CASTELLI Bibshorts Superleggera

We’ve been pushing the envelope on lightweight shorts since 2011 but have butted up against the limits of compromising durability for ever lighter weight. We needed to step back and find a better way. We examined what the short really needs to do: it needs to hold the seat pad securely in place while otherwise adding as little weight or fabric as absolutely necessary (without being transparent, obviously), and it needs to last a season of hard use. So we engineered a brand-new fabric using a woven rather than a knit that shaves 30% in weight for the same level of support and non-transparency. Then we worked with the world’s leading mill to construct a gradient fabric that becomes increasingly lighter the farther down the leg it extends, with the last part weighing a mere 90 g/m2 compared to normal short fabric, which weighs around 220 g/m2. This fabric, while being insanely light, maintains a decent durability along with excellent abrasion resistance, at least against the saddle. We don’t guarantee it against unplanned slides across the asphalt, so please keep the rubber side down! Note that while the short saves a mere 48 grams while dry, this means it also absorbs around 30% less moisture when you’re sweating. So when you’re sweating your way up the Alpe d’Huez you’re actually saving closer to 150 grams. This short doesn’t compromise on comfort. We use our top Progetto X2 Air Seamless seat pad, the spectacular striped mesh bibs from the Free Aero Race 4 Bibshort and a flat stretch woven leg gripper to keep everything in place. But it’s the finishing that sets this short apart. The logos are embossed into the surface of the fabric for a very discreet rich tone-on-tone effect. With this short you don’t need brightly colored logos to shout out that you’ve achieved the ultimate in cycling comfort and performance.