Castelli Tabula Rasa Bib Shorts

The Castelli Tabula Rasa Bib Shorts are well made, breathable and comfortable, and a good option for all-day riding, although the bold design won't be for everyone.

• Pros: Comfortable, breathable
• Cons: Straps could be stretchier, design won't appeal to all

The Tabula Rasa are mid-range bib shorts for Castelli. One of their highlights is that the entire shorts fabric can be printed on, but this hasn't been done at the expense of some of the other key features. Their unique design won't necessarily be to all tastes, with bold orange stripes across the shorts on top of a dark teal colour, but they put in a good performance – particularly over long distances.

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As with all bib shorts, one of the most important elements is the seat pad. For the Tabula Rasa, Castelli has used its Kiss Air2 pad, not the Progetto X2 Air that you find in its top-of-the-range models but still an impressive pad. It has variable foam densities which help you stay comfortable in a number of positions and it keeps you well supported throughout long rides. I found that the shorts performed well even after several hours in the saddle.

Breathability is good for this price range, although not quite up there with some of the more expensive options. I'd say they're a good option for spring rides and cooler summer days, offering a little more warmth when starting out on a cold morning but not letting you overheat when temperatures begin to climb.

The ProFit Lycra used throughout the legs allows for a decent amount of movement, although they have less stretch than others I've used, so don't offer quite as much freedom. Castelli has used five panels on the shorts, one large on each side wrapping around the majority of the leg, two wrapping around the legs at the hem, one across the seat pad of the shorts and one large panel running up the back of the legs and elongating up the back. These are held together with strong stitching and flatlock seams on the legs to maintain comfort.

Up top, Castelli has included meshed straps with a hem to stop twisting. These work well for breathability as the mesh allows heat to move away from the body quickly. However, the fabric used doesn't have as much stretch as some, so for those with long bodies (like myself) the straps could be a little tight. If possible, try before you buy.

An RRP of £110 isn't cheap, but isn't astronomical compared to what you can pay for top spec bib shorts. They are comparable to the Nalini AHS Marmotte bib shorts that I tested last year, which come in at the same price. The Castellis don't have the same amount of stretch, but I'd say they just edge it when it comes to the pad.

Their biggest rivals are probably the Rapha Men's Core Bib Shorts, with the current offering coming in at £85 (although they were £100 when we reviewed them a few years ago). The Tabula Rasas offer a more exciting design, although Rapha's offerings pip them on price.

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

Overall, I found the Tabula Rasa bib shorts to be comfortable on long rides and breathable – a good choice for endurance events. I also liked the interesting design that really caught the eye. However, they could do with a bit more stretch in the straps for those of us with longer bodies.

Verdict

A good pair of endurance bib shorts, slightly lacking in stretch but comfortable and breathable