Best winter bibs?

mrc1

My old winter bibs have finally given so I am in the market for a new pair.

Il be riding throughout winter including several weeks in yorkshire/peak district so im thinking of windproof front panelling and some hefty insulation on the knees. The assos ll winter bibs look good but are very expensive so I wondered if anybody had a cheaper recommendation?

Cheers

giant_man

The Assos bib tights are expensive for a reason - because they're brilliant! You get what you pay for.

You can choose from the latest ones with the S5 pad or the older ones with the S2 pad which is my preference. The Airprotecs come with extra knee insulation. I absolutely love mine.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... SSOZBBT400

bendertherobot

For cheaper, but still great, Gore Xenon, Oxygen.

mrc1

giant mancp wrote:

The Assos bib tights are expensive for a reason - because they're brilliant! You get what you pay for.

You can choose from the latest ones with the S5 pad or the older ones with the S2 pad which is my preference. The Airprotecs come with extra knee insulation. I absolutely love mine.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... SSOZBBT400

Cheers - How warm are the Airprotecs? I notice that they are a grade down from the LL's and I hate cold knees.....

bigpikle

giant mancp wrote:

The Assos bib tights are expensive for a reason - because they're brilliant! You get what you pay for.

You can choose from the latest ones with the S5 pad or the older ones with the S2 pad which is my preference. The Airprotecs come with extra knee insulation. I absolutely love mine.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... SSOZBBT400

+1

I tried cheap and bought DHB Merstons last winter and hated them - poor fit, not warm enough and really uncomfortable pad. Ended up snagging the Assos in a sale and was very glad as they are leagues ahead.

Funnily enough I pulled the Merstons out again the other day when it got cold again, just to revisit them and see if it was perhaps me that was the problem. 45 mins into the ride I was in real discomfort with the pad - the seams rub terribly and it just doesnt provide any cushioning IMHO - and I ended up having to cut my ride short to get out of the damn things.

I seem to be about the only person who doesnt get on with them though, judging by the responses here, but other than the new merino baselayers I have regretted every bit of DHB kit I've purchased so far

spasypaddy

Gore Bike Wear Xenon Soft Shell Bibtights, i was wearing some last night and they are fantastic, keep you dry as well due to them being soft shell.

come up a little tight around the waist though

bendertherobot

I get 10% off at teh Gore Store making the Xenon's £135 which is good value IMO.

Just wondering whether the Contest at £99 (then 10% off) are worth a shout mind.

spasypaddy

ive not used the contest if you can afford the oxygens they are fantastic, i used them all through the last two winters and will continue to use them. may even buy another pair as i need a 3rd pair of winter bibs.

id probably not get the contest due to having a zip on the ankle as it interferes with my winter boots and make it uncomfortable.

bendertherobot

Got the Oxygen 3/4's from Amazon for £80. Bloody great.

So will prob get the Oxygen ones.

cougie

My DHBs have been fine - I thought the fit and warmth were bang on for me ? Not bothered with the assos longs after I wasn't too impressed with my £80 assos shorts...

boneyjoe

Check out the Endura Thermolite Biblongs. I've used them for winter riding for a few years now with no probs. They are £65 or you can go "Pro" for £75, which has a couple more feature (eg zip).

spezial

Just treated myself to some Castelli 3/4 length thermal bibs, which are very nice indeed. The pad is pretty much as good as my Assos summer bibs, and the Castelli's were way cheaper than the Assos equivalent.

Also, I've always found 3/4's to be sufficient in the winter, even when it gets really super cold, as the stripe of leg that's left exposed by the time you've pulled your socks and shoe covers up is pretty minimal. This means you can probably afford a nice pair of 3/4 lengths for the same price as an OK pair of full length tights.

rogerthecat

Has anyone bought the Rapha deep-winter tights? they are at 220 quid, just bought a pair of DHB, went for a ride, it was 3 degrees legs were cold, not looking fwd to when it gets colder, hence the question, the other option is the Assos LL.716 but they are 258 quid.

Rapha

ASSOS

DHB

Thanks

StanwaySteve62

Just bought the DHB Roubaix, quite a snug fit but not rode in them yet

bendertherobot

rogerthecat wrote:

Has anyone bought the Rapha deep-winter tights? they are at 220 quid, just bought a pair of DHB, went for a ride, it was 3 degrees legs were cold, not looking fwd to when it gets colder, hence the question, the other option is the Assos LL.716 but they are 258 quid.

Rapha

ASSOS

DHB

Thanks

GORE

mun!

giant_man

mrc1 wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

The Assos bib tights are expensive for a reason - because they're brilliant! You get what you pay for.

You can choose from the latest ones with the S5 pad or the older ones with the S2 pad which is my preference. The Airprotecs come with extra knee insulation. I absolutely love mine.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-t ... SSOZBBT400

Cheers - How warm are the Airprotecs? I notice that they are a grade down from the LL's and I hate cold knees.....

They're not a grade down, just that they use the older S2 insert which suits me more than the new 'huge nappy' S5 you see. They're very warm and as I said they do feature more protection for the knees, which you do feel, plus they're cheaper than the new ones.

giant_man

rogerthecat wrote:

Has anyone bought the Rapha deep-winter tights? they are at 220 quid, just bought a pair of DHB, went for a ride, it was 3 degrees legs were cold, not looking fwd to when it gets colder, hence the question, the other option is the Assos LL.716 but they are 258 quid.

Rapha

ASSOS

DHB

Thanks

What's the point? They don't include an insert which for me is nonsense. They're for wearing over padded shorts for heaven's sake, which is the way bib tights used to be actually. I prefer one decent layer of bib tight complete with insert. Then of course there's the price of the damn things, geezz ..... For me it would be the more expensive Assos.

Anonymous

I am a big Assos fanboi but my winter tights are Gore, I get the padless ones and wear my Assos shorts underneath... Much cheaper.

giant_man

They may be cheaper but they won't last anywhere near as long ... fact!

Anonymous

giant mancp wrote:

They may be cheaper but they won't last anywhere near as long ... fact!

They are still going strong after 3 winters so far with no signs of wearing out.

mrc1

Going to try and find a place that stocks the Gore ones on the basis of the recommendations received.

Im 6ft2 and weigh 74kgs so guessing large is the way to go?

bendertherobot

Gore doesn't wear out at all.

glasgowbhoy

Is there much difference in the quality of the different winter bibs from Gore:

Power II Thermo
Contest II

and

The Oxygen?

bobbymeister

If you're prepared to stand out, Wiggle have the Assos 851 bibs - which are sensationally good - for just over 100 quid in a few different sizes.

glasgowbhoy

bobbymeister wrote:

If you're prepared to stand out, Wiggle have the Assos 851 bibs - which are sensationally good - for just over 100 quid in a few different sizes.

link?

Batch

link?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/assos-airblock- ... ib-tights/

bobbymeister

Those are the babies. Red only, obviously, but at least you'll be seen. Mine arrived today, a genuine bargain. The last pair lasted me eight years....

rogerthecat

Yes but are they warm?

bendertherobot

Glasgowbhoy wrote:

Is there much difference in the quality of the different winter bibs from Gore:

Power II Thermo
Contest II

and

The Oxygen?

The Power are ONLY thermo, the Contest come in Thermo and Windstopper, The Oxygen only in Windstopper.

Quality on all of them is top notch.

bobbymeister

As toast, brother. 851 panels everywhere that takes the wind and snuggly roubaix everywhere else. Plus you wear shorts underneath which gives you another layer. I've never yearned after anything else in the last decade of Yorkshire chillyness.

glasgowbhoy

bendertherobot wrote:

Glasgowbhoy wrote:

Is there much difference in the quality of the different winter bibs from Gore:

Power II Thermo
Contest II

and

The Oxygen?

The Power are ONLY thermo, the Contest come in Thermo and Windstopper, The Oxygen only in Windstopper.

Quality on all of them is top notch.

Cheers, just fired on ebay and picked up a pair of brand new Oxygen W/S for £47 + postage. Stoked.