The GORE BIKE WEAR Xenon Bibs are quite different then many of the other bibs I've worn. What makes them unique (among other things) is the material used. GORE BIKE WEAR uses very thin, lightweight panels of lyrca for these bibs. The fabric is soft and extremely forgiving against the skin. The end result is that these bibs feel more like clothes and less like "gear". Now this is phenomenal in terms of comfort but there is a slight cost in muscular support. The Xenon's are not quite as compressing as I would like but far more breathable then I deserve. At the end of the ride though, coming off the road on days when the temperatures rise to 99 degrees and the humidity is close 100%, and the sun is scorching down, I was much happier to have the breathability and active transport of perspiration away from my body. Denser materials tend to hold moisture until saturation and then drip it away. The Xenon's seem to "breathe" it away.

The lightweight material also had advantages in the body movement department. It didn't matter whether I was spinning or up out of the saddle climbing, the Xenon's moved with my body where ever I had to go. The was no bunching of the material when I was in the drops and no pulling when my body was extended up out of the saddle. When GORE BIKE WEAR developed these bibs they had the movement of the body in mind throughout the

design process. The choice of materials, the cut (articulated for fit in a riding position), and the design all take into account the fact that these bibs would be ridden in, raced in, sweated in and pushed to the max out on the road.


Nice touches: Also speaking to the design of these bibs are the "gripperless" (our term, not theirs) leg grippers. Most of the bicycle shorts out there have the typical elastic band that holds the shorts in place around your quads. Most of the time it's not that pleasant to wear those either. If you are like me you end up folding those over so that the elastic doesn't sit against your skin. In the Xenon's they nix the elastic and opt for a ring of grippy, rubbery dots around the inside of the leg. This ring doesn't compress against your leg it just uses the dots to hold the shorts in place. Ultimately, it's a small thing but it adds a great deal of comfort your ride. Other nice touches in the Xenon's are the reflective piping, the breathable mesh back area, and the ergonomic seat insert.

+/-: The Xenon's are a sweet pair of bibs that treat this rider's body more tenderly than a new mother's kiss. Perfect for those late summer, ultra hot rides. They feel good, look good and do the job. Comfort and performance are sewn into each of the 8 panels of these shorts. If you want to be The Princess and Pea and totally nit pick, the only comfort item I can mention is that the seams can be a tad itchy when you first put them on. That itchiness goes away once you've broken a sweat. A+