Izumi gear comfortable, functional

Cyclists can be very particular about the clothes they wear.

Aside from the oftentimes loud colors designed to keep them visible during the long hours in the saddle, there are generally three things required:

1. Comfort.

2. Functionality.

3. Comfort.

The pain and suffering of a long bike ride — like the 206-mile journey from Logan to Jackson, Wyo., every September — is hard enough on your body. The last thing a cyclist wants is a pair of shorts that rub him the wrong way.

And that's why companies that specialize in the design and manufacture of cycling gear never stop working on making a cyclist feel more at home while dancing on his pedals. In a sport where each generated watt of power is a precious commodity, fidgeting on the bike because of a saddle sore not only creates discomfort, it robs a competitor of pedaling efficiency and power.

Pearl Izumi, a Colorado-based maker of cycling gear, is among the many companies seeking perfection in a pair of bib shorts and a jersey — and they're doing it with an eye for the highest degree of performance to match the desired comfort.

As a sponsor of the Garmin-Transitions pro cycling team — the squad Salt Lake City's David Zabriskie rides for — Pearl Izumi has as demanding a client as it can get. Cyclists worry almost as much about aerodynamics as comfort, and the new P.R.O. line of gear from Pearl Izumi seeks to meet those demanding specifications.

Designed with the Tour de France in mind, the P.R.O. line — which stands for Performance and Race Optimized — combines form and function.

Rather than just take Pearl Izumi's word for it, though, I put the gear to the test. Using the bib shorts, jersey, jacket, base layer and even socks several times in the recent cold weather, I logged about 300 miles wearing the clothing and came away impressed.

Over the past few seasons of cycling, I've been wearing gear from a club sponsor. I won't say which it is, but I've grown increasingly dissatisfied with the way my bottom feels after any ride of two hours or more.

The P.R.O. shorts, however, have yet to leave me complaining about the ride or walking funny after it. A newly introduced 4D chamois padding is a step toward increased comfort above what many shorts offer. The thick, seamless padding almost cradles your bottom as you ride. Even a three-hour session in the saddle left me feeling happy.

But if the weather is chilly and the ride long, the savvy cyclist may want to invest in the P.R.O. softshell cycling pants instead of the bib shorts. The softshell pants feature a water-resistant, wind-proof front that will keep the legs and bottom much warmer than the bib shorts.

Aside from the chamois, Pearl Izumi has rolled out its top-of-the-line fabric as well.