Free Aero Race Bibshort – Revolution Strikes Again
The new Castelli Free Aero Race Bibshort is further evidence of Castelli’s dedication to making clothing that provides a competitive advantage for top athletes.
Castelli has made some significant new improvements in crucial race equipment. If you were fast, you might have noticed some of the aero details of the Free Aero Race Bibshort that Cannondale Pro Cycling Team riders are using. After 3 years in development, Castelli’s new top-of-the-line race short represents a significant increase in muscle support and comfort to go along with the wind tunnel tests that show a 10 watt savings at 50 km/hr compared to the outgoing model.
In 2007, Castelli introduced the first Free Bibshort. It revolutionized cycling shorts with the incredible feeling of freedom it provided. The flat raw-edge leg band and the minimalist Free bib construction doesn’t affect temperature control since it doesn’t add an extra layer over part of your torso, making it easier to dress for hot weather. It keeps your chest free and cool. We continued to evolve every detail over the years, making the short more comfortable and more functional.
But the new Free Aero Race Bibshort is truly something special. We’ve completely re-engineered every detail—starting with CFD modeling of the rider and surface textures, followed by iterative rounds of samples, then days of wind tunnel and road testing, followed by testing in the 2014 Tour de France and La Vuelta a España.
Our best race short is now both more comfortable and more aerodynamic and represents the biggest marginal aerodynamic gains we’ve ever seen in cycling shorts. The rules of the game have changed.
MUSCLE SUPPORT AND SPEED
In re-engineering the Free we took a look at blood flow, designed to help you perform better by eliminating pressure points that restrict blood flow. It’s designed not to overly compress the muscles, therefore helping blood flow in the capillaries, getting oxygen to the muscles.
GIRO AIR MESH-LIKE LEG GRIPPER ELASTIC FOR BETTER GRIP DISTRIBUTED OVER LARGER AREA
The revolutionary Giro Air leg band provides more stretch and distributes the compression over a larger area. We also looked at aerodynamics, optimizing boundary layer airflow with the Giro Air leg band and the Vortex dimpled fabric panels. The drag savings from the wind tunnel data says it saves 10 watts at 50 km/h over a standard cycling short.
The revolutionary Giro Air leg band provides more stretch and distributes the compression over a larger area. We also looked at aerodynamics, optimizing boundary layer airflow with the Giro Air leg band and the Vortex dimpled fabric panels. The drag savings from the wind tunnel data says it saves 10 watts at 50 km/h over a standard cycling short.
VORTEX DIMPLED FABRIC ON LEGS FOR AERO PERFORMANCE
Designer to cheat the wind, these aero panels manage airflow over the shorts’ surfce. In wind-tunnel testing, power output requirements were reduced by 10 watts at 50 km/hr.
OBSESSION WITH COMFORT
The Progetto X2 Air seatpad is different from most multi-density crotch savers. It’s a two-layer design with a stretchy cover and separate padding beneath, the two are free to move over one another, reducing the chance of anything rubbing, and causing irritation. The red Skin Care Layer (skin-side surface) is one smooth perforated foam layer to help ventilate and keep the nether regions cooler by allowing air to flow directly onto the surface fabric.
The multi-density cushion layer of the seatpad is on the other side of the foam – and created by carving away sections of a single block of uncompressed foam to create the different sections of cushion. The cushion layer features 3 perforated viscous inserts under the highly sensitive ishial and perineum pressure areas.The Progetto X2 Air ensures maximum comfort whether you are out on a two-hour weekday ride or training over cobbles for Roubaix.
DOPPIO V CONSTRUCTION IN FRONT FOR INCREASED SUPPORT AND COMFORT
The innovative double V construction on the front keeps everything in place without compressing the stomach.
The innovative double V construction on the front keeps everything in place without compressing the stomach. The new seamless engineered Carré yoke straps makes the straps lie perfectly flat for maximum comfort and zero chafing. The mesh on the back will help keep the torso cool by allowing air to circulate, and a race radio pocket at the back of the shorts is designed for use by professionals, but it can double up as phone/MP3 player pocket.
CARRÉ ENGINEERED LIE-FLAT BIB STRAP CONSTRUCTION FOR MINIMAL COVERAGE,
MAXIMUM COMFORT
The new seamless engineered Carré yoke straps makes the straps lie perfectly flat for maximum comfort and zero chafing. The mesh on the back will help keep the torso cool by allowing air to circulate, and a race radio pocket at the back of the shorts is designed for use by professionals, but it can double up as phone/MP3 player pocket.
DESIGN YOUR OWN
For competitive cyclists, a smart team will search for any way possible to fight the wind during training and racing. Highly-specialized pieces such as the 2015 Free Aero Race Bibshort, Aero Race 5.0 Jersey and Sanremo Speed Suit will give you a clear advantages. Find a complete line of Aero Race products offered by the Castelli Custom Division.
