New to TBD’s 2023 gear order was Castelli’s Unlimited Bibshort. Castelli has allowed for teams to customize the print on the leg grippers, enabling us to create our very own TBD version. I was excited to get my hands on a pair and see if they lived up to the hype.

You may remember the Castelli Unlimited Cargo Bibs from a post my teammate Barb wrote a few years back. While Castelli has released a couple of different versions of this product over the past year or so, they label all of their bibs in the Unlimited Lineup to be “equally at home on tarmac or gravel” and, most importantly, they all feature pockets. The bibs included in the TBD’s 2023 gear order are the Unlimited W Bibshorts, which look to now be phased out of Castelli’s lineup in favor of updated models. Fear not! I’ve provided additional information on the two new versions of the Unlimited Bibshort at the bottom of this post.

For the sake of comparison, per the Castelli website, the Unlimited W Bibshorts feature:

• 200 g/m2 nylon/Lycra® fabric with best-in-class abrasion and tear resistance

• 2 mesh rear pockets built into mesh bib straps

• Double-layer side panels reduce abrasion if you fall, while also creating 2 useful side pockets

• Raw-cut leg ending with vertical silicone grip strips to hold leg in place

• KISS Air2 Donna seat pad for all-day comfort

The Unlimited Castelli Bibshort Review

There might be nothing like the ennui associated with getting a new pair of bibs that your peers have promised will solve all of your problems. Some might call me a perfectionist, and perhaps I have more issues than the average person when it comes to bibs. If I were to give a mere sampling of the woes I’ve experienced with various cycling bottoms within the past year, I’d say:

• These bibs have made me chafe in brand new places every time I use them!

• These bibs are comfortable once on, but almost impossible to get over my butt!

• The tops of these bibs end mid-pelvis and feel like they are destroying my internal organs!

• The bib straps on these shorts have left bruises on my shoulders!

• These bibs slide up on my thighs when I ride! 

• These bibs have no pockets and don’t allow me to live my best t-shirt ride life!

All that being said, despite having been told previously by multiple members of TBD that the Castelli Unlimited Bibshort were by far their favorite bibs, I did my best to not get my hopes up. I’m pleased to report these shorts have not been overhyped. Not to be overly dramatic, but I have found the pair of bibs I will recommend to everyone to solve all of their problems (at least the bib related ones). I look forward to wearing these shorts throughout this season as I tackle my training rides and any gravel events I may find myself in.

Castelli Unlimited Bibshort - The Pros:

• The fabric — while thicker than any other pair of non-thermal bibshorts I own — feels compressive without being overly tight.

• The bib straps are the perfect length, making the shorts feel secure without being uncomfortable on my shoulders.

• The two side pockets with flaps — plus the two smaller rear mesh ones — allow for me to store at least all of the essentials for my rides (giving me the optionality to wear a t-shirt instead of a jersey).

• The leg grippers keep the shorts in place without causing any discomfort or irritation.

• The chamois are among the best I have ever used, and have felt comfortable over multiple hours on the bike.

Castelli Unlimited Bibshort - The Cons:

• The flap over the pocket is quite tight, so getting things out of the pockets while riding can be somewhat tough.

• The fabric is on the thicker side, so I can imagine it might be very hot on hot days, but given that it is currently the middle of February in New York, that is to be determined.

Versions of the Unlimited Bib Shorts

As mentioned above, Castelli now offers two other versions of their Unlimited Bibshort. Again, as per the Castelli website, the specifications of these two alternatives are listed below.

Product Features of the new Unlimited Cargo W Bibshort:

• Affinity Pro Lycra® fabric on inside of leg for outstanding stretch and rebound

• Drop-tail bib construction for more convenient nature breaks

• 2 cargo-style side pockets with flap over top to keep stuff from falling out

• KISS Air2 Donna seat pad for long-distance comfort

• GIRO4 leg grippers

Product Features of the Free Unlimited W Bibshort:

• High-compression 215 g Forza 2 fabric with 32% Lycra® content provides exceptional muscle support and compression

• Dyneema® side panels to protect in the event of a tumble, 15x stronger than steel

• Women's-specific Progetto X2 Air Donna seamless seat pad is soft against the skin but well padded for long-distance comfort

• Drop-tail bib straps can cross in front or back and allow pee breaks without removing bibs

• Large compression pocket on each leg

• Raw-cut edge at waist for extra stretch and comfort

• Raw-cut leg ending engineered to stay put without silicone grippers

Castelli’s new Cargo Unlimited Bibshort seems to be a replacement in the lineup for the Unlimited Bibshort included in TBD’s 2023 gear order. It looks to be quite similar, with the notable exception that it features cross back straps, enabling the wearer to utilize the restroom without having to completely remove their bibs (this is also a feature of the Free Unlimited Bibshort). As a result of the new cross straps, neither alternative version of the Unlimited Bibshort has the two mesh pockets built into the straps of the original version. As a woman who does not enjoy the contortions associated with “bibs you don’t have to remove to pee” but who does thoroughly enjoy having pockets, I view this to be a negative of the newer versions of these shorts (this is, I believe, a hot take).

Notably, the Free Unlimited Bibshort has a few critical differences from the other bibs in the Unlimited line. It is constructed with a high-compression material, does not have leg grippers, and does not have flaps over the pockets. I personally own a pair of the Free Unlimited Bibshort and would recommend sizing up from your typical Castelli size when purchasing a pair (the compressive material is comfortable, but quite restrictive).