Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

PEdAL ED Odyssey Bibshorts

9
£145.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Top notch bib shorts that work on and off-road, with subtle storage should you need it
Weight: 
210g
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 mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

PEdAL ED's Odyssey Bibshorts are part of its range of clothing that caters for the growing popularity of long distance bikepacking trips out into the wilderness. Comfort is key, along with plenty of storage – and these bib shorts certainly deliver.

  • Pros: Excellent fit and pad, clever storage solutions
  • Cons: Nothing really

Over the last few months my riding time has been split pretty much 50/50 between road and gravel, and the latter is where these Odyssey shorts have really come into their own alongside the Odyssey jersey and gilet.

> Buy these online here

On my doorstep I have a network of gravel tracks and trails that cover hundreds of kilometres (that's only the parts I've explored so far) and I can go for hours without seeing a living soul, so I always feel like I need to carry a little bit more – especially in the dark... I love a lonely night ride!

At the bottom of the bib straps, the Odyssey shorts have a large mesh pocket which is easily big enough to carry some snacks, two or three inner tubes or a gilet for instance.

PEdAL_ED_Odyssey_Short_rear_pocket_2

Off the bike it doesn't feel that taut, but once the shorts are on it's a very secure aperture.

For those times when you are in warmer climes and wearing the shorts without a jersey over the top, PEdAL ED has included a reflective strip at the top of the pocket, which is a nice touch.

PEdAL_ED_Odyssey_Short_rear_pocket_1

In each leg you'll also find a pocket for a bit of food, a gel, even some directions written out on a piece of paper – anything that you are going to want to grab quickly while on the move.

PEdAL_ED_Odyssey_Short_thigh_pocket_1

It's a similar idea to tucking something up your leg, and the pocket is quite large, with the contents being held in place by a section of the leg cuff being unstitched to create a kind of lip.

PEdAL_ED_Odyssey_Short_thigh_pocket_2

I was sceptical at first, but it really does work; nothing fell out during a ride, although I don't know if I could trust it with my valuables purely because I can't get my head round it.

It's not just the shorts' load-carrying capability that ticks the boxes, though.

The pad is simple to look at, with just two sections of thicker density foam either side of a centre relief channel. I found the padding to be spot on when it came to support, soaking up plenty of the bumps and rough terrain without feeling overly squidgy on the saddle.

Pedal ED Odyssey Bibshorts - chamois.jpg

The shorts' fabric is soft against the skin too, and with a spot-on mix of polyamide and elastane they are supportive and a little on the compressive side.

Pedal ED Odyssey Bibshorts - leg detail.jpg

The straps are laser cut, which does away with the need for any stitches, and although they feel a bit restrictive when off the bike, once aboard they sit just right, keeping the shorts in position without feeling tight.

Pedal ED Odyssey Bibshorts - straps.jpg

The Odysseys aren't just for use off-road, though, as I rode in them for plenty of miles on the tarmac with the same great effect. Plenty of long-distance comfort makes them great for day-long rides and epic audaxes.

Pedal ED Odyssey Bibshorts - front.jpg

Priced at £145 they are up there with plenty of top-end shorts, but if you are out for a massive ride that could cover days then these really come into their own. I haven't necessarily ventured off into the unknown for a week, but I finished an eight-hour gravel ride without the slightest discomfort in the short region.

Pedal ED Odyssey Bibshorts - back.jpg

Rapha's Core Cargo bib shorts are an obvious competitor at £110, which David Arthur praised highly saying that they performed pretty much the same as the more expensive Cargo version at £195.

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

If I was heading off for a bit of an epic ride, the Odysseys would definitely be on my kit list. The comfort is brilliant throughout, and while you don't necessarily need the rest of the range, it all works together as a great package.

Overall PEdAL ED has delivered a top notch pair of bib shorts here with some added extras.

Verdict

Top notch bib shorts that work on and off-road, with subtle storage should you need it

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: PEdAL ED Odyssey Bibshorts

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

PEdAL ED says, "The Odyssey Bibshorts are designed to be the most sophisticated yet simple element of our Odyssey collection.

"Being part of this collection means that they are the contact point of everything we have done so far from crossing Europe during the Transcontinental Race, racing with Britain's oldest team JLT Condor and exploring the dirty trails of Kyrgyzstan.

"When we designed the Odyssey we aimed to create a bibshort with a high volume of storage without compromising its pure aesthetic.

"The Odyssey bibshorts are equipped with three cargo pockets, two hidden legs' pockets and one big pocket on the back. The legs pockets are designed to store food and whatever is necessary for long rides when you need a quick access without stopping or opening your bags, the system that we designed is incredibly simple yet functional, with a lower opening on the gripper that prevents objects from escaping while riding.

"The bibshorts are completed with laser cut suspenders for an extreme comfort during the ride."

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

Pedal Ed lists:

One rear cargo pocket

Two leg pockets

Laser cut bibs

Elastic Interface pad

Sizes XXS to XXL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Sizing was fine and tallied up with PEdAL ED's chart.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

Following the 30 degree washing instructions sees them come up clean with no issues.

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

A very comfortable pair of shorts with the added bonus of storage.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Excellent chamois.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

There's nothing that I really disliked.

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

The price is high but not extravagant against some of the other bib shorts we've tested on road.cc.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A really good, very comfortable pair of bib shorts with the added bonus of having some discrete storage.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

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: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

2 comments

Avatar
Jez Ash | 4 years ago
0 likes

"For those times when you are in warmer climes and wearing the shorts without a jersey over the top"

You what, Stu?

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to Jez Ash | 4 years ago
3 likes
Jez Ash wrote:

"For those times when you are in warmer climes and wearing the shorts without a jersey over the top" You what, Stu?

 

Latest Comments