As we've typically found in the past, Capo have got the pattern on their Monza bib shorts dialled. When standing upright, they feel overly snug up front and are a touch loose on the rear, but tuck down over the drops and it all feels just right.
If anything, the Monzas feel a hair tighter than Capo shorts of similar sizing we've reviewed in the past – perhaps on account of the notably compressive side panels.
The mesh racer-back bibs are cut to a perfect length, and the low front makes for easy nature breaks. Perhaps most importantly, the Cytech stretch multi-thickness seamless chamois is ideally placed for road riding, and offered wholly invisible comfort throughout our test period.
Durability has been good, too, with no ill effects after over five months of regular machine washing and drying. Unfortunately though, one major fly spoils the ointment. Capo fit the Monza bib shorts with highly compressive and very wide leg bands made of a double layer of material that are bonded together. In theory this should make for a tight and stable fit, but in practice it's a little too tight.
In bonding those layers together it seems Capo lost some of the material's elasticity, as the leg bands are only mildly stretchy and end up feeling restrictive instead of snug. Moreover, they're almost entirely non-breathable, so even in moderately toasty temperatures, that section of your legs ends up feeling especially warm and sticky.
If Capo can rectify the leg band issue, the Monzas will be a superb summer-weight pair of bibs. But this problem conspicuously mars what is otherwise a very solid piece of kit.
