As that well-known phrase goes, a clothing brand is only as strong as its bibshorts. So judging by Maap’s updated version of its perfunctorily-named ‘Bib Short’, the Aussie brand is stronger than Geoff Capes and Eddie Hall’s lovechild.
But what was wrong with that original version?
Well, nothing, apparently. Rather, according to suitably named sports scientist Ken Ballhause (with whom Maap developed this Bib Short 2.0) it's saddles that have changed, becoming wider and shorter, so the Bib Short’s chamois needed a revision to better serve the rider in this brave new dawn.
I still ride in the original Bib Short, and have done so on a range of saddles and honestly I’ve not once thought ‘I wish the chamois in these shorts had higher density foam through the front third and smarter distribution around the ischiatic area’ (to paraphrase the Maap marketing material).
But – and this is a big butt-type but – I recently rode 100 of the most testing kilometres of my life in a pair of Maap Bib Short 2.0s, and I have no doubt they were a crucial ally.
That ride was all uphill, from sea level to 3,300m and I took the lightest bike I could find, which had an all-carbon, unpadded weight weenie saddle that definitely fits Ballhause’s modern saddle-shape criteria.
Far smarter colleagues warned me not to, but I forged ahead, and having ridden that carbon saddle since in a different pair of bibshorts I normally deem quite comfortable, I can confirm that saddle is a tortuous piece.
Yet, on the 100km climb in the Maap Bib Short 2.0s I never felt less than comfy, in my backside at least. The rest of my body hurt like hell, and I desperately wanted to be sick.
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As bibshorts go that is almost as high praise as I think I can heap, but there is more.
One, the elasticated hems are ‘pre-dyed’, which means when they stretch the colour doesn’t fade (try stretching a coloured sock and you’ll see).
This is a tangible improvement on the original versions.
Two, that hem is more forgiving; I found the original version had a hem that felt a tad restrictive.
Three, the Bib Short 2.0s come in a svelte dark blue as well as black, which, mark my words, blue is a direction bibshorts are going. Or should go.
Navy is a classy colour, and the Bib Short 2.0s exemplify that class and then some.
Specification
Contact: eu.maap.ccSizes available: XS, S, M, L, XL (men's); XXS, XS, M, L (women's)
Size tested: Large
