So, these just came in the other day and I finally got around to trying them on and I must say, I'm pretty impressed.
Gore's gone above and beyond with the Xenon Sonic bib shorts. They're a pricey set of bib shorts, coming in at 269.99 but they're definitely worth every penny. Bib shorts are way more comfortable that regular riding shorts - they keep you from getting that "muffin top" experience and make sure you don't have to worry about slippage thanks to the straps coming up and over your shoulders.
The straps are women-specific - clipping together the suspenders over the sternum. You might feel a bit weird at first but after a few minutes, you don't even notice they're there. I'm sure there isn't much worry in the bike world about straps slipping off your shoulders, but thanks to the x-strap system, you don't even have to think about it and they're not cutting into your lady bits in an uncomfortable "where the heck do these go anyway?" kind of way.
Made of a mix of materials with a low cut front and mesh paneling keep you from gathering sweat in the obvious places. Compression fabric in the upper thigh stimulates blood flow, which helps on longer rides and cuts down recovery time post-ride. The shorts are kept from slipping on the lower thigh with no-slip grippers that thankfully aren't taken in like I've felt on other shorts. They'll definitely feel odd if you've never worn compression-style clothing before but once you get going, I'm sure your body will thank you the next day, if not before.
To combat the awkwardness of stripping down when you're on a long ride and need to pee, Gore's put in zippers across the lower torso just above the hips. This enables you to drop trou without taking off jerseys, jackets, etc.
Reflective prints down the hip, reflective logos and zippers give you a little more visibility if you're riding after sunset or anytime a car's headlights hit you.
The chamois felt super comfy without the diaper effect you sometimes feel thanks to the super low profile. Mixed materials and design allows it to move with you and ensures breathability and ventilation. In my research, I've come across some gigglers on the web over the unfortunately designed look of the chamois but I'm not even going to go there...
Last but not least, the Sonic comes with a wash bag, allowing you to stuff your bibs in and toss into the wash for protection and longer lastability. I'm sure if you wanted to, you could use it with other tech gear if you wanted to, which is pretty rad, though it's a pretty small bag so I wouldn't recommend stuffing more than one item in there at one time.
