All Lycra is in some way slightly compressive, but 2XU (known for triathlon clothing) have developed material to provide a higher level of muscle compression than regular cycling shorts.
The extra compression is said to stabilise riders’ muscles while they’re working and help protect them from micro tears, which occur as a result of bearing their own weight during vigorous exercise.
It’s this micro damage that makes muscles sore and increases recovery time. The theory is that, with 2XU’s compressive shorts, you suffer less tissue damage and can therefore go blasting again tomorrow and on subsequent days.
These shorts use compressive technology with a comfortable Fusion Pro antibacterial pad and 2XU’s thick Elite 70 denier circular knit fabric, which is stitched with flat-lock seams.
We chose our normal size and they weren’t as compressive as we’d expected; perhaps we should have worn a size smaller to experience a little more compression, as we didn’t feel any particular benefit during the test period.
As a pure bib short, they’re still well put together offering levels of quality and comfort alongside Gore and Assos, and the pad gave us no cause for complaint after a month of nearly daily use.