Tights & longs

With summer a distant memory, it's time to start considering cold-weather kit. Luckily, there's a new range of autumn/winter clothing from dhb including these very nice Vaeon Roubaix bib-tights.

Specifically designed for riding your bike in cold conditions, these bib-tights are made from a relatively thick style of fabric called Roubaix, which means it's smooth on the outside for a neat look, and slightly fleecy on the inside for warmth and comfort.

Odlo have been producing incredibly popular technical sports clothing for years, but they'vee just launched a new range of cycling kit, for both men and women, on road and off road – including these Flash 3/4 tights.

The Flash 3/4 Tights are a lightweight knicker designed to offer more coverage for those who like that, but without compromising movement or coolness, so they look to be ideally suited to three season use in the UK.

Hopefully the worst of the winter weather has passed now but its still chilly enough in the morning to need full leg coverage. Sugoi's MidZero bib tights are bang on for this time of year. They are made from a mid-weight fabric that's ideal for temperatures from a couple of degrees above freezing to around 13-15°C.

They get their name from the MidZero fabric, Sugoi's own design of fleece-backed material to provide the warmth. Up top the bibs have a mesh construction that gives plenty of ventilation and breathability.

The Power 2.0 Lady Tights are well made, as you'd expect from Gore, from good quality fabric and they're versatile enough for year round use.

I'm firmly of the opinion that a decent pair (or six) of three-quarter length Lycra tights are the most useful thing a female cyclist can have in her wardrobe. Get them the right weight of fabric and the right length and you can wear them all year round.

At £54.99, you'd be forgiven for dismissing the Ride Aquazeros as just another set of standard bibtights but you couldn't be more wrong. These UK designed and Italian made tights are serious performers, and left me scratching my head as to why I'd want to spend any more on other options.

When it comes to niche products, not many come close to the Outeredge Full Zip tights for sheer obscurity. These tights are designed specifically for warming up for cross and mountain bike races where a fast start is crucial. By incorporating two zips running the full length of each leg, these can be whipped off in literally 5 seconds, for minimal start line faff.

It's a sign of the times, but I suspect that most people's new years' resolutions will include a promise to do more exercise. For cyclists, this usually entails more hours spent in the saddle which is easier said than done given the typical January weather these islands see. Step in the Louis Garneau Gemini bib tights. As a proper winter conditions bib tight, these take some beating and they don't break the bank either.

Yes, Castelli's Fluido bib tights are expensive but they're also incredibly good at keeping out the wind and also protecting you from rain and road spray. You'll be amazed at the performance, these are the best bit of clothing I've tested in ages.

Northwave's Blade bibs are good-quality Super Roubaix tights with enough warmth for most winter conditions and a decent Elastic Interface pad to keep you comfy.

The fabric is Super Roubaix (polyamide/elastane) throughout apart from a mesh section over your upper back. Chances are that you've used Super Roubaix before: it's brush-backed fleecy stuff and mega-stretchy both up and down and crossways so you can get a close fit without any restriction when you pedal. It moves moisture away from your body quickly too so you don't get drenched in sweat.

The Craft Performance Storm Bib Tights are a well-engineered and nicely thought out garment for your bottom half when the weather is murky.

These don't feel like a winter tight when you pull them on for the first time: the construction isn't heavy and the rear roubaix panels are pretty thin. You even get mesh bibs. However, they feature a full-length windproof insert down the front to keep the chill off when you're riding, so the overall effect is of a more heavyweight set of bibs.