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review

PEdAL ED Raku Bib Shorts

6
£99.00

VERDICT:

6
10
Good fit and pad, but lacks the sort of breathability you'd expect at this price
Weight: 
310g
Contact: 

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The Raku shorts are the only bib shorts in Pedal ED's line of cycle clothing. They're well made, look smart and fit well. Sadly, they don't deal too well with sweat.

The Rakus are made from a 59% polyamide, 41% elastane mix, known to you and me as Nylon/Lycra. There are elastic cuffs around the legs which are specially designed for sensitive skin. I don't normally suffer from sensitive skin so I can't really tell either way how effective this is. There are what looks like the usual silicone leg grippers, but with a bit of a twist: these are in the shape of 'Pedal ED' lettering both in English and Japanese.

The chamois in these shorts is a quality Cytech one; comparing with the pictures on the Cytech website, it appears to be the HP Fiandre pad. According to Cytech, it's designed for longer, more intense rides. It's made from three different densities of material providing comfort and helping the pelvic bones find support on the saddle. This material is breathable, absorbs sweat and provides natural bacteriostatic control, says Cytech. The pad delivers on these promises, no comfort complaints from me as far as the insert goes, even on longer rides.

These bib shorts are Pedal ED's designer Hideto Suzuki's take on how bib shorts should be made. The marketing blurb suggests that they should include support for proper posture on longer rides. It appears this is why the upper part of these bibs are made from a double layer of Lycra. This starts just above the pad on the front and curves up around your waist to a third of the way up around the back. There's a two-and-a-half inch mesh strap that runs vertically down the centre of the back to where the lower back ends and the arse starts. This mesh looks very mesh like on the outside, but looks more like Roubaix fabric on the inside.

All this certainly makes the bibs feel snug, though I wouldn't necessarily go as far as saying supportive. I'm not sure I'd even want to rely on bib shorts for support, a strong core would be a much better basis for proper posture if you ask me. Anyway. Unfortunately, what all this material also does is make the bibs less breathable than is desirable, or indeed than what you'd expect from bib shorts that cost very nearly £100. And I don't think it's just the double layer, although that won't help. The material just feels a bit too substantial and shiny to let enough moisture through for evaporation.

We tested the medium, which is on a par with Endura, DHB and Altura medium. Fortunately, we got the black version – it's also available in brown which is a bit too 'unusual' for me.

In summary, I like these bibs for their comfort and pad. But I won't be wearing them on rides of any intensity; I'll be reaching for others which are made from more breathable material.

Verdict

Good fit and pad, but lacks the sort of breathability you'd expect at this price.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: PEdAL ED Raku Bibshort

Size tested: Medium, Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

The Raku Bib short is our design iteration for the most important cycling garment, the basis of riding performance and enjoyment. Made from lycra and outfitted with the Cytech® pad, the Raku has elastic cuffs specially designed for sensitive skin, to achieve a unrivalled comfort and functionality.

The Raku is cut high in the back and on the sides of the torso to support proper posture on longer rides, and a second panel is employed for a snug, comfortable fit.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

* Cytech® Pad & Skin Sensitive

* Dry Fast & Breathable

* High Cut Comfort Fit

* Made in Italy

* 59% polyamide, 41% elastane

* Available in six sizes: XS to XXL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
6/10

They fit well and don't move around, but the fabric is not very breathable and so gets sweaty pretty quickly.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

£99 is a lot of money for a pair of bib shorts with the breathability (or lack thereof) of the most basic shorts. The fit is really good though and so is the pad.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The shorts and pad fit well and are comfortable but are not breathable enough to justify the price tag.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfort and fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The lack of breathability.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, on colder, less intensive rides

Would you consider buying the product? No. I think much better shorts are available at this price.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? No.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The Pedal Ed Raku bib shorts fit well and have a decent pad, but they are not breathable enough for higher intensity rides.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 1.78m  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: All of them!  My best bike is: Cannondale CAAD10

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

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