The Velocio Men’s LUXE Bib Short is an incredibly comfortable, modern-looking pair of shorts from the high-end American brand. They’re designed for all-day riding, and they deliver too, thanks to their extremely comfortable fabric, chamois and plush, supportive straps. But at a shade under £220, it’s definitely a premium you’re paying for.
> Buy now: Velocio Men’s LUXE Bib Short for £218 from Velocio
Velocio is an American brand known for its high-quality cycling kit – and its latest LUXE bibs are in keeping with that reputation. It says the LUXE shorts are meant for all-day riding, and as such, it went for a ‘proprietary long-distance chamois’.
Ane while the LUXE fabric is made from a blend of polyamide and elastane, Velocio says this is an ‘ultra-high gauge lycra born in France’. This is ‘then sewn into a bib short by the same virtuoso Italian professionals who make World Cup soccer apparel and Olympic Skiing Race Suits. The result is unlike anything else out there.’
We are, of course, naturally cynical about such marketing spiel at road.cc, but I do have to say that Velocio has created an exceptionally comfortable pair of shorts.
These bibs are in keeping with the modern trend of muted pastel shades, at least in our ‘black olive’ test shorts. Velocio also offers ‘deep lichen’, ‘sulphur’ and black, so at least you always have that option if pastel isn’t you.
While I like the colour of our shorts, it’s worth noting that the colour really shows up any liquids, so take care to not rush any nature breaks, and be aware that it will show sweat stains too.
My test shorts seem to have acquired a small dark patch on one of the legs. I’m not sure whether this a mark from the road or an oil or grease stain, but while it shows up in the olive colour, I don’t think it would on black.
As with a lot of modern shorts, the legs are quite long, which is a look I like. Though I found I could get them to sit a little higher, as the material allows for a little bunching up without causing any issues.
The legs are held in place very effectively by a gripper that consists of a wide band of small silicone shapes. And I found it worked well regardless of the length of the ride.
The laser-cut legs give them a very crisp look.
The wide bibs are very plush, extremely comfortable and have a lovely soft touch to them.
They provide just the right amount of support for them to stay in place, without ever feeling as if they’re excessively tight.
The shorts come up reasonably high at the front, which provides good support around your middle. Though on days when I was a bit bloated, their compressive fit could lead me to feeling a little squished – so maybe lay off that final slice of cake at your cafe stop! It may also mean if you’re a larger rider, they may not be the best choice for you.
These bibs have a very clean and simple design, with only a small logo at the rear.
But where these shorts score really well is in the comfort they deliver – these are exceptionally comfortable. This is helped by the high-quality chamois, which is thick enough to provide cushioning, but not so thick that it feels like you’re wearing a nappy.
The result is that I never suffered from any saddle soreness regardless of the length of ride, and I believe that Velocio really has succeeded in making shorts that are ideal for all-day rides.
The shorts feel good against your skin, the Lycra is soft to the touch and overall they feel very much like a premium pair of shorts.
Value
The £218 RRP (up from £211 when they came in) makes these very much a premium pair of shorts – though I would also say they’re some of the most comfortable I’ve ever worn.
If £218 isn’t enough for you, you’ve always got the £300 Rapha Powerweave shorts, which George thought were excellent. As you’d hope for at 300 quid…
The Pedla SuperFit 2.0 bibs are a little dearer than the Velocios at £235. They come in 11 different colour options and Hollis thought they were top-notch shorts, though he’d have liked them to have longer legs.
If you’re not looking to spend that amount, the Boardman 9 Series bibs are a bargain at £60. You could get nearly four pairs for the price of our Velocio shorts, and while not as plush, they’re not a million miles apart.
Check out our best cycling bib shorts buyer’s guide for men’s and women’s bibs at a wide range of prices.
Conclusion
I’ve been very impressed by the Velocio Men’s LUXE Bib Short, with my only real issues the price and the stain-revealing colour. But these are also available in a less revealing black, and while expensive, if you’ve got £218 burning a hole in your pocket and are after new bibs, I don’t think you’d be disappointed with these.
> Buy now: Velocio Men’s LUXE Bib Short for £218 from Velocio
Verdict
Good looks and great comfort for all-day riding, though pretty pricey and I’d probably go for black
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Velocio Men’s LUXE Bib Short
Size tested: Medium
Tell us what the product is for
Velocio says: “Our best-selling bib short. LUXE is designed with minimal seams, high-gauge Lycra, and a proprietary long-distance chamois for all-day rides.”
Velocio continues: “The first prototype of the LUXE Bib Short was developed in 2017. Over the last eight years it has been tested across tens of thousands of miles in countless locations.
“Since that first prototype, we’ve taken in a lot of feedback. We kept everything we got right, and fixed anything we didn’t. For 2025, the length has extended to land perfectly above the knee while in riding position, the waistline has inched up for more complete coverage, and the straps have been refined for a long-distance endurance package.
“The all-new LUXE Bib Short isn’t starting from ground zero. It isn’t a complete transformation into something new. It’s a series of updates and adjustments that move the same exceptional bib short into rarefied air.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Proprietary long-distance chamois developed with CyTech
Mesh-connected bib upper doesn’t shift or stifle movement
Ultra-high-gauge compression Lycra
Exceptional muscle support, excellent opacity, matte finish
Three-panel design eliminates unnecessary seams and reduces chafe points
They are excellently made – as you’d expect for a pair of shorts costing a shade under 220 quid…
Extremely comfortable, and they feel very good when you’re riding.
So far, they still look brand new.
Great fit, but can feel a bit squeezed around the mid section if you’ve had a big lunch.
They fit exactly how I’d like for a medium.
They feel pleasantly light and not at all bulky.
A great chamois and ultra-comfy straps combine to deliver a wonderful experience.
While there are bibs that cost more – you won’t be surprised to hear you could pay £300 for a pair of Raphas, and well over £220 for some Assos and Castelli shorts – there are plenty that cost less, and often a good deal less. But there’s no getting away from the fact that £218 is towards the upper end of the market.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
The colour leads itself to marks remaining visible, and I have found that with one small mark which hasn’t come out in the wash.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
These are excellent – great quality, plush pad and straps and bags of comfort for all-day riding.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The straps and the chamois.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The colour’s ability to show up anything untoward. That said, the three other colour options include the less revealing black.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
They’re more than three times the price of the Boardman bibs I recently reviewed, but almost £100 less than some Rapha shorts. But you can’t escape the fact that the £218 price is towards the upper end of the market.
Did you enjoy using the product? Absolutely
Would you consider buying the product? Yes – if I had deep enough pockets.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes – if they had deep enough pockets…
Use this box to explain your overall score
Great pair of comfortable bibs, stylish and good looking but the overall quality is excellent, allowing you to ride all day without issues.
About the tester
Age: 25 Height: 174 Weight: 78
I usually ride: Storck Aerfast My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, touring, club rides, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
