POCRove Cargo VPDs Bib Shorts(Return to Product Page)

I only have two rides in these, totaling about 90 miles and 5,000 feet of climbing, so this is still a first impression, but so far there�s a lot to like. First, if you�ve never had bibs with side pockets, they are great. It�s much easier to access a gel or your phone than when they�re in a Jersey pocket on your back, and these pockets are very secure - I can�t imagine anything slipping out by accident. The material of these bibs is isn't a high-compression type, but the smooth, stretchy fabric is very comfortable, including the all-important straps. The sides are cut higher than any bibs I�ve had before, which is nice for those of us who aren�t quite as lean as a pro tour rider. The legs stay put without using those ultra-grippers that can sometimes irritate. The only things I can�t comment on very well yet are durability and the comfort of the chamois, though so far I am pretty happy with the chamois. And fit was as expected: At just over 6 feet tell and a quasi-athletic 195 lbs, the XL size fits fine, but if I cut back on the sweet treats I could probably drop to a size large.

I caught an amazing sale through BTD, and got these for around $90. If they hold up as well as my go-to Castelli Endurance bibs, then I would gladly pay $150 or so, as that would put them on par with other manufacturer�s comparable offerings.

I really wanted to love these bibs. The material and workmanship feels like good quality, and they are very comfortable. The straps don't dig in, the pockets work very well, and the chamois is a nice density for medium- length rides (2-4 hours).

So what's the catch? I have wide sit bones and run saddles in the 150 mm width range, and the chamois is too small for me. I've discovered that in these, I end up sitting partially on a seam at the edge of the chamois, which is also on the forward edge of the wide part of my Specialized Power saddle. It's not as much of an issue on flat rides, but on long climbs it's enough to get quite painful. Since I live in the mountains and like climbing, these bibs, sadly, are being retired after only about 8-10 rides. Oh well - at least I got them on a great sale from Bike Tires Direct. If you have narrower sit bones, they might be great for you, but for me they just don't work.