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review
£90.00
VERDICT:
Good shorts with decent comfort but the colour might be too bold for most tastes
Weight:
225g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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A good pair of bib shorts can really boost your comfort in the saddle, especially for longer rides, and these Primal Frequency Evo Men's Bibs provide all the comfort you could want, backed up by a really good fit and proven durability.
There are some important things to consider when buying bib shorts and these Primal shorts get everything just right. For a start, the fit is really good. The size Medium shorts I tested proved spot on in that regard, with enough stretch in the Vero fabric to hug the legs without exerting too much pressure. The shape of the various panels helps with the good fit.
The heart of any good bib short is the padded insert. Primal uses an E6 Carbon chamois that has various thicknesses of foam padding arranged in a step-like formation. It basically puts more cushioning where you need it most (under the sit bones) and less where you don't need it. This prevents the padding from ever feeling too bulky or like you're wearing a nappy.
The bib construction, with flatlock seams throughout, features a mesh material for the wide bib straps and back panel, which aids ventilation and is a noticeable benefit in warmer weather. The short openings are lined with a double stitched hem and a thin band of silicone gripper tape. While this keeps the shorts in place and they don't ride up, it's not as comfortable as the seamless approach being employed by some more progressive clothing manufacturers.
You'll either love or hate the bold colour of these shorts. If you're not digging the colour, then you might be interested to know that the road.cc shorts are exactly the same as these. I've been wearing a pair of those for the past couple of years and ridden thousands of miles in them, and the durability and comfort have been superb.
Primal's shorts are good, but there are better shorts for similar money, including Rapha's new Core shorts for a tenner more, which have a more modern design and more subtle appearance. This price point is a competitive one and while the Primal shorts get most things right, I'd like to see the hems improved.
Verdict
Good shorts with decent comfort but the colour might be too bold for most tastes
road.cc test report
Make and model: Primal Frequency Evo Mens Bibs
Size tested: Medium
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?
Men's 'Frequency' bib shorts with a vibrant racing striped pattern from Primal. Constructed from Vero fabric, the bib shorts provide optimal muscle compression and recovery while flexible silicon leg grippers prevent the shorts from riding up. The bib shorts are cut with an Evo Corsa anatomic fit to optimise flexibility and compression while also increasing blood flow.
The 'Frequency' cycling shorts are fitted with an E6 Carbon chamois that utilises Resistex anti-static carbon fabric to increase blood flow and reduce lactic acid. Comprising four layers with 4-way stretch, the chamois incorporates an Airmesh insert to absorb shock and transport moisture. The 'Frequency' shorts are finished with flatlock stitching to prevent irritation, silicone leg grippers to prevent the shorts from riding up and Promesh bib uppers to keep you cool.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Cycling bib shorts
Evo Corsa pro tour fit
Verofabric
E6 Carbon chamois
Flatlock stitching
Silicone leg gripper
Promesh bib upper
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
7/10
Rate the product for fit:
7/10
Rate the product for sizing:
7/10
Rate the product for weight:
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
7/10
Rate the product for value:
6/10
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
No problems - I've been wearing a pair of road.cc shorts (which are the same) for the past two years and they're still going strong
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Comfortable pad and good fit
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Fit well and provide good comfort for short and long rides
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The colour! And the hem design isn't the most comfortable
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Not in this colour
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, if they like bold colours
Use this box to explain your score
Primal's shorts are good, but there are better shorts for similar money, including Rapha's new Core shorts for a tenner more, which have a more modern design and more subtle appearance.
About the tester
Age: 31
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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