The undersigned has tested Pro Team bibshorts from ES16 during the autumn and winter – and why test bibshorts outside the “short/short” season? Well, there is actually an explanation for that! First and foremost, many people wear bibshorts underneath and long bibtights over them during the autumn and winter period, while many also hop inside the shed or similar and cycle on a hometrainer – so the need for a good pair of bibshorts is still present in the cooler months!

Pro Team bibshorts are available in versions for both men and women, from size XS to XXXXL and with 2 different pads, Zoom X and Endurance 3D. Furthermore, there is an option for extra leg length – especially in the smaller sizes it’s nice to have a bit of extra leg length, here in size S where they would otherwise feel a bit short on me.

The material is from Goffrato with compression, featuring the now well-known “honeycomb” structure. The material is extremely stretchy, relatively thin, and at the same time very breathable.

At the top, there are flat laser-cut straps to avoid straps folding or chafing. The back is partially mesh for good ventilation, with space for a radio transmitter at the back. The finish/edge at the waist is also laser-cut and reinforced so it doesn’t unravel, a nice detail that ensures a completely snug fit without an irritating seam.

At the thighs, there are also laser-cut elastics for a completely snug fit without a visible edge or seam; inside there is silicone that keeps them in place, so you avoid legs riding up. On the side of both legs, there is a small mesh panel, which provides a bit of extra ventilation and adds some extra stretch to the material.

Inside, the Zoom X pad from Elastic Interface is used, a pad I have encountered in several different bibshorts and for good reason, as it is a really good pad that provides both good comfort with a reasonable thickness, yet is still thin and flexible enough to feel like a natural part of the bibshorts and finally, you can breathe through the pad.

Gravel, road, or Zwift?

Over the past few months, the Pro Team Bibshorts have been put through a bit of everything. We started hard with 5 1/2 hours of gravel in Holstebro – here I must immediately say that this is not something I recommend in a pair of brand new bibshorts you don’t “know,” but since I have previously ridden a lot in ES16 bibshorts and know the pad, I “dared” to try – and it worked 100%! Additionally, they have been used on both short and longer gravel rides as the base layer as the weather got colder, and finally, they have been used indoors on the hometrainer.

For gravel and mountain biking, the pad provides good comfort; it is thick enough to absorb a lot of shocks and bumps, but thin enough to be comfortable and feel like a completely natural part of the bibshorts so you actually don’t notice it. On the hometrainer, you need a pad that is breathable so you can get rid of heat; furthermore, it must provide good support as you sit more down in the same static position, sometimes for several hours in a row – here too, the Pro Team Bibshorts perform really well.

Conclusion

You need to shell out just under 1200,- to become the owner of a pair of Pro Team bibshorts from ES16, but for that money, you get a pair of bibshorts identical to those Mathieu Van Der Poel is currently riding with – so these are bibshorts of the right quality, with the right details such as flat laser-cut straps, laser-cut finishes at the thighs, and a material that provides the right support and breathability.

The design is discreet but quite nice in my eyes, which means you can pair them with colorful jerseys from various brands without any problems.

Pro Team is an incredibly nice pair of bibshorts that you can use most of the year (with a pair of bibtights over them), so with these things in mind, 1200,- is actually a pretty fair price!