GOBIK Gravity bib shorts

In this article: the GOBIK Gravity K12 bib shorts 2021 full review and opinion. 

The Gravity bib shorts are the GOBIK top of the range. A garment designed with 4 objectives in mind: to be very light, to offer good muscle compression, to be very adaptable to the cyclist’s physiognomy and to achieve maximum breathability. It is clear that its destination is the competition, training or route of the highest demand. In this article we analyze it and tell you our impressions.

A high-flying culotte

It is not necessary to read anything about Gravity to realize, when you have it in your hands, that it is a different garment than what we are used to. In my cycling journey I have worn dozens of shorts, cheap, normal and toe-cap brands, so it is easy for me to recognize a level of finish, construction and lightness out of the ordinary. Gravity is a fine competition garment with an incredible weight of 160 g, ready to wear any pro cyclist of the international peloton and compete in a classic race or a stage lap.

Before delving into its characteristics, it is inevitable to enjoy a good time appreciating all the details that are everywhere:

We are used to seeing the care that GOBIK puts in the manufacture of their garments, and this is a great example of this. The entire interior is full of cycling essence. This says a lot about the brand, because it is an extra that only the one who wears it will enjoy, no one else will appreciate it:

Let’s start our tour of the garment in detail.

Straps

These are one of the most important parts of a cycling shorts, as it is very easy for them to cause discomfort. If they are thin they stick, if they stretch too much, they bother. Fortunately, in Gravity we have some exquisite straps. It is surprising to see how thin they are, how well they adapt to the body and the comfort they provide:

Remarkable seamless union with the lower abdomen, you simply do not notice that they are:

Fabric

The material with which Gravity is made is an ultra-light fabric adaptable in 4 directions (4-Way Stretch) that stands out for its level of compression, equivalent to much heavier lycra. Thanks to its lightness, breathability is excellent, with a thermal range of 17-35 ºC (62-95 ºF). Special mention should be made of the leg grippers, with a worked finish and perfectly embedded silicone bands:

K12 Pad

And we get to the heart of every culotte. Here GOBIK is not wrong with its K12 model, as it has been manufactured by the renowned Italian manufacturer Elastic Interface, a true international market leader in the manufacture of sheepskin. If you look at the photo, it has a preformed curvature, that is, it is not flat as usual, but it adopts the natural shape of our anatomy «from stock»:

This model is designed looking for an unbeatable performance for long distance cycling, with routes of up to 7-8 hours. The components have been welded together with ultrasound technology, guaranteeing a smooth and homogeneous surface in contact with the skin. Of course, it has all the usual technologies of the professional-level chamois: fabric with carbon filaments, bacteriostatic, highly breathable and with elastic memory.

Regarding its thickness, at 11 mm, it is not one of the most padded chamois that we have tested, nor does it need to. We usually believe that the thicker a pad is, the more comfortable it will be. Nothing is further from reality. Increasing the thickness will cause greater pressure on our sitting bones and pelvic region.

On Route

We have tested Gravity on long-distance routes, lasting up to 6 hours. Our first impressions when wearing the garment were very good, and at the end of the route much better. It adapts perfectly to the body, compressing the muscles and making us feel very comfortable and free of movement. Both the straps and the lower abdomen contribute to this, its lightness and absence of seams pampers our skin like few culottes we have seen.

The K12 chamois is unbeatable. If we compare it with the well-known K10 we note that, while maintaining its excellent performance, it palpably improves its attachment to the body, as the preformed curve adapts like a glove to the cyclist’s anatomy. There is no discomfort, it does not move, it does not bother and it precisely and fairly dampens the pressure of the saddle. It is an authentic weary traveller, suitable for long-distance routes.

The leg length is generous, we particularly consider it perfect, although this is very personal. The silicone inserts and the gripper fabric material keep Gravity glued to our legs without pressing excessively or being baggy, with very good elasticity. Finally, we love the sobriety of its design, avoiding fanfare and with a fantastic finish.

Our opinion

Gravity is a fair standard of all the good know-how of GOBIK. It is a garment designed with care and attention to the smallest detail, and it is something that is palpable shortly after having it in your hands. On route it does not disappoint, and further improves initial impressions. It will certainly be hard to improve this design.

Comparing it to its rival at home (Absolute 4.0), it is clearly a step further. The structure of its straps, without seams, with laser cut and with such a fine and adaptable fabric, clearly improves the fantastic ones that we already knew. The pad retains the phenomenal performance of the K10, but is more anatomical. What can we ask for more?

As always we provide you with our sizing, for my measurements 1.90 m (74″) height, 100 cm hip and 77 kg (169 lbs) weight, size XL fits us perfectly.

Good route!

Video

Here you can see a video about this interesting garment, where you can appreciate the great elasticity and fineness of its straps:

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