Few things can spoil a ride as quickly as a poor pair of cycling shorts. As the interface between your bum and the saddle, they are perhaps the single most important piece of cycling clothing and not something worth skimping on. Castelli offers more than a dozen different options, but these shorts are part of their recent and comprehensive ‘Espresso’ collection. This range concentrates on quality, fit and low-key aesthetics. It is aimed at committed riders rather than racers, whatever that distinction means, and I have been extremely impressed with other items from the collection I have tested.
If nothing else, Castelli must take the record for the most number of colours available in a pair of bib shorts. There are no fewer than eleven colours for men listed on Castelli's website and six for women, so whatever colour your jersey, bike, shoes or helmet there should be the perfect colour available (although Clay would be a brave choice for shorts!).
Sizes for men run from XS to 3XL and from XS to XL for women (the women’s version gets a drop tail function for easier toilet visits).
Construction
It used to be that the measure of the best cycling shorts was the number of panels it had, with panels equalling better fit. Modern fabrics have made this concept redundant, and the Espresso Bibshort only have two vertical seams on the legs for a minimalist look.
The Espresso Doppio fabric feels slightly heavier weight than something like Castelli’s Free Aero Race shorts, with a matte finish and almost a stretch-woven feel to them which promises decent durability. The hems are raw-cut with well-spaced vertical silicone grippers, a smaller-than-usual Castelli Scorpion on the left one and small reflective tabs. Lightweight mesh straps, with the brand’s name spelt out in the perforations, suggest that breathability won’t be an issue.
At the base of the straps on the rear of the shorts is an open, stretchy pocket that measures 12cm x 12cm. This sits underneath/behind any jersey pockets.
If a pair of bib shorts is the most important piece of cycling gear, then the seat pad is the most important element of the shorts. Made to absorb vibrations and cosset your derriere for hours on end the pad must also keep your skin dry and chafe-free whilst perched on a sliver of leather and carbon. Castelli’s Progetto X2 Air has been around for some time now, and is used in all of their premium shorts and tights. It is made up of a seamless, bacteriostatic skin care layer with good airflow and a multi-density, variable-thickness foam layer with viscous padding. In practice, this means that the outer edges of the pad are much thinner than the middle sections, with three labelled areas under the sit bones and perineum using even firmer foam - the Viscous Comfort Zones apparently.
The ride
First, and by far the most important aspect of any shorts that I try, is the tan line test; the Espresso Bibshort passed with flying colours. That is to say, their hem lined up with other shorts that I wear from Castelli, Universal Colours and Assos so that any tan lines remain sharp and unsmudged. The fairly sparse but effective vertical silicone leg grippers also kept the hems firmly in place so they didn’t ride up as the day progressed without irritation.
The Espresso Doppio fabric looked and felt great - slightly compressive and a touch more substantial than some Lycra with a nice, non-shiny finish. The material is maybe slightly mismatched if paired with Castelli’s lightweight Espresso Jersey, with the very airy jersey fabric seemingly made for warmer temperatures than the shorts.
Sizing was on par with other brands too - large fitted me at 176cm/74kg and although the shorts felt snug, once on and in the right place there was no hint of restriction. Likewise, the light mesh straps were long enough to allow me to stand up straight without them pulling me forward.
While Castelli’s venerable Progetto X2 Air seat pad is not quite my absolute favourite pad, it is great for a day or two (in different shorts!) or up to six hours on a ride. However, after that, I do start to feel a bit of slight discomfort around the edges of the pad where it is thinner. Of course, pad fit and comfort are purely personal and as Castelli uses the Progetto X2 Air in all their top-end shorts and tights the feedback must be very positive overall.
On shorter rides, the pad is very comfortable with good moisture management and a pleasant feel against the skin, although I can’t claim that my nether regions are delicate enough to tell the difference between the 15mm padding and the 9mm sections!
I know from long-term ownership of other products with the Progetto X2 Air seat pad that multiple cycles through the washing machine do nothing to reduce the pad’s effectiveness.
I never really found a use for the rear pocket - it’s reasonably deep but open, so I wouldn’t put anything valuable in it and as it sits against the small of the back whatever is in there is likely to get pretty damp and sweaty. I guess something like arm warmers discarded after a cool start would be OK, or a couple of gels, although anything in there is going to bulk out the jersey pocket above it. Maybe if you were riding in a non-pocketed jersey then it might be handy.
Value and conclusion
Castelli in general, and the Espresso collection specifically, tends to hit a sweet spot where you know you are paying a bit of a premium for quality materials and thoughtful design, but you can see (and feel) where the cash has gone. This is certainly the case with the Espresso Bibshort with its classy aesthetic and refined materials.
£175 / $180 is a chunk of money, but it is at the low to mid-end of premium brand shorts, with Assos for example, topping out at £305 / $400 and PNS bib shorts not even starting until £210 / $240. For something so crucial to on-bike comfort it is well worth paying to keep your bum happy.
