Bellwether Axiom Bib Short (Black) (XL)

These Bibs are very comfortable. The materials – top to bottom – are soft, with a “barely there” feel, and the chamois does its job well.

They are a little short in the legs, but with how thin the bottom material is, this only helps keep you cool on hot days, which is where I feel that these bibs really shine (80+ degrees Fahrenheit, or in the 70's with moderate to high humidity). After about an hour and a half, the material starts to lose it's compression, which is a bit of a bummer, but most of my trail rides are only for about that long, so for me, this isn't really a complaint, just something Bellwether could consider addressing for the next iteration.

The Chamois has kept me comfortable on both the trails and road, though I believe that it could benefit from a top layer, just to keep it from “misbehaving”. First two times I wore these shorts, the chamois had a tendency to bow upwards in the middle, but after the two subsequent washes, that issue seemed to go away.

Overall, I gave these bibs a “4 star” rating because for the price I paid – and their MSRP if you buy them from Bellwether directly – they are cool, comfortable, and the chamois does a good job. With that in mind, I wouldn't recommend them for rides over 2 hours, and would say that these are great for more casual rides, or for those just getting into cycling.

Fit reference:
I purchased a Medium, and it fits really well on my build.
I'm 5' 8" / 180lbs / 40" Chest / 35" Waist / 23" Thighs