The women’s shorts are also available at three levels – Pro (£119, waist shorts, Galaxy and plain), Expert (£119, halter bib), and Sport (£59).

There is one elephant in the room we’ll address first: it is disappointing that the high end shorts are waist shorts, and not bibs.

We know from experience that the Giro halter bib is an excellent design – I’ve got a pair and I love the idea. If I was choosing for myself, I would forgo the extra chamois technology of the pro, in favour of a bib, and I expect this might be the same for many women.

When I asked about this, I was told that Pro Bibs are on the way. What Giro are concerned about, is that this will take them to a much higher price point, and they’re not sure the market is ready yet. We say unto you: go and buy bibs, women, let’s prove the market is there!

Bib shorts: the joy and the pitfalls

The shorts (bib and waist) feature one special party trick that particularly impressed us – the lumbar compression panel. This panel of ribbed material made from nylon (61%) and elastane (39%), provides support at the lower back, where cyclists often experience fatigue over long distances.

Ask the Expert: What are the Benefits of Compression for Cyclists and When Should I Wear it?

The chamois at all levels is created by Cytech – an Italian company known for creating the best in the business. Variable density is used, with a little extra padding the the Pro and Expert options, making the pad suitable for 5 hour rides, whilst the Sport chamois is great up to 3 hours.

We wore these shorts for just over 5 hours in the saddle, and felt perfectly comfortable, despite riding a Fizik saddle that was definitely not designed for a woman!