Falling off a bike hurts, and although there are plenty of ways to deal with road rash, surely the best thing is to not have to deal with it at all. Step forward the Scott RC ProTec bib shorts, which feature a special fabric in the side panels designed to prevent road rash.

The fabric, which is also used in the matching RC ProTec jersey, has been developed in conjunction with Schoeller, and is a blend of carbon yarns and ceramic printing, meaning that it has a great resistance to abrasion than the standard lycra found in most cycling shorts.

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Now, I’ll admit that I’m not quite committed enough to go throwing myself to the tarmac as part of the testing process in these shorts, but Scott have helpfully produced in a video to show just how strong the ProTec fabric is.

What I can be certain about is that, anti-road rash properties aside, the Scott RC ProTec bib shorts are a very good pair of cycling shorts.

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The first thing to say is that the fit is excellent. I was expecting the ProTec fabric to limit the amount of stretch in the shorts but this wasn’t the case, and they felt the same as wearing a normal pair of shorts. The silicon gripper doesn’t feel particular tacky, but such was the good fit they never rode up.

The fabric down the side panels should help to keep your skin safe

The bibs are also nice and comfortable. The straps are wide meaning that they don’t dig into your shoulders over the course of long rides, and the bibs are also a light stretchy mesh for good ventilation. As an added bonus you even get a small pocket for your race radio (although it’s just as good for holding an iPod if you’re using these shorts on the turbo trainer).

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For shorter rides, the pad on the Scott RC ProTec bib shorts is also nice and comfy, with a slim design meaning that it doesn’t get in the way when riding in a low, aggressive position. However despite having plenty of padding, I personally didn’t get on with during longer days in the saddle.

The pad could be comfier on longer rides

The only other small issue is that the shorts only come in one colour (black and yellow as shown) meaning that although they look great with the matching jersey, pairing them with other pieces of kit may be a bit more difficult.

For more details visit the Scott website.