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The Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts are pricey compared to most of their rivals, but the design is well thought-through for an aggressive ride position and they feel very high quality.
There are a few quirks in the design, including a notably high cut at the groin, which won’t suit some leg shapes.
However, these shorts, worn by the likes of Tom Pidcock and priced at £250 / $340 / €250, are among the best around.
Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts details and specifications
The Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts feature a woven fabric that feels different from most other bib shorts of their type.
Where those bib shorts tend to feel smoother (Lycra-like), the Dottore Pro shorts feel a little more abrasive (more like a woven texture).
They’re anything but woolly, though. The fabrics are proprietary to Q36.5, with a mix of 63 per cent polyamide, 35 per cent elastane, 1 per cent polyester and – for its antibacterial and antistatic properties – 1 per cent silver.
Unworn, the legs of these shorts feel slightly crinkly to the touch. However, the construction is designed to offer performance-enhancing compression on the legs, with the support spreading around the buttocks towards the lower back, plus good breathability.
The bib section is also designed to be well-ventilated, covering a smaller portion of the back compared to many bib shorts – and the part that does provide coverage is meshed.
The straps are fully elasticated and broad to help with pressure distribution.
Q36.5 says the shorts are best used in 18℃ (64℉) temperatures and above.
The shorts use Q36.5's patented Q Lab Air chamois.
This uses typical foam layering paired with a microfibre layer to reduce unwanted sliding between the rider and the saddle. This is topped with a quick-drying ‘skin layer’.
The pad extends a little further forward than I’m accustomed to. This indicates the shorts are designed for a more aggressive rider position (eg, when riding on the rivet of the saddle).
The shorts are available in black and navy blue, plus a ‘Racing Black’ Q36.5 team replica version. All come with small silver Q36.5 tabs and a reflective strip on the back of the left leg.
Although they're not the most expensive bib shorts – that award goes to the £305 / $400 / €350 Assos Equipe RSR Bib Shorts S11 – the Dottore Pros are more expensive than most of the competition:
- Rapha Pro Team Bib Shorts III: £240 / $295 / €260
- Maap Team Bib Evo: £225 / $295 / €250
- Castelli Free Aero Race S £199 / $229.99 / €199.95
Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts performance
The first thing I noticed about the Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts was the noticeably high cut at the groin.
Where most brands' bib shorts provide a small airspace gap between the crotch and inner leg, the Dottore Pros extend higher up, partially filling this space with the fabric.
The design is a curious one, given the presence of fabric in such a tight space could cause rubbing for those without a so-called ‘thigh gap’.
It’s definitely noticeable, and while I seem to have a body shape that tolerates the design, I can easily imagine many won’t.
The chamois' positioning is also notably forward. This favours the more aggressive positions the likes of Pidcock ride in.
This is well suited to the shorts’ target use case. However, it's a little at odds with those who prefer to spend larger sums on premium bib shorts, but might be better served by a more neutral pad placement.
The advice to try before you buy is as relevant as ever here.
I have no qualms about the construction quality of these shorts – the high level of compression from the woven fabric has remained as strong as it was when new, and the thick, elasticated straps combine with this to offer an especially locked-in feeling.
The straps can feel a little bulky and warm over the shoulders, but pressure distribution was excellent, and the relatively narrow design on the back mitigates this somewhat.
Looks are subjective, but the black-with-gold woven thread design (plus the silver tabs) is a classy touch. To my eye, only Assos’ top-level bib shorts look and feel as well-finished.
The rear-facing reflective tab is technically on the wrong side for UK and Australian roads (I’d prefer it on the right leg, more central to the road), but this is a minor niggle.
How we tested | pro-level bib shorts
For this test, we focused on the latest generation of pro-level bib shorts.
I tested the shorts on shorter control loops, plus at least one longer ride. With chamois comfort so subjective, I focused on identifying more objective differences between the shorts, including sizing, feature positioning and quality.
I had brands submit medium and large samples for testing, enabling me to comment on relative fit and sizing. In the end, size large fitted my 188cm (6ft 2in) frame best across the board – although, of course, your mileage may vary.
Testing was carried out on a Fairlight Strael 3.0 road bike with a Pro Griffon saddle, and a Scott Addict RC fitted with a Syncros Belcarra R perch.
Each pair of shorts was put through 40℃ (104℉) wash cycles with standard non-biological detergent, rather than a sport-specific wash.
Shorts tested
- Rapha Pro Team Bib Shorts III
- Maap Team Bib Evo
- Castelli Free Aero Race S
- Q36.5 Dottore Pro
Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts bottom line
The Q36.5 Dottore Pro Bib Shorts are purpose-built for racing road cyclists – perhaps more than any others I have tested.
You’ll need to critically assess if the leg cut will work for your body shape, but if it does, the expensive outlay could be worth it.
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Product
| Brand | Q365 |
| Price | €250.00, £250.00, $340.00 |
Features
| Gender | mens |
| Features | Sizes: XS-3XL Colours: Black, Navy Blue, Racing Black |
