I was keen to try out Sportful’s summer clothing after finding their products worked so well and effectively during the winter months, and have been duly testing items from the Italian company’s BodyFit Pro range.
BodyFit has been proven in the toughest testing arena in the world, professional road racing, with the SaxoBank-Tinkoff team supplied by the company. Professional racers accept no compromises when it comes to clothing, and we found that the case when we tested the bib shorts and jersey.
Bodyfit Pro shorts £85
As the name alludes to, the garments are close fitting, and the bib shorts in particular. They use an Aeroflow Compress fabric (featuring Lycra Power) which has a dimpled surface to reduce drag as the air passes over the surface. Flatlock stitching of the various panels has been cleverly placed away from the frontal areas that face the air, ensuring good aerodynamics.
Fit is certainly on the snug side, with the size large bib shorts and medium jersey fitting me well. I find it hard to get cycle clothing that fits well, the tendency seems to be for manufacturers sizing to stray somewhere north of that suggested on the label, but that’s not the case with Sportful. For racing you want shorts and jerseys that fit closely to the skin so there’s no excess material to flap in the wind, which neither looks very pro nor helps you ride fast.
Saying that, the shorts and jersey are not uncomfortable. Quite the opposite; I’ve probably cycled several hundred hours in them and not once found cause for complaint. During this time durability has been excellent, no sign of frayed or loose threads and they still look as new as when they left the packaging.
The chamois has ‘Infinity Variable Padding Thickness’ which in laymans terms means there’s more padding where you need it, and less where you don’t. It’s an anatomic shape and sits in place comfortably and its seamless design proved comfortable on the longest rides I managed, and in the heat of battle in a road race.
BodyFit Pro Team jersey £65
Sportful’s BodyFit Pro Team jersey is the obvious perfect partner for the bib shorts. For the fabric Sportful choose DryPro, which offers both high wicking performance with some aerodynamic properties.
Like the shorts it’s a well fitted jersey, and will please anyone looking for a properly sized jersey that offers a close fit. The sleeves are just the right length and there’s a silicone gripper tape at the waist to stop them riding up when you’re hunched over in the drops.
It probably won’t get hot enough in the UK this year, but if you’re heading abroad you’ll welcome the full length YKK zipper for maximum ventilation.
It’s a good jersey for warmer days as the material breathes excellently, with no excessive heat buildup. The three pockets are generously sized and don’t sag when loaded up with a day’s worth of food.
Livery aside, this shorts and jersey combo is exactly the same kit as used by the professional Saxobank team, and delivers fantastic performance on all fronts. It’s well priced too, making it easy to recommend.
