Rapha Women’s Pro Team Training Bib Shorts review

A step below Rapha’s top-end Pro Team shorts, the Pro Team Training bibs offer the same supreme chamois comfort with a few different construction features.

The Pro Team Training bib shorts feature more leg panels, and hence seams than the pricier Pro Team shorts, as well as narrower elasticated leg grippers. Branding here is also much louder, with the Rapha Pro Team word logo in white print across each thigh.

Rapha Women’s Pro Team Training Bib Shorts specifications and details

At a glance, the women’s-specific Pro Team Training bibs from Rapha are a fairly plain set of black cycling shorts, paired with a lightweight mesh upper. It’s the multiple panel design and loud logos on either leg that set them apart.

The Pro Team Training bib shorts feature Rapha’s revered Pro Team chamois in a women’s-specific shape, just as in the top-end Pro Team shorts.

Unlike the men’s cut, which is also available in navy, the women’s bib is available in black only.

Rapha Women’s Pro Team Training Bib Shorts performance

As you might expect from performance-orientated cycling shorts, the cut is close, but the fit was good from the sizing chart. The compressive polyamide/elastane fabric felt comfortable over the skin, but the variety of seams proved more problematic.

In reality, these flat-locked seams didn’t cause any discomfort during testing, but weren’t great looking, causing a bit of ‘sausage-leg’ bulging, especially when teamed with the thin elasticated leg bands.

It was a double whammy with these leg bands too: both elasticated and with a series of dashed silicone grippers on the inside. No way that these were moving an inch.

There is no special design here for easy comfort breaks. If that’s a priority, consider the Rapha Women’s Pro Team detachable bibs instead.

The wide white mesh straps and back are both breathable and non-restrictive, to the point where you simply don’t notice them on the bike.

Last but no means least, the Rapha Pro Team chamois lived up to expectations. The pad is thicker than many, with higher density areas not only around the sit bones but also to support the soft tissue on the nose of the saddle, which I was grateful for when putting the power down in a more aggressive position on the drops.

Rapha Women’s Pro Team Training Bib Shorts bottom line

The brilliant Pro Team chamois in a women’s-specific cut is a real highlight of the Rapha Pro Team Training bibs, but they are slightly let down by the excessive seams around the thighs that can cause bulging.

For riders that prefer a more subtle style, the loud branding here may be off-putting.