Endura Pinstripe Bibshorts

The Endura Pinstripe Bibshorts are part of a Limited Edition range and offer decent performance, thanks mostly to a pad that works especially well the longer you ride.

• Pros: Firm pad for long distance riding, close yet unrestrictive cut
• Cons: Not the softest fabric against the skin

The Pinstripes use Endura's 600 series pad which is cut from a single block of foam with added gel inserts for comfort. At first it felt a little firm and bulky when on the saddle, but once things had settled in a bit it was actually a very comfortable pad, especially when riding for four or five hours. You realise just how supportive the whole thing is. It's also curved, so when you are wearing the shorts there is no bunching up of the chamois at all.

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At the front the pad is quite thin, but I never found it to be an issue. There is also a mesh vent for breathability, but I didn't really notice any difference compared with pads without such a vent.

The whole pad is stitched into the shorts, and I'm happy to say I had no issues with rubbing anywhere.

The fabric used throughout the bib shorts feels compressive enough to support the muscles, and thanks to plenty of panels gives a close, performance-orientated fit.

The fabric has quite a firm feel to it, though, and isn't the softest against the skin. I'm not saying it's uncomfortable, but I've worn nicer, fabrics that tend to move with you as you pedal and move on the bike. The Northwave Extreme 3 bib shorts, for example. They did become a bit more comfortable the more I rode in them, and after a few washes.

The taut material does mean the legs aren't going to move up as you ride, so the small silicone gripper on each leg has little to do.

Elsewhere, you'll find a mesh bib section which uses a single section up the back and two straps over the front. The wide edging panels are comfortable and spread the load over a large area so there are no hot spots or irritation over the shoulders.

Size-wise, I used the Endura chart to make sure these mediums were right for me before testing, and they were spot on in use.

If you spend a lot of time on the bike then it's worth investing in a decent pair of shorts, and the price here of £84.99 is about what I'd expect for a pair of this quality. They are very well made and the fabric feels impressively durable. However, the Northwaves I've mentioned above just take the edge over the Enduras on comfort, for a fiver more. There's some tough opposition too from dhb's Aeron Speed bib shorts, with their £80 price tag.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best cycling bib shorts

Overall, I'd say the Enduras are a good pair of shorts but slightly better can be had for the same or a lower price.

Verdict

Great pad for long distance riding but not the most comfortable fabric and the pricing puts them up against some tough opposition