Van Rysel RR 900 Women's Cycling Bib Shorts - Black

These stylish RR 900 bib shorts from Decathlon’s new race focused Van Rysel range offer a winning combination of comfort and performance at a wallet friendly price. They’re not without their quirks, but they definitely merit a place on your shortlist if you’re in the market for budget friendly performance shorts.

Cycling bib shorts all you need to know

• Pros: Excellent fit, comfortable panel-design, good price
• Cons: Chamois is a bit firm at first, short in the legs

The overall look of these Polyamide-meets-Elastane bib shorts is classy and sleek; though there's a definite hint of budget in the unhemmed finish, particularly around the straps. But at £39.99, they are indeed budget; in the same ballpark as dhb's Blok women's bib shorts – and it's not all about the hemming.

The fit of the RR 900 bib shorts pretty feels pretty true to size (I tested a small). If pushed though, they are perhaps a tad generous – so if you're between sizes, opting for one down might be a good idea.

The all-important chamois is the first thing of real note with these bibs, and not just because the interior is printed with no less than eight technical markers, pointing out various density and thickness – quite a lot of reading for a pad. What sets this pad apart is the fact that it's long, thick and quite a bit firmer than others. 'Comfort,' says Decathlon, 'is assured thanks to the triple-density ergonomic padding with gel inserts.' Three layers plus gel explains why it feels a bit like smuggling a nappy – so does this level of thickness really equate to comfort out on the road? On the first ride out, no not really. I felt like I was sat on top of something other than just the saddle, and my bum agreed – there was discomfort even after a 25-mile spin. After a few washes, the pad calmed down a bit and settled into my body shape. It's quick drying too, staying remarkably dry on even the warmest ride. The chamois is attached with stitching, which is rough and ready in places with the interior peeping through a touch, but it's pleasing to see that, as a budget pair of shorts, it's not just glued on.

The bibs' construction – a great many stretchy panels – provides ease of movement and a visually pleasing aesthetic, too. While they're stitched with flat seams, a few joins are a little on the rough side with the potential to be a bit scratchy. But overall they make for a really comfortable pair of shorts – and this is particularly true around the torso and back. While some bibs can stop just north of your belly button creating a peeping midriff effect at the café stop, the Van Rysel shorts have an additional panel above the waist, which flows into the straps. The result here is one of snug protection, especially when twinned with the full coverage centre back strap which employs mesh for moisture management. And sweat-wicking was good – an accolade from a tester who proves that women definitely do not merely glow.

The elasticated straps are mega stretchy, so they'd accommodate far beyond my 5'6 height. Due to this stretch, the thin cut doesn't dig into skin and they're easy to whip on and off for comfort breaks. However, the straps sit very far to the side – skimming armpits in action. This is presumably to avoid the chest area in order to accommodate different sizes, but the result is the feeling that they're going to slip (they didn't, though).

The leg material comes up a little on the short side, more so than others we've tested recently like this pair from Cycology. When pedalling, while the silicone bands feature a gripper pattern, they crept up a little – so they needed to be pulled back down a few times. They'd be great, though, for anyone that prefers a bib short that sits higher on the thigh.

With close examination, there are a few things to point out about these bib shorts – yes, they do look a little rushed around the seams, yes, the straps rumple a little due to their length and interesting placement – and yes, the chamois needs some bedding in. But in action, they perform much better than their budget price might suggest. This is only heightened in my opinion by a sleek aesthetic that looks like it means business. Which is good news for a pair of shorts that's designed for the peloton.

Verdict

Super-comfortable budget option that performs, but the pad might not suit everyone