Castelli

Velocissima Bib Short - Women's

While the pros may be used to spending four to six hours in the saddle every day, those of us who are self-sponsored only occasionally get that kind of luxurious time on the bike. That's why, when we do, we find kit like Castelli's Velocissima Bib Shorts absolutely indispensable. The Velocissima shorts bring a level of comfort over long miles not found in our shorts designed for the usual one-to-three heour spins that we can work into our schedule. When we have the time for long rides, we want to enjoy them to the fullest.

The Velocissima's main fabric, Endurance Evolution, is the heart of the shorts' straightforward functionality as it provides compressive support and effective moisture management. Staying dry is a nice benefit on a long ride, but the shorts' real strength is the compression, which reduces the fatiguing effects of road noise and muscle oscillation so your legs stay fresh beyond the 60, 80, or 100 mile mark. The Velocissima shorts are also finished off with the Giro 3 leg grippers, which omit the pinching elastic more commonly used in favor of a wide, gripping band.

The waist paneling eliminates uncomfortable stitching and elastic to lie flat, avoid pinching, and maintain fit. The waist feeds into mesh straps, which are lightweight and airy for a barely there feel that keeps everything in place. And by "everything," we of course mean the KISS Air Donna chamois, which shares the women's-specific design with padding and relief strategically laid-out to accommodate women's anatomy. The shorts are finished with reflective elements to help keep you visible in low-light conditions.