Bib Liner
While I’m not a huge fan of bibs since they run a little hotter, I’ve started riding in them a lot for one reason: they’re good for carrying a water bottle. Since so many new bikes don’t have a water bottle cage, I’ve resigned myself to carrying stuff in my bibs for short rides, since I avoid wearing a pack whenever I possibly can.
So with that in mind, I’ve been spending a bunch of time in Pearl Izumi’s Bib Liner paired with the Launch Short outer shell, as well as some outer shorts from various other companies.
As I mentioned above, the liner in the Launch Short is super comfortable. And the Bib Liner takes it to the next level — it has a lot in common, but it’s even better. It uses Pearl Izumi’s “Elite Pursuit 1:1 Chamois” which is the same thing used in some of Pearl Izumi’s nicer road shorts (although the top-of-the-line road garments have an even higher-quality chamois). All I can say is, it’s damn comfortable. If I’m going to be sitting in the saddle for a long, grinding climb, this is my first pick for things to put between the saddle and my ass.
Fit
My Medium Bib Liners fit true to size. They’re not as snug as my Specialized Mountain Bib shorts, which makes them a bit more comfortable for me.
Features
The Bib Liners have 3 pockets across the back, and a few small spots to stick gel packs on the thighs. The center pocket in the back works great for a water bottle, but I wish the side pockets were slightly larger — I tried riding with my mini pump in one, and it fell out on a rough trail. The other noteworthy feature of the the Bib Liners is that they do have a pee hole, which seems like a no brainer, even though plenty of other liners seem content with forcing me to do an awkward dance that involves overstretching some fabric.
Bottom Line
In terms of comfort, the Bib Liners get top marks. I think the pockets could be improved a little bit, but that’s a fairly minor quibble. Really what it all comes down to is that, at the end of a long ride, my ass comes away happier if I’m wearing these bibs than any other liner or bib I’ve used.
Launch ¾ Jersey
Jersey shopping usually comes down to looks, but the Launch Jersey has two noteworthy features that make it legitimately better. First, it has a sunglasses wipe sewn into the bottom hem. This should be a mandatory feature for all jerseys; I use it all the time, and it saves me from getting pissed off while smearing sweat around on my glasses with some non-absorbent material.
Second, the Launch jersey has a mesh back that makes it run waaay cooler than a “normal” jersey. The best thing about the mesh back, though, is that it doesn’t look like mesh — you can’t really see through it (unlike, for example, the Fly Racing Ripa Convert Jersey). If you won’t take my word on that, none of my asshole friends have given me a hard time about wearing fishnet, which can be taken as definitive proof that the Launch Jersey’s mesh doesn’t look weird.
Aside from those two features, the Launch Jersey is pretty straight forward. My Medium fits true to size, and I’d say it’s loose but not baggy. You could fit pads under it if you really wanted to, but it’d be snug.
Style-wise, I personally think it looks good — low key with a bit of color, and it isn’t obnoxiously attention-seeking. The pictures on Pearl’s website accurately portray the colors and patterns, so you can make up your own mind about this.
Bottom Line
If you’re going to choose your jersey based solely on looks, then my opinion probably doesn’t matter too much. But if you’re looking for features, the Launch Jersey has a couple of really smart ones that legitimately make the jersey better. And I think it looks good too, so that’s an added bonus.
Good reviews. Since the concept of the bibs seems like a near-direct copy of the Specialized SWAT bibs — which I own — I’d love more direct comparisons between the two in terms of rear pocket utility, breathability, etc.
Thanks!
Hi Tom,
I have a fair amount of time in both the Pearl Izumi bibs and the Specialized SWAT bibs, and on the whole, I like both. I say purely in terms of riding comfort, the Pearl Izumi’s win – I like the chamois better, and the bib fabric is a bit softer, stretchier, and less constricting. In terms of breathability, I think I’d give a slight nod to the Pearl Izumis, but I wouldn’t say there’s a world of difference. I also like that the PI’s have a pee hole. I do think, however, that the SWAT pockets work quite a bit better. Both bibs do fine for holding a water bottle and some assorted small food items, but the SWAT pockets hold larger, irregular object better, especially on rough trails.
-Noah
Thanks, Noah!