The Sportful Gruppetto Classic combines an excellent fit and comfy pad in a pair of high-end bib shorts tried-and-tested by the Tinkoff-Saxo WorldTour team.
We’ve covered the Italian firm’s Gruppetto range before, and most recently with the excellent Aero jersey, but to recap: it’s essentially the same kit (same cut, same fabrics) as worn by Alberto Contador and his Tinkoff-Saxo team-mates – but without the sponsors’ logos.
The Gruppetto bib shorts are primarily made from two fabrics, one dubbed ‘Lycra Power’ and one called ‘aeroflow Compress’ – the two are easily distinguishable in our pictures.
‘Lycra Power’ is a mid-weight fabric used on the rear, underside and front of the shorts, and it offers a snug and supportive fit, while having plenty of stretch to retain freedom of movement on the bike. The fabric is said to be tear- and UV-resistant, though we haven’t had the chance to test the former (or, rather, crash – though the fabric has remained good as new through regular riding during our test period), and we haven’t previously encountered any problems getting sunburt through bib shorts in the past – least not in the UK’s tepid climate.
The ‘aeroflow Compress’ fabric, on the other hand, is a little lighter and has less of a matte finish when directly compared to the ‘Lycra Power’. The fabric has a light dimpled texture and Sportful say that improves aerodynamics, while the seams are also placed to stay out of the air flow. There aren’t any specific watt-saving figures, and it’s a saving more likely to be of concern to Contador than you or I, but the fabric shares the same supportive and comfortable qualities as that of the ‘Lycra Power’.
The two leg openings are seamless and largely rely on the stretch in the fabric to stay in place, which is a boon for comfort, though they are also lined with a series of small silicone grippers in the shape of the Sportful logo. It’s a comfortable combination which doesn’t tug away at your skin, even if it’s not as natural a solution as the superb ‘double step’ openings on the new R&D bib shorts, which we reviewed in June.
Crucially, the fit of the Gruppetto shorts is excellent, with a multi-panel construction which ensures a supportive fit, with no unnecessary crumples in the fabric, and the chamois is held securely in place. This is race-inspired clothing and the cut reflects that but we wore our regular size – medium – with no problems.
Move up to the bib straps and they’re made from a lightweight mesh fabric. The straps aren’t the widest we’ve seen but they’re supportive, breathable and don’t shift position or dig in while riding.
As for the pad, the Gruppetto Classic bib shorts use the BodyFit Pro chamois. It has an anatomical and multi-density design and Sportful call it their ‘most comfortable long distance pad’. It looks a relatively simple chamois to the eye but we certainly found it comfortable on hot, mountainous rides of up to five hours in the Pyrenees – it’s an excellent pad.
Our test shorts are in black, white and grey (with white trim at the bottom of the left leg and grey at the bottom of the right), but they’re also available with white/fluoro, white/red and white/blue trim, to match the corresponding Aero jersey.
Conclusion
While any aerodynamic advantage is nigh-on impossible for us to detect, the Sportful Gruppetto Classic bib shorts get it right where it really matters: they’re comfortable in fit, fabric and the pad. Tried-and-tested pro kit at a fair price.
Price: £85
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Colours: black/white/grey, black/white/fluoro, black/white/red, white/white/blue
Website: Sportful
UK distributor: C3 Products
