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review

Gore C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts+

8
£179.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Fantastically thin, comfortable and cool shorts, and fantastically expensive with it
Weight: 
175g

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.

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Gore's C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts+ are remarkably thin, soft and light, yet still feature some clever venting and windproofing for hot weather comfort. They're impressive – as they should be for the price – though the low front and short-ish straps might not please everyone.

  • Pros: Great pad, good cooling, very light
  • Cons: Expensive, legs can creep up, straps verge on tight, excessive packaging

Gore really wants you to know these were 'engineered with Fabian Cancellara', as it's written all over the beautifully crafted box. Two photo-heavy sections accordion from the open lid, detailing the Long Distance shorts' place in the range (greater padding than the C7 Races, none of the thigh perforations of the C7 Vents). From everywhere, Fabian grimaces from his handlebar at either the climb or the weird typos, non-sequiturs and mistranslations in the text. It's odd.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Sorry to start with the box, but... Yes, it may help you feel better about dropping £180 on a pair of shorts, but as far as I'm concerned cycling should be the last industry wasting material and inflating transport costs in 2019. To be fair, Gore is not unique in this.

If you want to feel better about the C7s, just wear them. Aimed at summer temperatures, they have a barely-there feel that it would take a considerable heatwave to overwhelm. In the absence of heatwaves during the Welsh springtime, I also found them perfectly comfortable in low double-figures Centigrade, and usable even into single figures with knee warmers.

Gore Gore Wear C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts - back.jpg

The cup at the front may look holed like a teabag – and it is – but thankfully there's a windproof membrane behind all but the upper corners. It's stitched above and below, allowing the two layers to float, and air to slip through to your groin.

Gore Gore Wear C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts.jpg

Does it work? I think so... certainly I never felt any heat build up even on multi-hour rides that left my face, my loved ones assured me, pink like a piglet in a sauna, but then there were never any uncomfortable chills on colder rides either. All I can definitively say is they remained comfortable across a decent range of temperatures, and that may be all you want to hear.

The extremely thin material further helps resist heat build-up, as does the very low front, which can leave gaps to bare skin with shorter jerseys. On the other hand it does make 35mph pro-level 'comfort breaks' easier (I've yet to meet the lollipop lady who appreciates how tricky that is), while racers also get a radio pocket in the rear of the bib. At just 175g, they're certainly up to competition.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best cycling bib shorts

The shoulder straps are wide and soft, although – like so many – probably a stronger elastic than is strictly necessary. They pulled the shorts up a tad snugger than I'd personally like, though I am long in the torso. Despite that, the straps never dug in or irritated my shoulders, no matter how long I rode.

The pad, meanwhile, proved excellent in conjunction with my favourite saddle, to the point where I rarely gave it a second thought. Ideal.

Gore Gore Wear C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts - chamois.jpg

One thing I did notice was that the legs would slowly rise up as the miles passed. It never led to discomfort – the fabric is almost too thin and stretchy to bunch up – but the silicone grippers, which only loop around two-thirds of the opening and are very thin, are not quite up to the job.

Gore Gore Wear C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts - gripper.jpg

It's possible that sizing up would solve any niggles with both the straps and the legs wanting to shrink upwards (Gore itself says its sizes 'may run a little smaller than you expect'), but it never actually occurred to me. These really were tiny niggles, and you may not encounter them at all, especially if you're like Fabian with a short body and terrifically grippy legs.

Gore Gore Wear C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts - cuff.jpg

At £180 the C7s are up against the likes of Attaquer's very comfy All Day Bib Shorts (£170), Le Col's £180 HCs and Alé's PRR 2.0 Fusion HDs (£170). They're all at the top of the range for price and performance – and at this level, which is 'best' is going to be as much a personal choice and bodyshape as anything. Gore's C7 Long Distances are definitely contenders – and they'd be better still if they just arrived in a bag.

Verdict

Fantastically thin, comfortable and cool shorts, and fantastically expensive with it

road.cc test report

Make and model: Gore C7 Long Distance Bib Shorts+

Size tested: L

Tell us what the product is for

Gore says: "Developed with Fabian Cancellara for endurance road cycling with maximum support and ultimate comfort. Built for the long haul, technologies like low force elastic and flatlock seams ensure this short stays in place no matter how long you ride."

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

Gore lists a lot of tech points:

-EXPERT LONG DISTANCE seat insert with GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Cup

-Developed with Fabian Cancellara

-Dense knit construction creates ultra soft next to skin feel to reduce chafing

-Central torso architecture keeps chamois in place

-Wide and flat bibs with highly breathable material keeps short in place

-Ultra fine gauge, super stretch, durable performance with abrasion resistance

-Three point chamois anchoring system means you will never have to readjust your short while riding

-Silicone leg grippers create snug fit at thigh without restricting movement

-Reflective details on all sides for 360 degree visibility

-Radio pocket on rear of bib

-Opaque finish fabric is ultra wicking and fast drying

-GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Cup Technology:highly breathable, preformed windproof front for optimum comfort

-Flatlock seams all around to create maximum comfort

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Great fabric, thoughtful panelling and neatly overlocked/flatlocked seams.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Light, cool and very comfortable.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

I'd worry about the thin fabric in a crash (not tested), but otherwise they feel sturdy.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

Slim and secure.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
7/10

Pretty much spot on for a tight, racy fit, though Gore itself says it may be wise to size up. On reflection maybe I should have.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10

175g feels very good for the level of comfort.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

Extremely good without quite reaching to the exceptional.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

They're no bargain at £180.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Cold wash without issue and dry quickly.

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

Very well – they stay comfy for miles, with only very minor niggles.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Vented yet windproof cup.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

They border on being undersized... and Gore knows it.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

There's little that's more expensive that isn't a full-on aero suit. They're costly.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? If I won the lottery.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

They're very good – a solid eight – but not really exceptional, especially when you factor in the cost.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 45  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: GT GTR Series 3  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mountain biking

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
Fried | 5 years ago
0 likes

About 80% of my cycling gear was from Gore including the shorts. The last three bib shorts had different quality issues and were partly just poorly built. Customer complaint did not give a damn. After 20 years as a Gore fan, that was it for me. Still, sometimes I cannot believe it...

Avatar
Freddy56 | 5 years ago
0 likes

I would like to ask Steve the tester, how he can defend 4 stars which is "Very Good" given the grippers don't work and they are £180?

Im sure he will be ware that there are £70 shorts on the market that perform fantastically well..?

 

Avatar
Loi | 5 years ago
0 likes

I agree with the verdict overall, but I am slightly surprised by the comment on the straps. I usually have issues with restrictive (i.e. too short) bib straps due to my slim build (190/70), however, Gore tends to have comfortable and elastic straps in my opinion. The new C7 are no different (medium fits perfectly which means that less tall people should actually find the straps rather long). Other brands like Assos, Rapha, Castelli unfortunately often don't work for me: either too loose in the legs or way too short straps...

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