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review
Shorts & 3/4s
Hincapie Sportswear Edge bib shorts Hincapie Sportswear Edge bib shorts Hincapie Sportswear Edge bib shorts Hincapie Sportswear Edge bib shorts
Hincapie Sportswear Edge bibshorts

Hincapie Sportswear Edge bib shorts

4
by David Arthur @davearthur
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jul 17, 2013

1
£58.32

VERDICT:

4
10
Nice reflectivity but fail to deliver comfort and performance.
Weight: 
172g
Contact: 
www.hincapie.com, www.evanscycles.com
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Sportswear Edge bib shorts from Hincapie fall short in comfort, fit and performance, but the reflectivity is a smart feature for commuting and evening rides.

The Edge bib shorts are Hincapie's third-tier offering and are made from TourTek Compressor fabric. It's very stretchy on account of the Lycra content so they provide good support to the legs, with a slight hint of compression. The shiny appearance is an acquired taste though, and in combination with the yellow contrast stitching, they're not for the shy.

Fit is good around the legs and waist. The wide bib straps are made from a mesh fabric helping to keep you cool on hot days, and aid moisture evaporation by the base layer. The same mesh fabric also extends to the back panel

The leg openings feature a wide band of HyperOptic Lycra fabric; there's no silicone gripper tape. Unfortunately the hem isn't elastic enough to stop the shorts from riding up your legs. This proved to be a continual problem when testing these shorts, and I don't exactly have the skinniest legs either.

That HyperOptic fabric however has a neat trick of being highly reflective when in the dazzle of car headlights, without looking like reflective material in daylight. This makes them great for commuting and for those fond of riding at night.

Inside the shorts is Hincapie's Pro Chamois. It's a simple seamless insert with an an anatomical shape, and multi-density foam. Although it's more generously padding in the sit bones area, I struggled with comfort on every test ride in these shorts. Even on short blasts they proved uncomfortable. I wouldn't even entertain an all-day ride in these shorts.

I wanted to like these shorts as the concealed reflectivity feature makes them a bonus for evening rides. Ultimately they don't deliver the comfort a bib short should do. They also slide up the legs continually and the shiny fabric is less than appealing.

These are best avoided, there are far better bib shorts available at this price.

Verdict

Nice reflectivity but fail to deliver comfort and performance.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Hincapie Sportswear Edge Bibshorts

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The ultimate combination of style, speed and comfort with a hidden reflective surface

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Durable TourTek™ Compressor fabric provides a supple yet durable fit that moves with your body while retaining shape and firmness to provide compressive support

SPF 50+ rating for superior UVA/UVB protection

Sleek, no-elastic, no-gripper comfort leg band using HyperOptic™ Elastane with a hidden reflective surface

Soft, aerating power stretch Diamond™ Mesh upper dries quickly to help regulate temperature

Seamless, anatomical, multi-density Pro Chamois with perforated foam inserts and center relief channel moves with the rider

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

They're well made and contain some nice features like the mesh bib straps and hidden reflectivity.

Rate the product for performance:
 
5/10

Poor. The leg openings slide up the legs, and the chamois doesn't provide much comfort at all.

Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10

No concern with durability, but they now spend most of their time at the bottom of my wardrobe.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
4/10

Least comfortable bib shorts I've ever tested

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

They're discounted at Evans Cycles at the moment but even at the lower price, I wouldn't recommend them.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Poorly

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The hidden reflectivity is a very smart idea

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The shiny fabric, chamois and slidey legs

Did you enjoy using the product? No.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

There are much better shorts available at this price.

Overall rating: 4/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

Reflectives
Hincapie Sportswear Edge bib shorts
Bib shorts
David Arthur @davearthur

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes. 

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1 comments

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OlaviHjertstrom | 11 years ago
0 likes

Jazzy design. Shame about the performance or I might buy!

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