We have seen incredible improvements in the design, form and function of women's bib shorts in the last several years. Castelli has made a commitment to delivering high performance women's bib options that are truly comfortable and easy to manage. The new Mondiale line for both women and men may offer the best women's bib thus far. Mondiale represents the ultimate combination of comfort and performance in a race-level product that isn't actually designed for racing. The material is inestimably soft and pleasant on the skin, and constructed to provide the most comfortable and effective application of compression to date. With a new bib upper design and SnapLock fastener that allows you easily adapt to heed the call of nature, the Women's Mondiale Bib Short will evoke a customized sports car that you drive daily for the pure pleasure of it.

Castelli employs a new material in the Mondiale, called Cinquanta. This lightweight, supple fabric weighs only 220g/m2 and uses a for-now secret fiber blend that features 50% Lycra. The level of stretch, compression and rebound come directly from the high percentage of Lycra, yet the fabric itself has a terrific hand- a soft feel that Lycra fibers usually can't deliver. The material will slide and move along the skin with body action, providing a comfortable, yet wonderfully supportive compression with a freedom of movement that defies our experience with compression gear. We all know the compression story at this point, but the Mondiale will amaze the converts, and change the minds of the skeptical. And it does this with minimal panelization. Just a few key panels following crucial anatomic zones provide an optimized women's fit with proper directionality for muscle interaction and support during the pedaling action. Reinforced No-sew bonded side panels provide muscle support on hips and eliminate chafing. The same bonding technology joins the soft, wide leg gripper, which features silicone to hold the cuff in place.

The Mondiale was developed for the daily needs of pro cyclists, who benefit from ultimate comfort while training. Far more days are spent in the saddle, working towards excellence, than race days themselves. Other than the sleek design and finish, the Mondiale favors supreme comfort over race-specific concepts like aerodynamics. The short lower is amazing enough, but the upper on this women's bib clearly reflects an advance in the requirements of the female figure with deference to various body types and physiques. The material is the same as on the short, so it has the same feel and breathability. Castelli uses a No-sew bonded seaming process to eliminate chafing and irritation. The soft, flat shoulder straps sit wide, with a slight anatomic curve at the chest that should work for most women (unfortunately fit is never truly universal). As they cross over the shoulders, the straps join into a Y-formation, providing support for muscles at the base of the neck, and down along the spine, with laser cut ventilation holes keeping you cool. The bottom segment of the Y is narrower than the men's version, with the primary reason being that a lower back connection must be manageable for the wearer to manipulate.

The SnapLock system allows you to release the upper from the back, allowing the short to be free at at the back. It isn't necessary to remove your jersey. After a few trial runs, using the SnapLock becomes familiar and straightforward. Besides the obvious rationale for the system, it is also very low density- not requiring much physical space, and it is relatively flat. The positioning for each rider may vary, but it should hit in the small depression at the lower back and most riders won't even notice it. It is also very reliable, with multiple points of contact that eliminate unintended release. We won't be surprised to see this in use on many future bib short models.

The perfect chamois for the Women's Mondiale is the Progetto X2 Air Donna seat pad. Designed by Castelli for and with their female pro cyclists, this is one of the most effective and best fitting options for cyclists who prefer extensive comfort without expansive coverage. Following the anatomical requirements of woman in a moderate to aggressive (tops to drops) riding position, the multi-density foam is highly effective when strategically supporting the bone structure and limiting pressure on soft tissue. The Progetto X2 Air Donna limits heat and moisture retention, and it's soft cover features 4-way stretch to keep the pad in place at any effort level. Needless to say, but it also has antibacterial properties to help you keep your skin as healthy as possible.

Castelli has sought to luxuriate you in top-level performance and outstanding comfort with the Mondiale. If you are a cyclist who takes her riding seriously, and loves a long day in the saddle, we highly recommend you give this women's bib short a long, serious look as you purchase clothing this year. If you have tried bibs and found them lacking, or straight out uncomfortable, the Mondiale bib will likely change your perspective. These offer a wonderful, even flattering fit, and the comfort advantages of bib shorts, and Castelli would love to see more women riding in them. We wholly endorse both the concept and reality of the Women's Mondiale Bib Short, and we hope you will find this incredibly comfortable performance garment to your liking.