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  4. » Men's Core Bib Shorts

Core Bib Shorts

Simple, quality comfort for every road rider.

Description

Simple, quality bib shorts to complement any ride, the main panels use a dense-knit fabric for support and modesty and laser-cut leg grippers lined with soft silicone for a close, comfortable fit.

The bib section uses high-stretch material, machined efficiently for even distribution of stretch and to accommodate longer torsos. Flatlock seams are positioned carefully throughout to hold the shorts in place without chafing. The shorts are available in an entirely black colourway, or with a white bib section to prevent straps showing under a light-coloured jersey.

To see our full range of Core products, visit our Core Collection page.

For a guide to our full range of cycling bib shorts and tights and the key differences between them, click here.

“The Core collection is about optimising innovative fabrics and processes across the entire collection to reduce production hours and wastage. For example, the leg-gripper trim reappears in the jersey back, the material for the zip guard is used again on the sleeve tips, and bindings use rolled edges. This means we can produce Core garments without compromise, leading to a new standard for everyday cycling apparel.”
– Alex Valdman, Creative Director

Reviews:

“I told my $500 Assos bibshorts that I had a new favorite and they slammed the door to the Kuku Penthouse in my face. But it’s the truth. The Core bibs are Rapha’s entry-level offering but they surpass that designation in both price and quality.”
9.3/10 - VeloNews

“Rapha's Core bib shorts are an impressive mix of knowhow from premium ranges – giving good quality, comfort and a great fit.”
★★★★½ Ash Quinlan, Road.cc

“The bibshorts are a particular highlight of the range. Flatlock seams join smartly-shaped panels, meaning chafing isn’t an issue and Rapha sensibly hasn’t compromised at the heart of the shorts – the Core bibs are built around the original Classic chamois that remains as comfortable as ever. As a result the Core bibshorts punch well above their weight at this price point. It is a similar story with the jersey – the polyester it uses feels more organic than synthetic, and has been treated with an antibacterial process so still smells reasonable even after repeated use.”
★★★★½ Sam Challis, cyclist.co.uk

“Rapha's most affordable bib shorts to date don't skimp on quality or comfort.”
Jim Clarkson, roadcyclinguk.com

“Since trying the Rapha Core bib shorts, they’ve become my go-to shorts – I’ve struggled to find anything that suits me better.”
9/10 Richard Windsor, cyclingweekly.com

Features

Laser-cut, soft silicone leg grippers to hold the shorts in place even during hard efforts

High-stretch bib shorts to accommodate riders of any height without compromising on fit

Black dense-knit fabric for compressive support and modesty

Cutaway bibs use a mesh fabric for breathability and temperature regulation

Details and Materials

  • The same Rapha chamois pad used in all our Classic bib shorts
  • Black dense-knit fabric for compressive support and modesty
  • Colour-matched trims throughout
  • Laser-cut, soft-silicone leg grippers to hold shorts comfortably in place
  • High-stretch bib accommodates any rider height without compromising fit
  • Comfortable flatlock stitching
  • Black or white bib section
  • Subtle tonal branding
  • 82% Polyester
  • 18% Elastane

FIT

Classic Fit

A close but relaxed fit, longer in the torso and suited to longer rides. Regular fit is applicable to our Classic, Brevet and Core ranges.

See our fit guide

Ruben is wearing a size small and measures:

Height 6ft

Sizing

|
|
XS S M L XL XXL
Chest 85 91 97 103 108 114
Waist 70 75 81 87 93 99
Hips 87 92 98 104 110 115
Chest 33.5 36 38 40.5 42.5 45
Waist 27.5 29.5 32 34.5 36.5 39
Hips 34.5 36 38.5 41 43.5 45.5

HELP WITH MEASURING

HELP WITH MEASURING

1 CHEST

Using a tape measure, take the total measurement around the fullest part of your chest, holding the tape horizontally.

2 WAIST

Run the tape around the narrowest part of your waist holding the tape horizontally.

3 HIPS

Stand with your feet together and measure around the fullest point of the hip, keeping the tape measure horizontal.

4.5

4.5 / 5

2622 Reviews

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Q&A

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Care instructions

  • Gentle machine wash at 30°C
  • Wash with non bio detergent
  • Do not bleach
  • Do not dry clean
  • Do not tumble dry
  • Do not iron
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Rated 3 out of 5 by from OK for the Price Point Been a Rapha fanboy for a while now and this is the first product that I haven't rated as 5 stars. Let's be fair though, this is not a high end price and I welcome the attempt into this market. Overall the styling and quality is what you would expect from Rapha - top notch but these bibs just annoy me. Great pad, great comfort around the shoulders and great styling as always but those thigh grippers.. maybe its the shape of my legs but I cannot get the grippers to lie flat unless I pull, tweak and conjole them into position. They stick on every sq cm as I pull them on and never feel quite "right". My Classic bibs are a joy but these are not for me.
Date published: 2016-09-20
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Well constructed These are decent bib shorts. Material and overall construction is excellent. A very wide 2 inch leg flat silicone leg gripper is EXCELLENT! In my opinion i feel that the chamois is lacking personality.As technical as this short is from the wide leg gripper flat seam stitching bib strap material and the open back design,the chamois missed their mark. There are 2 thickness on the chamois the outer edge as well as a center line are the thin areas. the sit bone and front end of the chamois are a thicker padding but with no real density.Nothing technical about the pad... I feel this is more of a short ride chamois vs.all day in the saddle chamois.
Date published: 2016-04-03
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Most of the comfort for a lot less of the cost! The core shorts compare favourably to any other shorts of a similar cost. The only other Rapha bibs I have are the Brevet bibs to directly compare to. The cores don't have the same depth of padding but that is to be expected, both from cost and expected ride duration. Size wise the medium brevet shorts are perfect for me, the medium core is *just* a bit snug. Not uncomfortably so but they definitely feel tighter. Whether this is down to a tighter cut or less stretchy material I don't know. If you're at the upper end of medium I'd suggest you go for large. I have the core bins without a pad in Large and they fit perfectly over padded bibs.
Date published: 2017-10-30
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Leg grippers mean business I've had these for about a month and they are pretty good bib shorts. I especially appreciate the lower price point. The chamois feels/is the same as the classic bibs. I think they might be cut a little longer than the classic bibs and the materials are obviously different but I don't think that diminishes the quality at all so, overall, I'm pretty satisfied. The only thing I didn't like is that the leg grippers ripped my winter fur from my legs the first time I put them on. That doesn't happen with other shorts even ones that have good leg grippers. These mean business. It's nice once on the bike but shave before you put them on the first time.
Date published: 2016-03-20
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Poor quality product, customer services Have worn Rapha for a while now and never had cause to complain. I have some truly amazing Rapha products that I cherish and very much enjoy. Usually the quality and durability is second to none. I wish I could say the same for these shorts. I have worn these shorts just once for a one hour ride. On arrival home I was shocked to see that the seat had started to wear through to the chamois. Not what I expected at all. I have emailed customer services twice and called and left a message. No one has got back to me after a week of trying. When you are buying a premium product, you expect premium service.
Date published: 2017-05-13
Rated 5 out of 5 by from fantastic In comparison to the Classic Bibs, a staple go-to, the Core Bibs are more lightweight and the new fabrication techniques seem to make for a "cleaner" bit of tailoring - Rapha seems to have met their goal. I always found the chamois on the Classics to be a bit thick, but in the Core, it seems just right. The leg grips are wide and really work. They fit a little tighter than the Classics, but are not uncomfortable. (Large in Classics seems accurate for American, Core seem a little closer to Euro) Extremely well made. Clean aesthetic. All black = classic. Great bit of kit. Great price.
Date published: 2016-04-12
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Phenomenal Value Perfect fit, perfect padding, perfect price. I have ridden just under 400 miles in these shorts in the last 2 weeks and can honestly say that they are most comfortable shorts in the entire Rapha range. I own 10+ pairs of Rapha shorts and approached their new budget range with some scepticism and concerns over quality. These worries were dismissed within a few miles. The fit and finish are excellent. The padding is exceptional for me and I grew more impressed with each mile. Rapha has pulled of the seemingly impossible here, a 'budget' product with a classy feel.
Date published: 2016-03-04
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Great Fit & Comfort, Poor Breathability The fit on these bib shorts is great: A little less compressive than the Pro Team shorts, and also less tight over the shoulders. Comfort when riding from the pad is excellent, and the overall appearance is very good: Simple and under-stated, no big logos on display. The fabric looks good too: Not as obviously high quality as that used on the Classic bib shorts, but certainly better looking than average. The only downside for me is that the shorts get very clammy quickly, which feels unpleasant on hot days or long rides, and initially led to some unpleasant chafing. I don't get that with the Rapha Classic or Pro Team bib shorts that I own. If that could be sorted, these shorts would be pretty much perfect. Overall these are still great shorts, as they must be the most comfortable for the money that you could get.
Date published: 2020-08-02
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Suitable size: I am a 39.5 chest, approximately 33 waist and 40 hips. Since it is in between medium and large what do you reccomend?

Asked by: rje1949
We would recommend sizing down when between sizes, so the Medium would be best choice in this case
Answered by: Rapha_Steve
Date published: 2020-06-18

Hello, my measurements are as follows: Chest - 97.5cm, Waist - 80cm, Hips - 93cm. Waist measurement puts me at a medium, however, hip measurement puts me at a small. What size of the core bib shorts would you recommend?

Asked by: tdonahue7
When your measurements span across sizes, we recommend opting for the larger size. Based on the measurements you've provided we recommend a size Medium.
Answered by: Martina _Rapha
Date published: 2020-05-21

Is this intended to be worn with a base layer shirt? Or simply the bib plus a jersey over the straps? Thank you.

Asked by: jmrLA
The Core Bib Shorts can be worn with or without a base layer depending on your own personal preference or layering needs.
Answered by: Martina _Rapha
Date published: 2020-05-21

Is there any difference in the chamois size between a small vs medium?

Asked by: Chris7691
We tailor our chamois to the size of each bib or short, this includes its profile as well as thickness. The thickness of the pad varies as follows: XS/S 9mm M/L 11mm XL/ XXL 13mm
Answered by: Martina _Rapha
Date published: 2020-05-21

Hi,  I'm 6ft tall Chest: 36 inches Waist: 30 inches  Hips: 36 inches  Would you recommend going small or medium? Thanks! 

Asked by: Caffeineandcake
In regards of the measurements provided , the size Small should fit perfectly.
Answered by: Anonymous
Date published: 2020-05-19

My chest is 98 cm, waist is 80 & hips are 97. Size guide says I should get a Medium, but I'm 1.96 m tall and have never worn clothes smaller than Large. My Castelli shorts, which are a bit too big now, are size XXXL. What do you recommend? Thanks :)

Asked by: KaiP
If it is your first Rapha bib shorts purchase , we are suggesting to follow the sizing chart on the product page. Because you are quite tall, the upper body and the straps might be too tight . Please visit our Returns page https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/returns to understand how you can exchange your product.
Answered by: Anonymous
Date published: 2020-05-19

I'm 6ft 2, 33 inch waist, 41 inch chest, 38 inch hips. What size would you recommend?

Asked by: Millskills
Due to the relaxed fit of the Core bib shorts, we suggest you to opt for the size Medium in regards of the measurements provided.
Answered by: Anonymous
Date published: 2020-05-19

I'm very much in the camp were I should wear small but prefer the fit of medium. Can you tell me how much longer the legs are between small and medium? The smalls I'm about to return are about 25cm inseam.

Asked by: Foo2
There is a 1cm difference in the inseam length between each size. Our Small Core Bib Shorts use a 22cm inseam, and Medium use a 23cm inseam.
Answered by: Martina _Rapha
Date published: 2020-05-13
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Thank you for your request. We’ll contact you when your Men's Core Bib Shorts is available.

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