Minx isn't going to make light of it - the Xenon bib short is above most people's budgets, but if you're putting in a lot of miles on the bike it's absolutely worth saving for / putting on your birthday list / selling the car. It is a short without compromises and to date the best short she's ever worn.

Let's start at the bottom, because the chamois is frankly nothing short of miraculous. Ultra flexible, yet densely padded where you need it most (including a plush erm.... nose section), it... how to put this delicately, sort of snaps in place round the under carriage the moment you put it on, then you hardly notice it's there - just the comfort it gives. The shaped legs articulate with your pedal motion for a friction-free ride and the deep, flat elastic at the hem stays easily in place without digging in. The legs have mesh inserts plus reflective detailing and a long 9.5" inseam.

The beauty of bibs is of course that there's no waist elastic and the barely there feeling of this style is a revelation. There is a clip on the front straps to pull them together, but BEST OF ALL, the classic problem of how to take a loo break is completely overcome by tiny zips either side that allow you to drop your shorts without stripping off your top half. There is a video demo here that, panic not, is work safe and reassuringly doesn't contain actual bathroom scenes.

Minx likes: if you've ever wrestled your arms out of a jersey but kept it round your neck to cover your modesty as you peel down your bib straps, only to tread (or worse) on the damn things, then this short is a joy. And that's even before you consider the long-distance comfort.