RedWhite Apparel Cargo Bib: Big Distance Comfort from a One-Man Brand

My wife, Ainsley, and I are enjoying a year focused on bikes. We trained all winter, bikepacked the Pirinexus, and raced the Traka. My race didn't go as planned; I DNF'd the 560-km Traka Adventure after a series of punctures left me covered in sealant and frustratingly short on plugs, tubes, and patches. Ainsley had better luck. In her first major gravel race, she finished the 100 km race within touching distance of her 5hr goal, despite wet, muddy conditions.

After completing the Malcolm Island XC Gravel Grind at the end of June, our calendar was free, allowing us to plot a few personal challenges. Ainsley had two major goals for the summer. Complete her first 100-mile century ride, and tackle the 192km Cowichan Valley 8 Loop—a popular overnight bikepacking trip from Victoria.

It was around this time that we began seeing advertisements for RedWhite Apparel on our instagram feeds. Although I had never heard of the brand, I was immediately curious about their promise of a long-distance bike short designed for rides of more than 5 hours. The women's version delivered a further promise. The drop-tail bib shorts promised easy nature breaks alongside the same all-day comfort.

After obtaining two pairs of their signature Cargo Bib-Shorts to review, I suggested we tackle both of Ainsley's summer goals in the same ride. We could pedal the 190 km Cowichan Valley 8 in a single day while testing out the bibs specifically engineered for the purpose.

About RedWhite Apparel

On paper, RedWhite Apparel seems like a typical direct-to-consumer company. It's based in Singapore, its products are made in Italy, and they were shipped directly to our door. However, it's entirely owned and operated by Yuva Viswanathan, a mechanical engineer turned apparel designer.

As the only employee, he manages product development alongside customer service, supply chain, and marketing responsibilities. Leaning heavily on technology, he's streamlined his entire DTC business with partnerships in manufacturing and a boutique warehouse without sacrificing customer service.

Looking at the website, it doesn't take long to discover that Yuva is a passionate cyclist. Rather than replace his 2018 Ridley Noah SL, he rebuilt it because “it felt incredibly wasteful to toss a perfectly good frameset when I could rebuild it with new moving parts.”

When he launched the company, it was with a singular focus. Yuva wants RedWhite Apparel to become the Go-To bibshort supplier of cyclists. He purposefully chooses not to produce any other product.

Getting Sized Up

When it comes to ordering clothing online, I tend to favour brands I've worn before. It's always a hassle to buy and return online orders when the size isn't quite right. Both Ainsley and I always fit between two typical standard sizes.

Given RedWhite Apparel's broad size range, we didn't immediately know what size to order. For men, it ranges from Small-4XL, paired with three different inseam lengths. For women, it's slightly restricted, offering only XS-XL for women without the inseam variations.

Using their detailed size chart, we measured our hip/glute and thigh tan-line circumferences, along with height and weight. As we had imagined, we fell between sizes, but bigger than expected. Ainsley measured between a medium and large, while I was somehow between the extra large and 2XL—a size I have never ordered.

We decided to go a step further, asking for direct feedback through the Size Helpdesk. We input our numbers and our preferred sizes in Rapha bibs. Yuva responded almost immediately, recommending the medium for Ainsley and the 2XL.

We decided to trust the suggestions, and they're both a perfect fit. As the website says, bibshorts keep us comfortable on a bicycle saddle. Everything else is secondary, including my bruised ego from being told I'm a 2XL.

Design & Construction

It was immediately clear that the RedWhite Apparel bibshorts were a premium product (that compared favourably to brands many of us are more familiar with: Albion Cycling, Rapha, and Velocio.

The chamois pad details, posted on the website, outline the materials, density, thickness, and construction of the padding, but it's easily summed up as firmer than anything we've previously ridden.

The main panels use a fabric with a tight weave, giving the shorts a supportive, compression-type fit. The legs have a wide base with a macro-dot gripper that locks into place. The shoulder straps are a very lightweight and soft fabric to avoid irritation.

The women's model uses a unique Y-shaped shoulder strap to make nature breaks easier. The straps are unusual but work well when used with a sports bra with a rounded neckline.

“I have never found the racerback straps comfortable because they place tension on my neck,” said Ainsley, “so I have often avoided bibs. The straps on these looked different, so I wanted to give them a try.”

A 190-km Performance Test

Leaving the Provincial Legislature in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, at 6:30 AM, we pedalled along the Galloping Goose Trail long before the city truly awoke. We wanted to escape the urban sprawl early and take advantage of the cooler morning air. We also needed to give ourselves enough time to catch the last Mill Bay Ferry back to Brentwood Bay before the final 25km into Victoria.

Although it's a long route, the only significant climb is along the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail between the Jordie Lunn Bike Park and Shawnigan Lake. The trail roughly parallels the Trans-Canada Highway over the Malahat Pass—a 365m divide between Victoria and the rest of Vancouver Island. From there, the route follows multi-use trails from Shawnigan Lake to Lake Cowichan, before circling back to Duncan. Not to mention a short road section connects Shawnigan Lake to Mill Bay, where Keith and Barry nearly met tragedy, before getting to the ferry crossing and the final return to Victoria along the Lochside Trail.

The day was a success. Ainsley pushed well beyond her century goal ride to complete the 192-km route. We spent nearly 10 hrs pedalling, averaging just under 20 km/h. With a lunch break in Lake Cowichan and a prolonged wait for a delayed ferry, we ended up wearing the RedWhite Cargo Bib Shorts for more than 12 hours. It was the perfect test to discover if the bibs lived up to the brand's lofty long-distance promise.

Her Take: Y-Straps & Drop-Tails

“I've always hesitated to wear bibs, especially on long rides,” said Ainsley. “I find they pull on my neck and either make nature breaks tedious or impractical.” The easiest way to describe the RedWhite Drop-Tail Cargo Bib shorts for women is that the bib appears backwards at first glance. The Y-shaped shoulder strap is on the front, with two straight suspender-like straps on the back. The result, according to Ainsley, was a fit that was distinctly more comfortable than any racerback bib she had used.

“There was zero pressure on my neck,” she said, “which is so important to staying comfortable. This was the first time I've worn bibs and completely forgotten about the straps once I started riding.”

The chamois pad, although slightly different than the men's model, features the same moulded technology that gives it a firm, supportive ride quality. “I was expecting to be sore at the end of the ride,” she said. “Especially since it was my first century, but I wasn't. The firm chamois pad makes a difference without feeling like it's too thick.”

As for nature breaks, the drop-tail works just like the detailed instructions on the product page suggest.

“It made stops simple and quick, whether it was an outdoor stop or at a washroom, there was no need to undress or wrestle with layers.” She opted for the standard inseam length, which felt a little short for Ainsley's preference. She would opt for the longer version next time. She also echoed RedWhite's point that the Y-strap design works best with certain sports bras.

“It paired well with a rounded neckline. I would avoid any bras with a V-neck as I think they would chafe.” “Overall, I've always just accepted that long rides would be uncomfortable in some way,” Ainsley said. “But this proved that doesn't have to be true.”

His Take: Firm Chamois & Extra Pockets

When I first tried on my RedWhite Cargo Bibs, I immediately noticed that the chamois pad felt denser than any previous shorts I had worn. This was even more apparent once I was on my bike. It just alleviated any saddle sensation, discomfort or otherwise. Although I had worn my RedWhite Cargo Bibs on a few different rides, this was by far the longest day on the saddle. Remarkably, my comfort level didn't change over the entire 12-hour ride.

I had ordered the version with a 2-inch extended inseam, which proved critical. It matched the razor-sharp tan lines formed over the years in my Rapha Core Cargo Bibs. The extra-wide leg grippers were another standout feature: they stayed locked in place all day without the need to adjust or fidget. They simply worked.

Riding the Cowichan Valley 8 during a hot spell, I also appreciated the lightweight shoulder straps. They didn't trap heat or feel bulky under my jersey, which made a noticeable difference over a long, sweaty day.

The men's version includes four cargo pockets. While I love the side cargo pockets on the legs, I've never found back-panel pockets useful. On these bibs, and any others I've worn, they end up under my jersey and are hard to access. Despite offering the most cargo space of any bibs I own, those back pockets still haven't found a true purpose for me.

That said, after the 192-km ride, and across multiple long rides since, I still have a lone complaint based on pure vanity. I'm having problems adjusting to the idea of wearing a 2XL, but the fit is perfect.

Shared Confidence, Lasting Comfort

After 12 hours, 192 kilometres, and one bucket-list ride, both Ainsley and I finished not just strong, but comfortable. The RedWhite Cargo Bib Shorts live up to their long-distance promise.

For Ainsley, the Drop-Tail design eliminated all the usual friction points. With zero neck pressure and a game-changing approach to nature breaks, it's the first bib she's happy to wear all day.

For me, the firm, supportive chamois and dialled fit outperformed my long-time favourite brands.
While we're used to brands that offer large catalogues and endless options, RedWhite stands out by focusing on one product and doing it exceptionally well.

At a $225 CND price point, they are equal to or less than other premium brands and deliver standout performance. The chamois didn't just hold up; it felt like the saddle disappeared even after 12 hours. Add in the supportive compression and minimalist aesthetic, and it's hard not to recommend them to anyone tackling big miles.