Pearl Izumi Attack Air Bib Shorts – Tough Enough for Long Rides

Kate Agathon

 

Don’t let the delicate appearance of the new Pearl Izumi Attack Air Bib Shorts fool you, they are tough enough to go for long rides in comfort. Most importantly, they stay in place everywhere it counts.

 

Let’s talk about fit and appearance.

The fabric on the Pearl Izumi Attack Air Bib Shorts is so thin, soft, and sleek, and the straps so delicate, I wondered how I could possibly squeeze into them without tearing them. These looked like they were made for super fit women with defined abs and no tell tale middle aged woman with a protruding stomach. They appeared so small, I initially thought the size M was a mistake (I still wonder if an L would have been ok too- most reviews suggest to go a size up).

The first time I tried them on, I was skeptical. They just seemed too tight. The second time I tried them on, they seemed to fit better (perhaps I had water weight the first time around?). I wore them on a long ride that included a big climb up Swan Mountain, and they worked quite well.

Once they were on the second time, I was surprised how something that appeared so small and delicate fit without me ripping the fabric or me feeling constricted like a sausage casing (actual serious concerns of mine).

The straps had what I can best describe as a racerback design in the back and a small plastic clasp to keep them snug in the front and allows for a customizable front strap position. I was surprised that the straps stayed in place (I have hopelessly thin shoulders and have spent half my life dealing with falling straps) the entire ride. How could something so delicate stay in place? I asked myself.

 

The laser-cut straps also did not chafe. Since I am prone to chafing, I was pleasantly surprised. I expected some degree of discomfort- whether from chafing or straps digging into my skin or slipping off my shoulders. Amazingly, I went the entire ride not thinking about my straps at all.

 

The shorts stayed in place (no riding up or tugging) and more importantly, the Levitate Plus chamois was neither too thin nor too thick and stayed in place as well. Because the denser foam was strategically placed at the top closer to the sit bones, the “bottom out” effect that I have previously experienced with other chamois is nonexistent.

Since I am relatively new to bibs, I’m used to wearing shorts where the chamois somehow doesn’t stay in place during long rides (especially on hill climbs). Believe me, subtle things like padding in the wrong place is noticeable and can make a ride very uncomfortable. So I was very, very appreciative of the chamois on the Attack Air Bib Shorts.

 

Finally, like Spanx, somehow the shorts kept my middle aged belly tucked in discreetly and didn’t protrude in awful places. Like the straps, no chafing occurred on the shorts and the fabric kept my skin dry- even riding under the hot sun in high altitude.

 

Bathroom breaks went quickly thanks to the drop tail design and were not as problematic as I anticipated (the drop tail stretches).

 

In the last few years, Pearl Izumi has been all over the board with sizing and chamois quality.

However, the Pearl Izumi Attack Air Bib Shorts are a hit. They perform well and look expensive. Constructed of recycled nylon and elastane, they are so comfortable and light, you forget you’re wearing them at all.

Kate Agathon

Dr. Of Stoke

Freelance writer, bicyclist, outdoor recreation enthusiast, social justice advocate, and mom to her furbaby, Sansa.

A Colorado native, Kate considers the outdoors her mother ship. She brings her passion for bicycling, the environment, and issues of diversity to her writing. Her primary outdoor recreation activities are mountain biking, road biking, nordic skiing, alpine skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and peak bagging Colorado’s 14ers.

 

Kate earned a bachelor’s degree in History from Colorado State University and later an MSEd and Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Purdue University. In addition to her education, Kate’s background serving on the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee and experience working for non-profits and bicycle sales well position her to bring depth and understanding to the complex changes currently taking place in the outdoor recreation industry.