Alé PRR 2.0 Future Bibshort Women’s

The Alé PRR 2.0 Future bib shorts for women have lots of boasts: a great chamois, excellent breathability and a lightly compressive but very comfortable fit in the shorts section. Unfortunately, the halter neck strap does nothing to add to this comfort.

• Pros: Snug without being restrictive around the leg, breathable
• Cons: Uncomfortable strap, expensive

The actual shorts – excluding the halter/bib area – are constructed with a range of high-performing materials that result in a quality fit and brilliant breathability. The side panels are a structured, low-drag Aero G.250 fabric – basically a hexagonal weave, close to mesh but not quite there. Alé claims that this fabric stimulates microcirculation while riding. I am not about to comment on reduced drag or increased circulation, but I would say that I sensed light compression when wearing the shorts, and continue to do so even after several weeks of washing and wearing.

One thing I didn't really like was how the weave gave the impression of 'overworn' Lycra where it was stretched at the crotch seam; the photo above shows this quite well. Thankfully, you don't really see this when on the bike. This hasn't got any worse with washing and wearing over the two months of testing, as you'd hope for £140.

There is a thin, tapered strip of mesh on the rear side of the shorts which further increases the breathability of the shorts. Again, it's not so noticeable when on the bike but some might not like the appearance off the bike.

The remaining panel, running centrally over the insert, uses a more familiar looking material. Alé calls it Serie S 41 WR and claims it's breathable and anti-chafing. I didn't get any chafing, even on rides of over four hours.

The legs are held firmly in place by really wide, tapered bands. They are one of the most comfortable leg gripper designs I have ever cycled with; the pressure is spread out over a large area (8.5cm at its deepest over the thigh) and they are lined with 'barely-there' silicone dimples. These are plush to the material so leave no impression and cause absolutely no irritation but perform exceptionally well and are still going strong after two months of testing and washing.

The chamois offers support in exactly the right places without being too bulky. It's worth noting that it is the same pad as the one in the Alé shorts that Ashia recently reviewed, just stitched in a different way.

Moving up to the midriff area of the shorts, Alé has used mesh material here. These panels are good for breathability but have very little in the way of support and stability of position, so they may not be doing the intended job all the time. The halter neck strap is not strong enough to hold them firmly in place either. You really have to hoist the front and rear up in order to achieve the optimum position. If you don't, it gathers and any breathability goes out the window.

The front mesh panel is pretty low too; team it with a jersey that is on the short side and you see its V-shape when stood up off the bike.

Unfortunately, the halterneck strap didn't work for me. It is soft and stretchy enough to not overly irritate the neck, but there is not enough tension in the material to have any effect on the position of the rear panel; the entire lower back section relies solely on friction to remain in place. Invariably it shifts about and ends up sagging. Movement on the bike forces movement of the mesh panels and you can sense the shorts being looser than with a classic bib setup in this area.

The halter is seamless and relatively soft but it has just enough tension in it to make you aware that it is there. Hunch over on the bike and it naturally settles into a position higher than you see in the photo. I adjusted to the constant pulling sensation around the neck over time, but it's fair to say that, given a choice, I would opt for a classic bib short design over this. The strap is quick to absorb moisture that builds up under it (it rides over the neck line of a baselayer, if wearing one) and retains this moisture, which just adds weight to the existing pull. It doesn't dry out quickly either; ease off and you simply have a cool damp ribbon pressing into your neck.

The halter neck's main purpose is to make pee-stops quicker and easier, and I can confirm that they are marginally quicker, although you have to fight to get the mesh panels back to a reasonable position post-pee.

> Check out more road.cc reviews of women's cycling shorts here

In terms of value, I'm not convinced these are worth the RRP. The features and materials that are incorporated to make the leg/chamois element justify the price, but the strap element needs a rethink. It's a real shame as the Alé shorts that I reviewed last year were great, and Ashia was pretty impressed with the Traguardo Shorts.

Verdict

Exceptional breathability around the legs but the halter strap is disappointing