Lusso is a UK company that makes a wide range of cycle clothing, including these Pro-Core bib shorts, which are described as 'mid-range three season'. They're comfortable and well-fitting, and ideal for long summer rides and also very good or for spring and autumn conditions when teamed up with knee-warmers.
The main part of the shorts is made from a stretch fabric with a high Lycra content that provides a good close fit, without being over-tight anywhere. As well as being stretchy, the material isn't super-thin, which has two advantages. First, it means a bit more all-round support (for male cyclists it also means less meat and veg displayed when off the bike). Second, as well as being ideal for cycling on warm summer dayss, it means these shorts are also fine for the chillier days of spring and autumn if worn with knee-warmers or leg-warmers. They're also fine for winter conditions if worn under a pair of long tights.
The bib part of these Pro-Core shorts is made from mesh, designed to be breathable. Some riders find mesh is abrasive against the skin, and especially the nipples, but this is not an issue if you're wearing a base layer.
Around the hem of each leg is a wide elasticated band to keep the shorts in place, further helped by dots of silicone on the inside which hold against the skin. This band is black, the same colour as the shorts, decorated with the Lusso brand-name in subtle dark grey.
The most important aspect of a pair of cycling shorts is of course the insert, aka 'the chamois' though these days no goats are harmed in the making of cycling shorts. In these Pro-Core bib shorts it's an HD Egonomic from specialist manufacturer La Fonte; this is a medium-to-thick density pad (16mm at its thickest point) designed for long-distance rides.
I tested these shorts on a couple of long rides, and initially the pad felt too thick, but things settled in after ten miles or so, and the shorts were very comfortable for the five or six hours I was in the saddle.
The pad is a single piece, so no seams to chafe, with extra padding on the main content points, and 'valleys' in between to help airflow and wick away moisture. I tested this aspect by wearing the shorts when training at the local velodrome – the pad coped well with a sweaty three-hour session.
The recommended price for these bib shorts is £49 – and you can find them nearer £40 at the usual on-line stores - which is very fair for shorts of this quality. Of course you can get something better, if you're prepared to pay double or triple this amount. But for comfortable pair of shorts, ideal for long-distance rides, at a decent price, these Lusso Pro-Cores are recommended.
Verdict
Comfortable and well-fitting bib-shorts, ideal for long rides. Fair price too.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Lusso Pro Core Bib Shorts
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
This product is a pair of cycling shorts, designed for medium to long distance rides. These shorts are available with or without bib (the without-bib version is around £10 cheaper) and in sizes small to XXL. The only colour option is black. These shorts are available only in a male cut.
The Lusso website is brief and says these shorts are 'machine washable Mid range 3 season training and race wear. Designed to be fast wicking, features a high lycra content for supreme four way stretch comfort, the bib features super breathable Airtech fabric'
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
The Lusso website also highlight the following key features:
design seamless
anti-bacterial insert
Airtech bib Aircool
leg grippers
in black
made in the UK
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
Construction is pretty good, but not the best. Some of the internal stitching was a bit untidy, and on one leg of our test pair the panels were not perfectly aligned, meaning the there was a slight 'step' in the thick elasticated band
Rate the product for performance:
9/10
Performance is very good, in that these shorts remained comfortable on long rides (five to sxi hours), and the insert pad wicked away moister in warm conditions
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
9/10
Comfort is very good. On test rides the pad initially felt too thick, but things settled in after ten miles or so, and the shorts remained comfortable on 5-6 hour rides.
Rate the product for value:
8/10
At a penny under 50 quid, value is good. Further discounts at the usual on-line stores means value is very good for shorts of this quality.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
These shorts performed very well overall, in that they remained comfortable on long rides (the most important indicator).
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Comfortable pad, breathable bib, all-black colour scheme.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Stitching quality isn't bad, but not the very highest standard either.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
These Pro-Cores are a very comfortable pair of shorts, with some good features, and a fair price for what you get, so on this basis they would normally score a 9. They are slightly let down by the untidy stitching and misaligned panels, so get a point docked, giving an overall score of 8.
Age: 51 Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm Weight: 11 stone / 70kg
I usually ride: an old Marin Alp, or an old steel classic My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex (can you see a theme here?)
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,
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