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endura pro sl bibshorts

endura pro sl bibshorts

it may be that the fit of cycle apparel has become more standardised than that of more regular, day to day clothing. mrswashingmachinepost is a devotee of the online catalogues for her clothing requirements, a process that i have often suggested might be circumvented by having the goods delivered direct to the carrier for immediate return. apparently, no matter the professed size accompanying the website image, the tangible result of ordering seems to bear little resemblance when it arrives at the croft. even ordering three or four items at the same size, will rarely result in four items that actually fit. thus the process is confounded by having to order several instances of the one garment, in the sincere hope that one of those instances will prove successful.

endura pro sl bibshorts

our porch often resembles a postal sorting office, with many a plastic bag taped up for collection and return.

on the contrary, throughout the many years i have been reviewing velocipedinal garmentage, i have never had to return anything because it didn't fit. granted, i think we're all comfortably aware that regular cycling will maintain that honed physique, but i have found that a medium jersey from any of the major purveyors of cycling apparel will fit just ginger peachy. similarly, that of bibshorts, bibtights and footwear. the only product line that seems to offer more of a variation than desired, is that of gloves. i usually opt for large, but i've had some doozies that would have allowed me to wave to passing motorists, without the glove moving at all.

endura pro sl bibshorts

in this respect, we have a distinct advantage over not only the average human being (remember, cyclists are just like ordinary people, but way more awesome), but the genus usually referred to as 'motorists'. i cannot profess myself to be au fait with the minutiae of contemporary car interior design, but as far as i'm aware, there is not the option to have small, medium or large seats fitted to your 71 plate audi suv. we, on the other hand, can choose from an enormous range of saddles, sporting every width, length and rigidity known to mankind, all of which will fit seamlessly on the top of whichever seatpost arrived with your bicycle. the motoring public is usually only offered a few colour and fabric options.

endura pro sl bibshorts

in the case of scotland's endura clothing, those variations in saddle width are matched by three pad options on their pro-sl bibshorts, depending on the width of posterior you'll admit to. in the possibility that you haven't measured your bum lately, so far as i'm aware, authorised endura dealers have saddle-like devices to subtly inform you as to which pad width is most appropriate. though i have not had access to such a device, my 30" waist seems to have accurately translated to a size small pro sl bibshort, with the narrowest of pads.

endura pro sl bibshorts

endura's award-winning original pro sl bibshort with variable width pad has now been updated with the 'new for 2020 model', based on that original design. according to their website, these shorts proffer 'perfect fit' (always assuming you shoose the correct size) and lumbar support. the latter consists of a panel that 'wraps around your lower back and sides', keeping the shorts firmly in place and taking some of the pressure off the straps. the latter appear, from the front at least, a bit like a pair of braces. anchored at the waistline and of a consistent, elastic width until meeting the back panel just below the shoulders.

the shorts are available in two leg lengths, the longer of the two being around 4cm longer than their shorter sibling. i cannot deny that i am somewhat short of leg, relative to my torso, but endura sent over the longer version for review, and those extra centimetres are just fine and dandy by me, stopping as they do, a smidgeon above the knee. on the bicycle, this seemed a tad more respectable for an ageing velocipedinist, chris hoy proportioned thighs notwithstanding. as i have interminably mentioned for many a long year, i figure a well-fitting pair of shorts ought to be a struggle to pull on; this results in no untoward movement on the bike, even in very wet conditions. the pro-sl bibs were a real struggle to get on, though mostly because the gloopy stuff on the inside of the hem on each leg would probably stick a massey ferguson tractor to the ceiling of the nearest barn. over legwarmers, the process turned into a major engineering undertaking.

i figure that's a good thing.

endura pro sl bibshorts

the cut of the front of the bibshorts raises two points: the waistline is certainly low enough to allow for natural breaks without signing up for several weeks' of yoga classes. but on the downside, aesthetically it's less pleasing than the usual 'u-shaped' merging of the bibs with the shorts. however, i cannot say that, in use, this geometric shaping caused any discomfort. the bib straps, while obviously fulfilling a necessary function, remained 'invisible' in use. there was never any sensation of pressure on my shoulders, and no tell-tale red marks when removing my baselayer.

endura pro sl bibshorts

the body of the pro-sl bibs features coldblack technology, which professes to reduce heat build-up and offers protection from uv rays. you will perhaps understand why i cannot pay testament to this aspect when i point out that i was unable to wear the shorts without leg-warmer accessorising. temperatures hovering barely above zero are not the ideal in which to review a pair of bibshorts; i frequently suffer for your art. though i doubt it would have made for a pretty picture, while riding, i did my utmost to wrest the shorts from their initial position upon my posterior, a task in which i failed miserably. according to endura, these are most comfortable bibshorts they've ever made, a claim that i, for one, would not dispute.

the saddle on my ritchey logic is a narrow width brooks cambium. in combination with the pro-sl bibshorts, it offered several of the most comfortable bike rides i have been privileged to undertake. granted, i was unable to get them wet, but so close-fitting were they, that i seriously doubt any amount of precipitation would engender any untoward movement. even better, the retail price is an astounding £119.99

who said the scots were stingy with money?

endura's pro-sl bibshorts are available in black only, in sizes ranging from xs to xxl in narrow, medium and relaxed fit. price per pair is £119.99

endura pro-sl bibshort

monday 30 march 2020

twmp ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................