts market, but also a high expectation of performance and quality. The Gore shorts don’t fall short of my demands at all. Some can have the odd niggle, like the Milltag Sector shorts, for example, but there’s nothing to fault at all here. They're up there with the Endura M90 bib shorts and have the added Windstopper front panel, which is a neat feature. Then again, although £90 isn't as high as some, you can still save yourself a few quid – a look at the Sportful Giro shorts makes you wonder whether you really need to spend more.

Gore really knows how to produce excellent cycling products, and these bib shorts are well designed, with some nice features that help them stand out in a crowded category. Getting a good pair of bib shorts is important, and I'm happy to recommend these if you're in the market for a pair that will cope with warmer temperatures and provide comfortable cushioning for long rides.

Verdict

Outstandingly comfortable bib shorts with Windstopper Cup protection