Capo

Piancavallo Bib Shorts

Situated high in the Apennines sits the notorious Piancavallo ascent. Just shy of 14 kilometers, and with an average gradient around eight percent, the Piancavallo has proven itself as a battle ground of the Giro -- most notably for the epic battle between Pantani and Tonkov in '98. Suitably, the Italian-centric Capo has devoted a 'collezione' based on this storied parcours, with the first piece being the Competitive Cyclist-exclusive Piancavallo Bib Shorts.

Capo designed the Piancavallo bib shorts around the venerable Power Lycra fabric. This patented material expresses measurable results within the fields of muscle fatigue and proprioception. Basically, its moderate denier creates a focused support for your muscle groups. So, when you're confronted by road vibration, the hold of Power Lycra minimizes the muscles' oscillation. In this sense, a root cause of fatigue is limited. However, this system of muscle control also aids proprioception by increasing the efficiency and accuracy of your muscles' movements. And taking a step even further, this has a moderate impact on the central nervous system's ability to translate feedback between the muscles and the brain. Capo also aided the fabric with a more traditional sense of compressive quality through the addition of 8cm compression leg bands. This feature contributes to a slight graduated compression for a moderate promotion of blood circulation.

And not to be upstaged by tinfoil metrics, Power Lycra also reflects a powerful moisture management capability. Essentially, the fabric's composition allows ample surface coverage. So, when you start to perspire, the Power Lycra accelerates the transfer of moisture to its quick-drying surface. And when the heat is pouring down, this attribute guarantees an evenhanded approach to thermo-regulation. In fact, this is further accentuated through the Piancavallo's use of full mesh uppers.

Just as importantly as Power Lycra's attributes are its characteristics of fit. Its supportive, conforming nature contributes to Capo's true hallmark of a custom-feel. Capo creates this by incorporating a multi-panel, contoured design that's cut to follow the shape of your body in motion. So, the bib shorts move with you, not against you.

For the chamois, Capo went with the illustrious Elastic Interface Technology (EIT) D4 insert. This chamois uses a variable density throughout to support the regions that need the most support, without impacting the ones that don't. The support focus is primarily placed at the perineal, ischial, and gluteal areas -- the points most prone to distress from saddle pressure and compression. With its anatomic design, the D4 creates an abrasion-free support that promotes an increased circulation by protecting nerves like the pudendal. Further along these lines, the chamois works to dissipate any heat. Even more impressive, the insert is road-specific. EIT engineers realize that saddles and saddle positions vary throughout different disciplines of cycling, and the insert's chamois density patterns are mindful of the specific pressures of road cycling.

The Capo Piancavallo Bib Shorts are available in five sizes from Small to XX-Large and in the colors Celeste/black and Pink/black.