CASTELLI BODY PAINT BIBSHORTS – SEAMLESS PERFECTION

The Body Paint bibshorts are partially the result of three years of development, some futuristic thinking and feedback from elite riders. The one thing that is for sure is that there is no denying these are a high-end performance piece of cycling gear.

The Body Paint Bibshort is a warm weather garment with a very low cut front and a nice airy mesh in back between the straps. The main body of the shorts is cut from a single piece of lycra, which is stretchy enough to conform to most bodies and eliminates the need for multi-panels and added seams that can chafe or unravel. It also makes for a smoother fit, which any aerodynamicist worth his weight in smoke trails will confirm they create less airflow turbulence and therefore less drag, which could make you just a little bit faster than the next guy.

With anything that brings new technology to the marketplace it comes at a price. In this case the cost of US$249.99 (msrp). Although expensive for a bibshort they are worth every penny. At Bicycle.net we are always leery of marketing hype that leads to nothing more than an increase in the purchase price, but in Castelli’s Body Paint bibshorts case we are so impressed that we can say with confidence that they are worth the up charge.

I have had the opportunity to wear the bibshorts since November, and they have become my go to bibshorts. They are billed as a warm weather short, but I have been wearing them all winter and plan to continue wearing them in the cold. They are the most comfortable bibshort I have ever worn, period. The chamois is incredible, and can be worn on your longest ride with no concern of chaffing. Castelli has taken the bibshort to a whole new level, and we expect to see them on riders from the pro’s, to amateur racers, to the century rider.

SPECIFICATIONS
Shoulder Straps: The straps have a feel like no other pair of bibshorts you have ever worn. They have the feel of silk, with a little bit of tackiness. This tackiness keeps them firmly in place with no slip. They have no end seams which just add to the comfort level.

Chamois: What makes the Progetto X2 chamois stand out is the fact that it is completely flat against your skin. But it is a multi-layered chamois on the inside, or underside. They accomplish this by taking a solid piece of uncompressed foam and removing layers to create the multi-layered chamois we have come to love. Castelli claims that this technique creates a more comfortable chamois, and we agree. The chamois has three gel inserts, two that are placed under the sit bones, and the third under your rear. Castelli calls them “Viscous Comfort Zones”. They have been designed to fit a very wide range of rider’s anatomy.

- SKIN CARE LAYER (red layer) is a soft, stretchy, seamless, bacteriostatic layer next to your skin with the simple task of preventing any sort of chafing. It’s made to adapt to the shape of your body and the saddle without any folds of the fabric. It’s probably the softest thing to touch your private parts since you got out of diapers.
- CUSHIONING LAYER puts just the right padding in the right places. Castelli invented Vario Thick, and now we take it to a new level with infinitely variable thickness. The edges of the pad are thin, gradually thickening to maximum thickness under the ischial bones where you sit. Perforated viscous comfort padding is added under the ischial bones and in perineum area for maximum padding in these highly sensitive areas.

Leg Bands: Truly a feature that is a class leader. They are completely seamless, and fit perfect. At first glance you are likely to believe that they are not even there, but once you try on the bibshorts you will be truly amazed. The gripper is built in and is 2” wide.

Conclusion: The Castelli Body Paint Bibshort is the best short we have ever worn. They are extremely well made, have the best chamois on the market, and are so comfortable that you may never want to take them off. Bicycle.net is impressed, and you will be too. Be warned, once you wear them once you will never want to go back to wearing any other bibshort hanging in your closet.

Pros: Comfort, quality, fit, reduced drag, and top notch technology.
Cons: Price. Yep that is it.

Bicycle.net rates the Castelli Body Paint Bibshorts

5 out of 5 chainrings