Altura Peloton II ProGel bib shorts

The Altura Peloton II ProGel bib shorts offer a very comfortable ride and fit when on the bike for a sensible outlay, so it's such a shame that the high-fronted design makes them an absolute pig to get on and off. If you can get them on without ripping them then you're doing well.

The front of most bib shorts sits either just below the stomach or comes midway up, which I must admit is my preferred style, but these Pelotons come up much higher, covering the stomach entirely. Great for chilly conditions, yes, but on a pair of summer shorts it's a little bit overboard.

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The biggest issue, though, is that because the body comes up so high, the bib straps are really quite short and makes it feel like you're trying to get into a really tight vest as they don't offer a whole lot of give. No matter what shape you contort your upper body into, getting these on is an absolute faff and the first two times I put them on I managed to rip the stitching between the outer edging and the mesh on the straps. You could hear it tearing as I was fighting to get my arms through, and I'm not a particularly big build (it's not me in the photos).

Another issue with this high front is that toilet stops are a complete pain unless you are a fan of taking a pee at some sort of right-angled, crunched up posture purely to avoid taking them off again.

All of this is a real shame because, once in position, the Pelotons are really comfortable. Altura's Dry technology fabric is good at keeping you feel fresh even when the weather conditions are hot and sticky, plus it offers a decent feeling of support and mild compression.

The sizing is spot on, too, with the medium tested here fitting really well without any bunching of the fabric, and the silicone gripper attached to the skin side of the heavy knitted leg band making sure the shorts stay in place.

The star of the show is the ProGel 3D chamois pad which uses varying thicknesses to offer support and relief when sat in the saddle. The central saddle shaped section has various channels to remove pressure, and even though the whole pad is quite soft you don't get any hotspots or rucking up of the material as you move around on the saddle.

Without the bib issues I would happily say that the Pelotons offer decent value for money thanks to their comfort, overall fit and feel from the Dry fabric. In all of those elements they stand up well against some of my favourites, dhb's Aerons, which are priced just a little higher at £70.

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For me, though, the upper body of the Pelotons cancels all of this out – it just seems like poor design. If I'd had to buy these I'd be left with a pair of shorts that have torn at the bibs after just one wear, and I really wouldn't bother wearing them as they are such a pain to get on and off. It's a real shame, because when you are on the bike they're a really good pair of shorts.

Verdict

Comfortable bib shorts once you're on the bike, but an absolute faff to get on and off