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Mavic Cosmic Wind Bib Tights

7
£170.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Annoying seams and high price spoils an otherwise great pair of bib tights
Weight: 
287g
Contact: 

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At £170 the Cosmic Wind bib tights are Mavic's most expensive tights and there's a lot to like in the pad and windproofing, though the oddly positioned seams aren't so great.

Mavic have gone for a two pronged attack in a bid to keep your legs warm in the winter. First up is what it calls Warm Shell Wind, a three layer membrane used in the panels of the thighs and backside. A lot of manufacturers only put windproof panels on the front of the leg so it's good to see Mavic using it right round as if you have to stop for any reason on an icy cold day you can keep the heat in your leg muscles.

Using three thin layers the fabric feels very flexible and when wearing them you can't feel any difference between this and the lycra that makes up the rest of the tights. On cold rides you can feel the temperature difference between the two panel types so its definitely doing its jobs. All the panels have a brushed fleecy lining for comfort and to add a bit of warmth.

On top of all these you also get a Teflon coating which makes the bibs water repellent for light showers and drizzle. You can see the water beding on the surface of the material and it'll keep road spray out for a good half an hour or so before getting overwhelmed.

The seams are flatlocked throughout which means on the whole you can't feel them as you move in the saddle. There's one exception though: the seam that runs across the thigh joining the windproof and lycra panels together sits at an angle just above the knee so when pedalling it moves and can rub on the top of the knee. It isn't so much uncomfortable as just annoying. If they were just a little higher up or straight across it'd be much better.

For those long winter base mile rides you're going to need a comfortable pad and thats exactly what you get from the Ergo 3D Pro. It uses three different densities and six thicknesses of foam in its construction to spread the load. It increases in firmness as it gets closer to the centre with a softer 'sweet spot' under the perineum.

To finish off, the bib straps are a lightweight mesh, ideal for layering depending on the conditions plus they are soft enough to avoid any pressure points on the shoulders. The front panel sits mid stomach keeping your front warm but not too high to make pee stops difficult.

Overall the Mavic Cosmic Winda are decent tights that perform really well in the cold and slightly wet conditions. My definition of a good pad comes down to how many times you notice it on a ride and I literally didn't once. Only those seams across the knee area bothered me; a slight tweak and they'd be fine. As far as the price goes you can get the unpadded versions for just £15 less so that leaves £115 for the material, stitching etc which does seem a little steep even against the opposition.

Verdict

Annoying seams and high price spoils an otherwise great pair of bib tights

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Mavic Cosmic Wind Bib Tight

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Mavic say "Engineered with rigorously tested materials, meticulously tailored details and an Ergo 3D Pro Insert. This high performance bib is very comfortable, ensuring wind protection, insulation, and unmatched saddle comfort."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

3D cut foam pad with 3 varying densities & 6 differing thicknesses

Teflon coating for water repellency & warmth

3 layer membrane for windproofing panels

mesh bibs

sizing - XXS - 2XL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Very well put together with tidy seams and finish.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Very good windproofing and the Teflon coating works well.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Using the thicker membrane material for the seat area should see them last well. Everything else looks pretty robust too.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

Mixed bag this one, the pad is brilliant while the leg seams are not.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

A lot of money for a pair of tights and the performance doesn't warrant it.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

They are very good in the cold wind and light rain.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The pad is brilliant.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Annoying seam position.

Did you enjoy using the product? Due to the seams I would much rather take others from my wardrobe instead.

Would you consider buying the product? No.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, but I'd get them to try them on first.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

There is so much to like about the Cosmic tights and it's a shame that such a little thing like the seams being annoying are enough to put you off wearing them. But that's the way the cycling industry is these days: there aren't really many bad products, just good ones with very small issues. A balanced 3.5 stars for these as all the good stuff counts for something. Try a pair on, your leg length/size might suit though.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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