High-Density Cycling Compression KnitPerformance
Dense high-modulus knit for bib shorts — specified against inner-thigh abrasion, not just stretch.
80% Nylon / 20% Spandex · 250 gsm · 150 cm (59 in) · 4-way stretch
The first thing to go on a bib short is the inner-thigh panel: pilling, then shine, then a hole where the saddle has abraded the knit through. Behind that comes the leg gripper losing its hold and the short riding up. Both are knit-density and recovery problems, and both are decided at the fabric stage.
Abrasion resistance per filament improves with density and with a tighter, flatter knit surface. Our cycling compression quality is built dense rather than thick, because a heavier fabric that pills will still fail; a denser one that keeps its surface will not. Ask for Martindale results on the actual panel colour — dark dyes on the same knit do not always test the same.
Compression has to be consistent along the leg, not just high at the gripper. A fabric with high modulus and predictable recovery lets you design a graduated fit; a soft knit forces you to compensate with elastic, which is where comfort complaints come from on long rides.
Summer jerseys want a light, fast-wicking knit — not a cotton-feel one. Mesh belongs under the jersey straps, at the side panels and on the back where airflow matters more than opacity. Keep in mind that mesh is a structural choice: it should be specified where the garment can tolerate transparency.
Thirteen knit qualities, posted in 3–5 days. Tell us the garment and the colour.
4 qualities for cycling
Dense high-modulus knit for bib shorts — specified against inner-thigh abrasion, not just stretch.
For compression layers, warmers and anyone building a graduated fit.
The jersey body quality: light, fast wicking, holds print.
Panels and back mesh where airflow outranks opacity.
Before you commit
A dense, high-modulus knit with a flat surface, usually nylon spandex at 220–260 gsm. The panel that matters is the inner thigh: it needs abrasion resistance and opacity together, which is why a soft studio knit is the wrong choice even when it feels better in the hand.
Martindale (ISO 12947) or equivalent on the finished panel colour, before bulk. We can run the test on the sample and send the result with the swatch pack.
No — we supply the shell fabric. The pad, the gripper elastic and the bib mesh are separate components we can advise on but do not make.
We will tell you which quality fits each panel, and where a cheaper knit will do the job without failing at the inner thigh in month three.
Request swatches & pricing