Gore Bike Wear Oxygen 2.0 Bibtights short+

Gore has completely revamped its popular Oxygen bib shorts with a new padded seat insert, repositioned seams and wide, flat leg openings, and the result is a supremely comfortable pair of bibs with performance that goes a long way to justifying the price tag.

The Oxygen Men padded insert, made by Elastic Interface, comprises differing thicknesses of fast-drying, open-cell foam with a recessed channel and smooth transition at the edges, helping to avoid chafing. It uses a Super Air base layer to provide ventilation and a two-layer construction helps with breathability.

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Gore say it has been designed specifically for long distance rides, and that seems very much the case. It's a very comfortable padded insert and delivers the sort of comfort you'd hope in a product costing £140. There was certainly no doubt about its comfort on the longer rides I used to evaluate the shorts' performance.

The most novel feature of the padded insert is what Gore calls a 'wind protective cup'. At the front, just above the padded insert, is a double layer of material, windproof on the outside and lined with soft material on the inside, which serves to provide a bit of added protection in this lower midriff area on chillier rides. 

It might seem an odd idea but it does have merit, being useful on longer mountain descents or cold morning starts, providing a noticeable degree of extra protection from the elements in this delicate area

The fit is very good, with the material and panel design providing a compressive feel; it's a bit snug when you first pull on the shorts, but turns into absolute comfort on the bike. There's no restriction to note at all.

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A flat-folded hem is used at the leg openings which manages, despite the lack of any elastic material or silicone tape, to keep the shorts in place and stop them riding up.

The bib straps are made from a mesh material using a 'tunnel construction' that avoids any uncomfortable seams, eliminating irritation over the shoulders – especially if you're not wearing a baselayer – and there's enough stretch in the straps that they don't dig in. The back panel is made from a light and stretchy mesh material.

You get some reflective Gore Bike Wear logos but, those aside, they're simple and plain black bib shorts that go well with any jersey or jacket. Pricey maybe, but very comfortable.

Verdict

Solid construction and performance with good long-distance comfort and understated styling