The Universal Colours Mono Men’s Bib Shorts 2.0 Black are an excellent choice if you’re looking for an understated-looking pair of bibs at a price that isn’t going to require taking out an overdraft. They offer a fit and performance on a par with that offered by some of the biggest brands in cycling – but at a fair bit lower cost.
> Buy now: Universal Colours Mono Men’s Bib Shorts 2.0 Black for £125 from Universal Colours
Universal Colours isn’t claiming that its Bib Shorts 2.0 are offering anything groundbreaking, hi-tech or super-aerodynamic. Rather, the London-based brand has concentrated on enhancing its shorts based on the customer feedback it has received.
It says it has used the same fabric for the shorts overall, but that it has changed the chamois pad. Universal Colours has also raised the waist, lengthened the legs and made the bib straps more breathable.
And I think it has done a very good job too. I found the shorts very comfortable, and I’d be happy to wear these regularly on the back of long rides during testing.
It’s pretty easy to describe these bib shorts: they’re exactly what you’d expect if you closed your eyes and designed a pair from scratch. They’re constructed from multiple panels using a mix of recycled nylon and elastane in a very traditional-looking black. They come with a medium thickness chamois pad. The wide front straps are joined to a mesh-style fabric on the back. All straightforward, nothing outrageous and when you put the shorts on, the fit is exactly as you’d hope it to be.
I’m currently around 71kg and 181cm tall, and the medium bib shorts fitted me nicely. And with seven sizes from XS-3XL you should be able to find a pair that fits. In addition to black, these are also available in navy and ‘heavy bark brown’.
These shorts finish a few inches above my knees and are kept in place with effective grippers.
In keeping with UC’s general design theme, the logos and branding are minimal and understated, making it easy to pair these with a wide variety of other cycling kit. The branding and logos are reflective, too.
The male-specific Elastic Interface chamois pad suited me well. I didn’t notice any particular pressure hotspots over long rides, nor did the pad feel overly thick. Universal Colours says that the pad had been developed since the previous version, with ‘improved density in the front for better support on longer rides and aggressive positions’.
I wore these for long Sunday rides and a few ‘fast Tuesday’ efforts that also involved extended spells in the saddle riding in a more aggressive position, and the shorts performed very well in all these situations.
When it comes to the fabric, there are a few signs that these aren’t made from quite the top-of-the-range material. The fabric doesn’t feel as compressive as the bib shorts I’ve tested from MAAP and Rapha, though this isn’t a dealbreaker as far as I’m concerned. I care mostly about the fit, the pad, the straps – and I can’t fault the shorts in any of those areas.
The mid-thickness shorts come with a mid-thickness pad and I’ve found them a versatile pair of shorts designed to be worn in a wide range of temperatures. I was able to test in days that ranged from 15-30°C. At the top end they can get a bit sweaty, though that’s to be expected, but I found the light mesh back panel pretty breathable, and it didn’t retain sweat.
The material offers 50+ UPF sun protection.
While the fabric isn’t that thick, the shorts have held up very well to a lot of summer riding, and after around 10 or so cycles through the washing machine, there are no signs of any deterioration so far, which bodes well for their long-term durability.
Value
The Universal Colours Mono Bib Shorts 2.0 cost £125, which is pretty much mid-price for a pair of shorts these days. I’ve reviewed ‘training’ bib shorts from big-name brands, which have similar features but tend to cost more.
I rated the MAAP Training Bibs very highly but these do come in at a pricier £195. I’d argue they’re slightly better than our test shorts – but I’d probably save the £70 and buy the Universal Colours bibs if I was parting with my own money.
Coming in at slightly less than the Universal Colours are the Sportful Pulse Heritage Bib Shorts, which cost £99 and are more compressive. Ben liked these a lot and they’re decent value too.
Our favourite recent budget pair is the Boardman Series 9 shorts. Josh awarded these 9/10 and – like the Boardman brand’s bikes – they’re a stone-cold bargain at just £60.
Our best cycling bib shorts rounds up more of our favourites.
Conclusion
While the bib shorts market is one of the most competitive ones in the whole of cycling, I don’t think you’d regret it if you went for the Universal Colours Mono Bib Shorts 2.0 Black (or the other colours…). They’re comfortable, easy to care for, easy to pair with other cycling kit – and they basically offer everything a good quality pair of shorts should. As a bonus, they feature extensive use of recycled materials, and Universal Colours also donates 1% of its annual sales to non-profit organisations.
> Buy now: Universal Colours Mono Men’s Bib Shorts 2.0 Black for £125 from Universal Colours
Verdict
Sensible, straightforward design, comfortable straps, comfy redesigned chamois – and at a reasonable price
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Universal Colours Mono Men’s Bib Shorts 2.0 Black
Size tested: Medium
Tell us what the product is for
These are a simple pair of road cycling bib shorts. They are pretty versatile, so would be able to be work in a range of temperatures
Universal Colours says: “An evolution of the original, we are introducing the new Mono Bib Short 2.0 this season to bring you enhanced functionality and riding comfort. Based on customer feedback, the bib is still constructed from the same, tried and tested recycled fabrics, but features improved density in the front portion of the chamois for supportive comfort on longer rides and in racier positions.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Improved chamois density in the front for better support on longer rides and aggressive positions
Male-specific Elastic Interface pad with a large front cup and bio-based foam for optimal support and breathability
Higher waist system for better coverage and compatibility with cropped fit jerseys
Wide, stretchy straps with an improved ribbed design for ventilation and comfort
Extended inseam length
Silicone leg grippers prevent shifting during rides
50+ UPF rating to shield against harmful UV rays
Updated white and colour-matched logos for enhanced visibility
Main: 78% Recycled Nylon, 22% Elastane
Bib Back: 80% Recycled Polyester, 20% Recycled Elastane
Pad Fabric: 57% Recycled Polyamide, 27% Recycled Polyester, 16% Elastane
Construction quality seems very decent overall, and the seams were done well throughout.
I wore these for rides in a wide range of temperatures, and found the newly redesigned shorts comfortable on rides of all lengths.
The multiple panels lead to a good fit throughout the shorts.
I’m 181cm tall and weigh 71kg. I tested the medium shorts and they felt spot on.
That said, on the Universal Colours website there’s a picture of a similar size model to me wearing a pair of size small shorts, which surprised me a little.
The 174g weight compares well to that of other similar shorts, most of which are within 10g of that.
The wide straps were good, and the newly redesigned chamois comfortable.
I think the £125 price is reasonable for a pair of bibs shorts of this quality, so these represent decent value.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
I washed these around 10 times during testing – they held up well and showed no signs of deterioration, which bodes well for their long-term durability.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
These performed very well and proved a good choice for my long Sunday rides. Perhaps most tellingly, I didn’t notice them when I was wearing them, which let me focus purely on my cycling.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The simplicity of the design overall, with the comfortable chamois a particular highlight.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
They weren’t particularly compressive.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
The standout competitor amongst recent reviews is the Boardman shorts, at only £60. Ben recently reviewed the Sportful Pulse Heritage bib shorts, which comesin at £100, and he really rated them. And while I like the similar MAAP Training Bibs a lot, the MAAPs do come in £70 more expensive.
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
Overall, these are a very good pair of bibs that come in at a reasonable price.
They have a simple but effective design and performed well on my summer rides
About the tester
Age: 34 Height: 182cm Weight: 69kg
I usually ride: S-Works Tarmac My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: Under 5 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, Gravel on a CX bike
