Rapha Core Bibs Review

Over two months of summer in the Tetons, we tried our best to find the Rapha Core Bib's weaknesses and see how it performed against the other top options. Through hot, dusty after-work laps and all-day epics that started cold and ended hot, the Core Bib routinely held up better than most. If we had to nitpick, they weren't the most breathable, though they still performed well in that regard; on all other accounts, particularly comfort and fit, they were quite impressive.

Comfort

The Core Bib comes equipped with Rapha's Classic chamois, which is designed for the everyday rider, according to the company. Construction is simple: two pieces of moderately compressive foam that form the main section of the chamois, ringed by a thinner layer of foam that prevents rubbing from the seat. Though it lacks some of the intricate design of some other chamois, the Rapha pad moves well with your body and stays planted on the seat.

Rapha's classic chamois occupies the Goldilocks zone between the super-large, plush chamois in cheaper shorts and the small pads often found in higher-end shorts designed for racing. In our testing, we found that meant it was more versatile and comfortable across many styles of riding, whether gravel, mountain bike, or road. The less compressive foam in the pad might not hug the seat the way some endurance riders like, but it held up to all-day riding because it did not lose shape after multiple hours in the saddle.

Fit and Pedal Friendliness

The Rapha Core Bib is built for comfort and doesn't get in the way when you want to pedal hard. The fit is close, with gentle compression, but the materials move well with your body. With 19% spandex in the densely woven short fabric, they stretch a lot, so despite only having six main body panels (with the chamois divided into four), they aren't inhibitive during big movements.

Flatlock seams are comfy against your skin and minimize abrasion when your legs are coated in salt after several sweaty hours. If you have thunder thighs, the slight compression might be noticeable. They required some effort to pull on for our tester with normal-sized leg muscles, so be advised that the pedal friendliness may decrease relative to thigh yokedness.

Many bibs feature a higher-waisted look, with stretchy panels reaching up above the belly button. Instead, like a bib-less bike short, Rapha's Core Bibs have a waistline that wraps right above the hip bones, eliminating any pressure on the tummy during aggressive maneuvers and attacks. We found that to be preferable on long rides, but those who like the tummy-tucking feel might choose something with a higher waist. Coupled with the regular waistband, the Core Bib's straps make for a pleasant-fitting upper that is nearly unnoticeable while out of the saddle, and the laser-cut hems with integrated silicone grippers kept the legs in place, no matter how hard we were working.

Breathability

The Rapha Core Bib does pretty well in the breathability department, just not as well as in other metrics. They never seemed overmatched in the hot, alpine conditions in which we tested them. Rapha advises using them in conditions up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and while we never exceeded that upper range, the sweat-wicking properties of the nylon in the main fabric kept them comfortable when used as recommended. Unlike a true hot-weather performer, they lack venting along the chamois pad.

Where these shine is in the straps. The semilooseness of the fabric doesn't make them slip, but it does facilitate a bit of airflow through the chest. That eliminates the clammy, sticky feeling some other bib straps can have after becoming inundated with sweat.

Quality of Construction

No frills, nothing to go wrong. That was our experience over two months of use with the Rapha Core Bib. The construction is pretty basic, yet well done, and through several washings and long rides, the flatlock seams have yet to show signs of wear. Rapha suggests washing them on delicate and hanging them to dry.

For those willing to wash them in a mesh laundry bag and hang them up, they should last a long time. Though we didn't take a mountain bike fall while wearing them, the densely woven fabric seems like it would hold up to some abuse.

Style

At the end of the day, bike shorts are just a piece of athletic gear, and style is certainly subjective, but it's hard to go wrong with the classic all-blue lower and white upper.

Our lead tester prefers all invisible seams over the flatlocks, strictly for looks, but that's a small complaint. The 10-inch inseam felt like the perfect length, enough to cover most of the leg and fashionable on their own, but also short enough to tuck under a mountain bike short. We rated these highest in the class, appreciating the sleek lines of the all-blue shorts and how the ultra-wide straps stood out against a jersey or baselayer. We can't wait to sip espresso in these in a quiet Italian village after a morning of mountain roads.

Should You Buy the Rapha Core Bib?

Yes, straight up, these are worth it. These are meant for road bikers, according to Rapha, and they are plush for several hours in the saddle, regardless of road condition. That is to say, they can handle a few bumps. We found they hold up quite well to the rigors of mountain biking due to the less-compressive nature of the chamois. They really can be your One-Chamois-To-Rule-Them-All, if you're a multi-discipline cyclist. Racers and other high-performance athletes might be turned off by the basic design of the chamois, but for the average rider (and let's face it, that's most of us), the Core Bib straddles the line between high-performance and comfort for all manner of bike rides.

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