Café du Cycliste Antoinette women’s bib shorts review

Café du Cycliste is a relatively new brand in the cycle clothing market, but it’s already made a mark with its classic French styling that’s less race and more lifestyle in its look.

Related: Best women’s bib shorts 2015

Café du Cycliste earned an mention in this roundup with the stylish Antoinette Bib Shorts. The bibs were reasonably comfortable with sleek leg hems and a secure upper half. The chamois was a bit too bulky for my preference and this kept the bibs off the BikeRadar top-five list.

However, I appreciated the Antoinette bibs because of the stylishly striped built-in base layer and incredibly soft materials. The silky smooth feel of these bibs was the softest of any I’ve tested.

The built-in base layer is made from a light Lycra at the front and back with lighter mesh panels at the side of the torso and top of the spine, plus a three-quarter length zip. It works well at wicking sweat and is designed to fit over a bra.

However, although there’s give in the fabric it may not suit those with a larger bust. I also found that, although more or less true to size, these bibs are towards the large end of the spectrum, so if you’re towards the end of a size range, you may want to size down.

The Antoinette Bibs have a rear pocket built into the base layer, though again I wasn’t totally sold on the design. Open at each side, sealed top and bottom, it’s not secure enough to store tools, phone or pump.

The Café du Cycliste Antoinette bibs are a competitively priced product. With a little more engineering for the chamois and some minor fit adjustments, they could be a real success.

Related: Buyers guide to women’s bib shorts