Sportful Ultra W Bib Short – The Most Useful Bike Shorts

Kate Agathon

Any cyclist will tell you that nothing is more frustrating than constantly adjusting bike shorts, especially on long rides that involve hill climbs! So, after avoiding them for years, I have recently embraced wearing cycling bibs over bike shorts because I have gotten tired of riding in discomfort as a result of waistband chafing and the chamois not staying in place.

Sportful Ultra W Bib Short Review

Of the cycling bibs that I’ve tried recently, the Sportful Ultra W Bib Short is the most utilitarian. While I don’t really like the way they look with just the base undershirt underneath (but does anyone who is slightly overweight and middle aged?), they are comfortable and perform well.

Packed with features (cargo pockets along the legs and waist, and a magnetic clip on the bib straps) that I actually used, the Sportful Ultra W Bib Short performed well on recent rides, including a long ride with steady climbing to Copper Mountain.

Despite my initial concerns, the Y-backed straps stayed in place and no chafing happened. The straps are designed so well, no adjustment is necessary and no front clip is needed to keep them in place. Also, I like the Y design because I have narrow shoulders and often find myself  trying to put straps (cycling bibs, bra straps, etc.)  in place.

Bathroom breaks were a breeze, thanks to the handy snap on the back. Enough said.

Constructed from durable and resistant four-way stretch woven fabric, the Sportful Ultra W Bib Short was a bit thicker material than others that I have been trying, but I did not get sweaty and my skin didn’t get prickly, so no problems there.

The shorts stayed in place (no bunching up) and so did the DMS W chamois during some of the most arduous hill climbs. Another win!

The chamois provided just enough support without being too thin or too thick, which also seems to be a rarity among bike shorts these days. The slightly shorter pad was comfortable too- so many times in the past, I’ve often thought the chamois was unnecessarily long in places it didn’t need to be.

The waist pockets are good for long rides because they offer some versatility and I don’t have to cram everything into the back pockets of my cycling jersey. Meanwhile, the side pockets are deep enough to accommodate an oversized Motorola Moto G phone.

All bike shorts and cycling bibs are not created alike, and quality reveals itself during long rides that require well-constructed attire.

In the past, I’d typically select the most affordable shorts so I sacrificed comfort over quality. In hindsight inexpensive bike shorts were likely the reason I was often in discomfort during long rides or particularly grueling hill climbs.

After wearing the Sportful Ultra W Bib Short, no longer will I make that sacrifice. I have an expensive aero bike designed for speed and hill climbs, why am I ruining the enjoyment of rides with inexpensive, poorly designed cycling attire?

Available in sizes XS to XXL, they run true to size. The Sportful Ultra W Bib Short delivers comfort and performance, and they’ll be my choice for the upcoming 79-mile Copper Triangle alpine cycling classic next month because I want to be able to enjoy the ride, and not constantly fret over my cycling attire. Surprisingly comfortable and very utilitarian, the Sportful Ultra W Bib Short will go the distance for long rides with hill climbs.

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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.