B E N D E R's non sweary review site, roubaixcycling.cc (and general kit discussion)

pinno

The magic in the Swiss is the price. It'll magic away your bank balance. There must be an equivalent to the Bonka tights that won't require a second mortgage.

bendertherobot

Assos tights are incredibly good BUT if you deconstruct a bibtight you're left with pad, fit and warmth. The Assos ones are all very good at what they do but not necessarily better. If they are, there are margins. I'd not pay £200 plus for tights anymore when there are so many alternatives.

bendertherobot

That said, on a £ for £ basis, they last forever. So, if you ever have to buy 2 pairs of Castelli in that time, you're up by buying the Assos. My Parentini Shark are still as good as new though.

Garry H

My 851 air jack tights are 8 years old and are used fairly regularly.

webboo

I have 2 pairs of 851 air bloc tights one with a pad,one without. The only downside is the effort to get them on and the weather needs to be pretty bad to wear them.
So I look out the window it's cold, wet and generally grim. So it the airbloc tights, get them on and decide that's enough of a workout and I don't need to bother going out and what's better they will never wear out

pinno

bendertherobot wrote:

Assos tights are incredibly good BUT if you deconstruct a bibtight you're left with pad, fit and warmth. The Assos ones are all very good at what they do but not necessarily better. If they are, there are margins. I'd not pay £200 plus for tights anymore when there are so many alternatives.

I am set on the DHB deep winter but Wiggle hasn't had M in for a while. Are you privvy to any contacts in Wiggle that can tell you when they'll be in stock BTR?

robbo2011

How about the Assos Mille tights? They look very well constructed and are quite reasonably priced (for Assos).

pinno

robbo2011 wrote:

How about the Assos Mille tights? They look very well constructed and are quite reasonably priced (for Assos).

Good for -5 deg C? That's everyone else's 5 deg + temp range.

bendertherobot

Pinno wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Assos tights are incredibly good BUT if you deconstruct a bibtight you're left with pad, fit and warmth. The Assos ones are all very good at what they do but not necessarily better. If they are, there are margins. I'd not pay £200 plus for tights anymore when there are so many alternatives.

I am set on the DHB deep winter but Wiggle hasn't had M in for a while. Are you privvy to any contacts in Wiggle that can tell you when they'll be in stock BTR?

Afraid not. I think they tend to run the winter stuff down now. No Aeron jackets last time I checked, for example.

robbo2011

Pinno wrote:

robbo2011 wrote:

How about the Assos Mille tights? They look very well constructed and are quite reasonably priced (for Assos).

Good for -5 deg C? That's everyone else's 5 deg + temp range.

You've lost me I am afraid

pinno

robbo2011 wrote:

Pinno wrote:

robbo2011 wrote:

How about the Assos Mille tights? They look very well constructed and are quite reasonably priced (for Assos).

Good for -5 deg C? That's everyone else's 5 deg + temp range.

You've lost me I am afraid

Me born in Kenya me. I run f*cking cold.

For example: Fridays ride. Temp 3 deg, with a bitter easterly. Ride time 2 hours 30 mins. I wore:

1 x vest.
1 x DHB Merino base layer
1 x HH freeze base layer
1 x Castelli Espresso 4 jacket
1 x Le Col padded bib tights
1 x Endura roubaix tights
1 x thin socks
1 x Thick merino ankle socks
Neoprene overshoes
Woolly lined hat
Skull cap
Glove liners
Gloves.

I was 'comfortable' should I say. I didn't hang around either. I ate plenty before leaving. Didn't see the point in taking any extra sustenance with me. Normally, what I ate would carry me for 50 miles.
Preferably, I would like to have been a little bit warmer. I came back pretty dry too, hardly any dampness around the small of my back.
What pi$$es me off are the reviews "Kept me warm on a minus 6 degree ride for 7 hours bollox bollox bollox". Pie eating fat @rse liars. .
...but what pi$$es me off even more is that I would really like to get out far more often in winter but for the lack of clothing that will keep me warm. I tend to hit the rollers because I cannot face being in pain and feeling so sore and stiff after a ride then spending 30 mins in the shower.
As I have said before, it's difficult to explain to a native.

I see people wearing 3/4 nicks when it's 4 degrees! That would kill me, literally.

pinno

I see CRC have a big clothing sale and the Castelli Sorpasso are there for £88.

[Taps fingers on the keyboard]...

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

Me born in Kenya me. I run f*cking cold.

No need to type any more.
You are a southern softie.

pinno

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Me born in Kenya me. I run f*cking cold.

No need to type any more.
You are a southern softie.

Yes I am. When the mercury rises to 30 deg plus however, the tables are well and truly turned.

Last summer, I did a dozen or so 60+ mile rides in anything between 22 to 30 degrees, covered in SPF 50. Felt great.

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Me born in Kenya me. I run f*cking cold.

No need to type any more.
You are a southern softie.

Yes I am. When the mercury rises to 30 deg plus however, the tables are well and truly turned.

Last summer, I did a dozen or so 60+ mile rides in anything between 22 to 30 degrees, covered in SPF 50. Felt great.

Here's the thing.....and?
Make it 35+ and you will have a point.

pinno

Unfortunately, I am not in control of the temperature in Scotland Blakey. That was what it was. I couldn't turn it up.

pblakeney

Pinno wrote:

Unfortunately, I am not in control of the temperature in Scotland Blakey. That was what it was. I couldn't turn it up.

Now I know that you are joshing.
30degC in Scotland.

pinno

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Unfortunately, I am not in control of the temperature in Scotland Blakey. That was what it was. I couldn't turn it up.

Now I know that you are joshing.
30degC in Scotland.

Yeah yeah. Do you remember that very odd heat wave that lasted all of 3 days? I think it was in September.

All I want is a solution. Upper half is covered (even if a little OTT).

mrfpb

Pinno wrote:

PBlakeney wrote:

Pinno wrote:

Unfortunately, I am not in control of the temperature in Scotland Blakey. That was what it was. I couldn't turn it up.

Now I know that you are joshing.
30degC in Scotland.

Yeah yeah. Do you remember that very odd heat wave that lasted all of 3 days? I think it was in September.

All I want is a solution. Upper half is covered (even if a little OTT).

Add these to your arsenal:

https://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/defeet-m ... GwodgJsJFg

Garry H

I know where you can get two pairs of merino hiking socks for a good price. You'll be donating to a worthwhile cause as well.

bendertherobot

Pinno wrote:

I see CRC have a big clothing sale and the Castelli Sorpasso are there for £88.

[Taps fingers on the keyboard]...

79 at Merlin

chippyk

bendertherobot wrote:

ChippyK wrote:

I love the way Wiggle need to offer finance on the Bonka rights.

The rights are probably quite expensive

It's that damn predicative taxi on my phone...

gabriel959

I am from the Canary Islands but don't run specially cold. I would say I am normal, in this kind of weather, just above freezing I will be wearing a deep winter baselayer (like the Craft one) and my Rapha Pro Team (older one) jacket, and some windproof bibtights. That keeps me warm enough.

Quins

bendertherobot wrote:

Pinno wrote:

I see CRC have a big clothing sale and the Castelli Sorpasso are there for £88.

[Taps fingers on the keyboard]...

79 at Merlin

What size should I get in these? I'm about a 39-40 chest, 34 waist in M&s trousers, 5'8. Got medium DHB regular kit, XL alpha jacket ( sleeves way too long, but i can get my shoulders in it),

bendertherobot

Prob XL but you might sneak into a large. I take XL with 35 waist, 5ft 10. XL alpha

gabriel959

Hi Bender, I am 6'4 and 33 1/2 inch waist would you say I am an XL or an XXL? I am usually an L in Gore bib tights.

apreading

gabriel959 wrote:

Hi Bender, I am 6'4 and 33 1/2 inch waist would you say I am an XL or an XXL? I am usually an L in Gore bib tights.

Thats a tricky one - you are slimmer than me, so an XL would probably be a good fit in many ways but I am 6'2" and the XXL legs are only just long enough and the bib straps only just avoid being uncomfortable. So the XL at your height could be a problem...

bendertherobot

Yeah, the legs aren't particularly long (which is why I like them). They are a tight(er) fit. I'd say XXL as that will create more length and they shouldn't be flappy as they are very elastic.

scott_w1987

Still had my saver10 code in my wiggle basket so I ordered an Alpha jersey for £95! Hopefully it's good for the weather getting milder

robbo2011

@Scott: I think you'll like it.