Velocio’s Luxe Bib Tights Are Perfect for Spring
Cycling kit tends to come in two seasons: summer and winter riding. Sure, there are accessories like knee warmers and vests, but rarely does a brand focus in on something that can serve the middle-of-the-road temperatures from 32 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. But those temperatures are the cyclist’s sweet spot: perfect for not getting too sweaty on climbs, or turning hypothermic on descents.
Cold-ish weather is tricky for cyclists, despite the fact that it’s arguably the best training environment. Adding leg warmers or knee warmers is an option, or don a set of full-blown winter tights with fleece lining. But every time I would pull on a pair of winter tights, the same thing would happen: Unless temperatures dipped below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, my legs would be sweating within minutes. Sure, they work for fat bikers who are actually looking for deep snow to ride in, or for those living in truly chilly climates like Manitoba or the Yukon. But since I rarely make it out the door when temps drop below freezing, I was often at the mercy of awkward-fitting leg warmers. And I’ll be honest, I truly hate leg warmers. The rare pair that doesn’t make my legs feel like (and resemble) sausages tends to slip down my legs after a few miles, and the rubber grips at the top never fail to rub in just the wrong spot.
A few years ago, I discovered the joys of the long-sleeved jersey and quickly became a convert. Rather than dealing with cyclist’s tan lines from short sleeves, raspberry cane scratches, constant mild sunburn or frankly less-than-flattering cuts, I swapped almost all of my short-sleeve jerseys for long sleeve options that I would wear until temperatures reached unbearably hot points in the summer. But the same option didn’t exist for tights or shorts—until I discovered the Velocio Luxe Bib Tights.
The full-length tights aren’t brushed or lined on the inside; they’re made with the same material as Velocio’s fantastic Lux Bib Shorts. So rather than leaving me a dripping, sweaty mess like most tights would, these provide just enough coverage to keep my legs warm 35-degree rides. Like the Velocio Luxe Bib Shorts, the tights have a comfortable CyTech chamois and a fly-free pull-down in the back for easy and fast rest stops without needing to take off your jersey in order to use the toilet (key in cold conditions). The bibs themselves have a mesh panel on the front with wide suspenders in the back for comfort and no fear of a strap slipping down your shoulder midride.
From a strictly aesthetic standpoint, these tights simply look infinitely sleeker than leg warmers (and the less said about knee warmers or knickers and the goofy four-inches of calf that you show when wearing them, the better).
When I first saw the tights, I wasn’t sure that they made sense, this in-between piece of kit. I like to keep my cycling kit as more of a ‘capsule collection’ with the lowest number of pieces possible, and I didn’t think the tights fit in my pared-down wardrobe. I was wrong: They were the piece that had been missing all along.
After a single ride in 40-degree cloudy weather, I was sold. The tights instantly became a staple in my fall, winter and spring riding wardrobe, and I admit, I’ve been doing laundry more frequently so that I can use them for all of my longer, harder rides. An unlined bib tight might sound highly-specific, but they’re actually one of the most versatile, useful pieces out there for year-round cyclists.
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