Rapha Brevet bib shorts review - perfect for endurance rides

Rapha has done the brevet name proud, with shorts that excel in the endurance events they take their name from

Rapha Brevet Bib Shorts
(Image credit: Future)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

The Rapha Brevet is an outstanding pair of bib shorts for endurance rides. They dry incredibly quickly, the fit is comfortable and they have an excellent chamois pad. And of course they're very stylish. Yes they're expensive but the design, the quality of the fabric and the construction are all just about as good as it gets.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Very quick drying

  • +

    Excellent chamois

  • +

    Great fit

  • +

    Good amount of reflective strips

  • +

    Pocket is a nice feature

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Pricey

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

I was praying the Rapha Brevet bib shorts would come to my rescue when a violent thunderstorm opened up on me in the Pyrenees, leaving me seeking shelter in a barn and bemoaning the fact that I was still 70km and two cols away from home.

When fear becomes a reality and the heavens open, the one thing we cyclists want on a long-distance ride more than anything else is to be dry as quickly as possible, and for the bib shorts and other clothing we’re pedalling in - that suddenly double in weight - not to saturate our skin further.

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Chris Marshall-Bell

A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and long reads across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013. In 2024 he released a seven-part podcast documentary, Ghost in the Machine, about motor doping in cycling.

Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains. He lives in Valencia, Spain.