De Marchi

CL Women's Bib Shorts

Perhaps it's a result of bias, but when we think of comfort, quality, and design, our imaginations turn to Italy. However, we don't view this as a fault, given that Italian cycling apparel has yet to disappoint us. Case in point are the De Marchi CL Women's Bib Shorts. Made in Italy from Italian-sourced fabrics, these bib shorts combine an understated, yet sophisticated, style with a fit that's nearly unrivaled.

De Marchi used a lightweight iteration of the venerable Lycra fabric for the bulk of the CL bib shorts' construction. Why? Because this material encompasses all of the characteristics necessary for cycling. It possesses a high-level of breathability and moisture management, meaning that the fibers are both permeable and moisture wicking. So, your excess body heat is allowed to escape, keeping you consistently cool. Meanwhile, the fabric's ability to pull moisture away from the skin and quickly evaporate it leaves you dry and free from irritation.

Additionally, Lycra possesses a natural four-way stretch, which means that bib shorts will conform to your position and movements, not against them. This is further supported by De Marchi's incorporation of a six-panel contoured cut. Essentially, this means that CL's seam placement was designed to accommodate the body positions and movements of cycling. As a result, you'll find that the CL is free from any bunching, pinching, or chafing. However, while this high-level of structural conformity is appealing, we find it even more impressive that it doesn't inhibit Lycra's natural compressive tendencies. By this, we mean that the fabric is supportive to the muscle groups of the legs. And when couple with the six-panel cut, the bib shorts help to minimize the fatigue-inducing effects of muscle oscillation as a result of road vibration.

And to secure this precise, anatomic fit, De Marchi installed elastic mesh bib straps at the uppers. These straps are gently contoured at the front of the torso, falling to the sides of the breasts. Meanwhile, the back portion features an ample surface area, increasing moisture transfer at a high point of moisture accumulation. For the shorts portion, De Marchi installed pre-shaped, seamless leg grippers to prevent the shorts from shifting. As a result, comfort is increased by eliminating the poignancy that's attributed to either silicone or elastic grippers. Instead, this design provides a smooth, secure interface that's free from irritation.

As for the chamois, De Marchi went with its venerable Elastic Interface Technology W1.3 insert. This chamois was selected for its ample level of cushioning. However, don't think that there's irritable padding where your body doesn't need it. Instead, this women's-specific insert features high-density open cell padding in selective areas, like the sit bones. Accordingly, the areas like the ischial and perineal zones, that are prone to high levels of pressure, are relieved. And with the ample elasticity of the chamois and its surface fabric, chafing is minimized.

It's also worth noting that the CL bib shorts are made in Italy from Italian-sourced materials. Additionally, this piece is Oekotex-certified -- a certifiable European textile standard.

The De Marchi CL Women's Bib Shorts are available in the color Black and in five sizes from X-Small to X-Large.