BTwin 700 Cycling Bib Shorts

Decathlon's own brand BTwin is well known for bringing good value sports products to the market, and its 700 Cycling Bib Shorts have some top features to celebrate.

First, there's the excellent chamois. Graded with multiple density levels and gel inserts, it's almost as comfortable as anything 'premium' I've ridden in all year – and that includes the likes of Rapha, Mavic and Bontrager. I certainly wasn't troubled by it on 100km rides.

> Find your nearest Decathlon store here

> Buy these online here

The shorts don't feel uncomfortable in other areas over that distance, either. The legs feature seamless and minimalist grippers at the hem for great performance-orientated retention, while the seams are of a good quality and don't rub or chafe.

So far, it's top marks – but there's more to be impressed with. The bib section is meshed for great cooling efficiency and does a good job of helping regulate your body's temperature, the straps at the top of the shoulder are flat for added comfort, and the styling is – to my mind – well considered and tasteful. Match these bib shorts up to their sibling jersey (review here), and you've got a great looking set.

The one downside, by my reckoning, is the width of those straps. They're comfortable and flexible, but fit incredibly widely. I hadn't noticed at first on my first outing with them, but by the time I'd made it to my coffee stop, the straps had pulled so wide they felt as if they were going to slip off. They're certainly generous size-wise in this area, but overly so I think – especially as I know my shoulders are wide on account of a former life spent ploughing up and down a swimming pool.

However, it's a small black mark in an otherwise excellent pair of bib shorts. They wash through well on a delicate wash, maintaining their size and shape, which is good because the overall cut is a great blend of performance without restricting or being uncomfortable when what you want to do is take it easy.

> Check out our guide to the best bib shorts here

All this makes the asking price of £40 an extraordinarily good bargain. Stu tested the £49.99 BTwin Aerofit bib shorts recently and gave them full marks, but I can't think of any bib shorts I've tested that are quite as good value as these – even compared with the OneTen Tempo bib shorts I tested last year. These have to be serious candidates for any cyclist, not just those hoping to save a few quid this summer.

Verdict

Very well made bib shorts that feel great to ride in, at an excellent price