Giordana

Trade FormaRed Carbon Pinarello Women's Bib Shorts

Giordana's consistency in delivering high-end engineering and innovative designs through its clothing hasn't gone unnoticed in the world of cycling. The Italian apparel giant recently paired with another industry powerhouse, Pinarello, to create a pair of bib shorts that represent the best of both Italian brands. The opportunity is now yours to wear one of the finest collaborations that we've seen between two labels as revered as these. Wear the new Giordana Trade FormaRed Carbon Pinarello Women's Bib Shorts this season, and let everyone know that you're proud to support Italy's deep cycling heritage.

Starting with the bulk of the shorts' construction, Giordana went with its compressive Shield fabric. With a certified Power Lycra composition weight of 240g/m2, the FormaRed Carbon (FRC) bib shorts have taken on a nearly medical compression level. To achieve this, the material features Giordana's new Super 40 generation weaving technology. This refers to Shield's 40 threads per centimeter (TPC), and as Giordana puts it, the highest prior thread count hovered around 36 TPC. This means that, compared to most competition, the Shield material is softer, more conforming, and has a higher level of wicking capability. And remarkably, Shield achieves this at a lighter weight than most Lycra blends. Why is this important? Well, if you've worn compressive fabrics, you'll have notice that they're heavy in comparison to traditional Lycra. Shield Endurance encompasses the key traits, like inhibiting muscle oscillation and promoting a positive circulation, only without the detriment of a weighty, poorly-breathing composition.

Moving to the inner legs and seat panel, Giordana placed an even stronger fabric called Zaffiro. This material is a certified Power Lycra with a composition weight of 200g/m2. But, like Shield, Zaffiro features a purposefully denser weave with Giordana's SUPER 40 construction technology. This guarantees a continuation of the aforementioned characteristics. Additionally, Giordana placed its new Ametista fabric around the waist as part of its Core Contour System. Again, we see a return of 200g/m2 Lycra, only now, Ametista is characterized by its woven-in carbon threads -- thus, the 'Carbon' in 'FormaRed Carbon.' With the carbon filament, material stretch is controlled, but not just in the supportive sense. Basically, the carbon reinforces the honeycomb-knit Lycra, making it lighter, yet stronger, and allowing it universally stretch in all directions, not just four-way. Additionally, the carbon fiber blocks out static and rogue atmospheric electrical interference for an increased anaerobic output and a delayed onset of fatigue.

As for the fit, the FRC benefits from Giordana's innovative contoured cut. Essentially, the bib shorts are created on a curve in order to match your body in the cycling position. By doing this, abrasion is minimized, and fabric bunching and pinching is eliminated. To secure this position, Giordana incorporated its MicroQuad bib straps and Aerofix leg cuffs. MicroQuad features a differentiated stretch that anatomically regulates flexibility and movement. Additionally, this microfiber is highly-breathable and an efficient transporter of moisture. At the cuffs, the new Aerofix design uses a low-profile, seamless cuff that holds strong while maintaining an aerodynamic presence. And for further comfort, the entirety of the bib shorts have been constructed with four-needle flatlock stitched seams.

The bib shorts' chamois is one that Giordana touts as being the most advanced in the industry -- the Women's Cirro OmniForm. We don't deal in absolutes, but we're able to say that it's the first chamois we've heard of with Aloe Vera particles directly infused into the threads of the microfiber. Aloe is not only a natural bacteria fighter, but its implementation in the fiber provides a cooling effect that protects and heals during activity. Below the skin layer, the Cirro has a 4mm-thick pad of waffled-texture expanding memory foam. The texture aids in ventilation by moving moisture to the perimeter of the chamois where accelerated evaporation will occur. The final layer of the chamois is a thick section of hand-sewn open cell padding with recessed channels for pressure relief.

The Giordana Trade FormaRed Carbon Pinarello Women's Bib Shorts are available in five sizes from X-Small to X-Large and in the Pinarello Black/white colorway.