I wore the medium bibs, which is my normal size and they fitted me well. My initial thoughts were that they were a little tight on the body, with shortish straps, but once I started riding they settled into a more comfortable position. I do have quite a long body though. The ‘Galibier Wheel’ logo is on the gripper, which I think looks good.
I tried both the Traditional and Longer leg options and found that the former version’s gripper felt a bit tight on my thighs. I don’t have massive quads, so you may want to avoid or size up if you do.
The longer leg length sat at a similar place to most contemporary bibs that I’ve tried in recent times, and in this case the gripper was comfortable and fitted well. There was around a 6cm difference in where the Traditional leg sat compared to the Longer option.
The chamois was really comfortable. Initially, it feels that it might be a bit too padded, but in practice I found it comfortable on long rides with a good amount of squish and support. I appreciated the central cut out channel, and the extra padding for the sitbones. It felt well judged and a quality item. I certainly had no issues during my time riding with it.
Looking at the materials, I see that one of the main fabrics uses a 78% recycled nylon (with 22% elastane). I like designs that use recycled materials, but only so long as they perform well. Fortunately, this fabric did. The side mesh breathed well and held its shape, and the back mesh was lighter with more breathability. The flat locked seams throughout were unobtrusive and there was nothing that chaffed or caused irritation.
The main competition is from the Boardman 9 Series Bib Shorts. At £60 Josh found them to be excellent. He said: ‘They’re very comfortable, the fit is excellent and they perform better than some options costing more than twice the price.’
If you’re starting out, the Galibier Classique, at £55.33, should also be a good choice. They’re aimed more at the ‘up to 8hrs a week rider’. Dave found them to be a ‘simple pair of bib shorts with a classic design that are comfy for short and long rides’. Once you’re riding more (8-15hrs per week) a move to the Équipe 3 will offer improved fabrics/fit and a slightly better chamois.
Coming in at £99, and £26 more than the Équipe 3s, the Castelli Entrata bib shorts are ‘high-performance without the price tag’. Bryn really liked their fit but advised that sizing could be an issue as well as that the seatpad depth and placement might not suit everyone.
Finally, the Lusso Perform Carbon Bib Shorts (£100) use recycled materials throughout, are made in Manchester, and look ‘understated yet smart’ with their classic style. They also perform very well.
I found the Galibier Équipe 3 Aero Bib Shorts to be really comfortable and they offer excellent value. The chamois lends itself to long days in the saddle, but the shorts were great for a short blast too.
Make and model: Galibier Équipe 3 Aero Bib Shorts
Tell us what the product is for
The Galibier Équipe 3 Aero bib shorts are made for riders who ride 8-15 hours a week. Seven sizes from XS to XXXL with two options of leg length.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Features:
Dual Carvico fabric ensures quick wicking and muscle support (UPF 50+).
Fully flat-locked seams for comfort.
Anatomically designed multi-panel construction with a seamless inner leg.
Gentle 10cm Silicone gripper hems.
Dual Mesh bibs ensure a snug, comfortable fit.
Cropped logo on left leg gripper.
Medium compression suitable for extended rides.
Ultra-light wide-top mesh design.
Materials:
Main B: Nylon 71%, Elastane 29%
Main A: Recycled Nylon 78%, Elastane 22%
Trim: Polyester 82%, Elastane 18%
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Flat locked seams everywhere ensured no rubbing or chafing.
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
They performed well overall, and the wicking away of moisture was very good.
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
No issues during testing.
Rate the product for fit:
8/10
There are two leg lengths available: a shorter ‘Traditional’ and a more modern ‘Longer’ leg. I preferred the Longer leg. It sat in the same place as other shorts that I wear. I found that the trad leg’s gripper was a bit tight around my thigh too, and I don’t have huge legs. The Longer gripper was perfect for me tightness wise.
Rate the product for sizing:
7/10
I tested medium, which is my normal size. They are quite a snug fit with bib straps that are slightly shorter than I’m used to. However, I settled into them once riding without issue.
Rate the product for weight:
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
9/10
The chamois was excellent. It was comfortable and supportive without being bulky.
Rate the product for value:
9/10
The price is very good for the performance that you’re getting.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
No issues after multiple washes at 30 degrees with a gentle detergent.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The chamois.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The bib straps could’ve been an inch longer for me, but I have quite a long body.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The main competition is from the Boardman 9 Series Bib Shorts. At £60 Josh found them to be excellent. He said: ‘They’re very comfortable, the fit is excellent and they perform better than some options costing more than twice the price.’
If you’re starting out, the Galibier Classique, at £55.33, should also be a good choice. They’re aimed more at the ‘up to 8hrs a week rider’. Dave found them to be a ‘simple pair of bib shorts with a classic design that are comfy for short and long rides’. Once you’re riding more (8-15hrs per week) a move to the Équipe 3 will offer improved fabrics/fit and a slightly better chamois.
Coming in at £99, and £26 more than the Équipe 3’s, the Castelli Entrata bib shorts are ‘high-performance without the price tag’. Bryn really liked their fit but advised that sizing could be an issue as well as that the seatpad depth and placement might not suit everyone.
Finally, the Lusso Perform Carbon Bib Shorts (£100) use recycled materials throughout, are made in Manchester, and look ‘understated yet smart’ with their classic style. They also perform very well.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
The chamois / seat pad was excellent, very comfortable, and one of the best I have ever ridden with. The quality of construction and use of materials was also excellent. I liked the style with the logo on the leg gripper too. The leg grippers held in place well, albeit a little tight with the Trad version for me. No issue with the Long version though. The bib straps were also a little tight initially, but once riding they were fine. I thought that the price was also very competitive.
Age: 56
I usually ride: Condor Fratello 55cm My best bike is: Gios Evolution 55cm
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Every week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, General road riding is most common