Rapha Pro Team Training bib shorts review

Rapha’s Pro Team Training bib shorts are a more cost-effective option, sitting below the Pro Team and Pro Team Powerweave bib shorts.

However, they are still intended as premium shorts, sporting the Pro Team moniker despite the £65 saving over the conventional Pro Team shorts.

Sadly, I’ve been disappointed by the Pro Team Training bib shorts and found them to be a compromise over the more expensive Pro Team and even the cheaper Core bib shorts.

That said, one of my colleagues has had a notably better experience than I have, which makes the Pro Team Training bib shorts a qualified choice.

Rapha Pro Team Training bib shorts construction

Rapha says the Pro Team Training bib shorts are closely inspired by the original Pro Team shorts, but with a more cost-effective construction.

The predominantly nylon material is designed around a close fit that hugs the body, in keeping with the brand’s other Pro Team-tiered products.

The shorts are made with recycled fabrics, and are designed for an engaged, locked-in feel. Rapha says the shorts are “optimised for long training rides”.

The shorts are recommended for use in temperatures between 18 and 32°C, identical to what the brand recommends for the Pro Team and halo Pro Team Powerweave bib shorts.

A size and density-specific Pro Team Training chamois pad is specified, which lacks the perforations found on the Pro Team bib shorts’ pad.

The bib straps have a mesh design, which Rapha says has been optimised to regulate temperature.

Substantial-feeling, silicone-backed and elasticated leg grippers keep the shorts glued to your thighs.

There’s no hiding the fact that you’re riding Rapha bib shorts because there are two large brand logos in white on the side of the grippers.

Rapha offers the Pro Team Training bib shorts in sizes XS to XXL in two colours – Black / White as tested here and Dark Navy / White.

Rapha Pro Team Training bib shorts performance

I tested a pair of size-large Pro Team Training bib shorts on both road and gravel rides of varying distances.

The bib shorts were tested on four saddles – a Specialized Power, a Specialized Power Pro Elaston, a Bjōrn Setka and a Van Rysel R300.

The Pro Team Training bib shorts fitted me excellently, with a close, form-fitting feel that’s comfortable when assuming a riding position. The sizing and fit is identical to other Rapha clothing I’ve worn.

Unfortunately, I didn’t find the pad to be comfortable on long-distance rides (over 100km) and I was generally aware I was wearing it.

Although not overly thin, the pad has a cheaper, foamier feel compared to the cosseting chamois I’ve experienced in other Rapha bib shorts.

The pad was particularly uncomfortable when riding with the Bjorn Setka, a 3D-printed saddle that's significantly firmer than the other saddles I tested the shorts with.

While I typically get on with this saddle, I could feel my sit bones contacting the perch’s padding through the shorts, which was particularly prominent when climbing.

Chamois suitability is subjective, of course. Senior technical editor Ashley Quinlan agrees the pad is noticeable for its size, but says he has used it for 100-mile rides in decent comfort on a few different perches, even though the overall construction is less refined than some rivals.

The chamois, saddle and rider all need to gel well for the best results, but that wasn’t the case for me.

I’ve also never seen shorts use so many seams in their construction. While none of these dug into my body, I felt some bagginess around the front panels, where there appears to be an excess of material between the seams.

The leg grippers are functional but heavy-feeling and noticeable when riding. These are carried over from the first-generation Pro Team bib shorts. Fortunately, they didn’t leave an imprint on my thighs.

I prefer the lower-profile, graded, textured design of the latest Pro Team bib shorts, because these offer a sleeker and more comfortable interface with the skin.

Again, though, it’s worth pointing out that Ashley has fared better with his own set of Pro Team Training bib shorts – he likes the gripper design, demonstrating that comfort is very much down to the individual.

Things improve at the bib straps, which I found comfortable when in a riding position and found them to be the main area offering ventilation in these shorts.

On the topic of ventilation, the shorts felt warmer than their stated temperature range in general – they were fine down to 12˚C, but they wouldn’t be my first pick for the warmest summer temperatures.

Rapha Pro Team Training bib shorts bottom line

Rapha’s Pro Team Training bib shorts are a rare disappointment in the British brand’s range.

While Rapha has done a good job with the fit, the many seams feel like overkill, and led to a little unwanted bagginess on the front. I also didn’t find the pad comfortable.

Of course, chamois comfort comes down to personal preference, so you may have a more positive opinion. It must be acknowledged that Ashley’s experience has been far better than mine.

If nothing else, it demonstrates the importance of trying on bib shorts for size and fit before you buy them.

However, considering the shorts are £65 cheaper than the top-tier Pro Teams, it feels as if there are a few too many potential shortfalls that are greater than the cost saving.

If cost is a concern, I found the Rapha Core bib shorts (at £110) more comfortable overall. If you’re not tied to the Rapha brand at around this price point, the Castelli Espresso (£160 / $169.99 / €149.95 / AU$250) or Q36.5 Gregarius Pro bib shorts (£181 / $251 / €190) are strong alternatives.