The Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Bib Shorts are designed for days when it’s too warm for bib tights and too cold for shorts. The Italian brand’s pro team wanted something for early season racing in northern Europe, citing the Paris Roubaix in particular as an event where being warm enough can make a big difference in racing outcomes. The resultant product is surprisingly lightweight, yet extremely comfortable in its suggested temperature range.
Q36.5 became more familiar to a UK audience when Tom Pidcock joined the pro team, but plenty of cyclists aren’t really aware of what the company does. It supposedly offers “an Extreme Vision into the Future of Cycling Apparel” with the common thread being the aim to maintain body temperature at – you’ve guessed it – 36.5 degrees Celsius to allow peak performance.
These bibs are the first kit from the brand I’ve used, but thankfully my body already has some stuff it can do to keep the right temperature – you know, sweating and the like.
Pretty early in my road.cc time I tested some fleecy bib shorts from Giordana, made with a Roubaix-type fabric and I’d agree that there is a window when they absolutely hit the spot. They combine with legwarmers when needed, and keep the morning chill off your thighs.
When I took the Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid bib shorts out of the packet, my first thought was “they’ve sent me the wrong ones”. They’re light – seriously, summer bibs light – and it didn’t seem like they’d have enough heft to insulate anything.
Upon closer inspection, the fabric does indeed have an ultra-fine fleece layer on the inside, but it’s much less substantial than any of my winter legwear.
The Dottore Hybrid bibs are made in Italy using a number of different fabrics in different areas with Q36.5’s own chamois. Most of the body of the shorts is made from a brushed, knitted fabric, which is quite stretchy, for a “barely there feel” – which is not how I’d describe most winter-weight bib shorts.
There is a Lumbar Support Panel which is more densely woven and covers the lower back. Its job is to provide more support in that region.
A further fabric type is used beneath the chamois – a more robust pinstripe, which I think has been chosen to cope with the abrasion on the saddle, which can sometimes be the downfall of more delicate lycra.
There are also panels of reflective fabric sewn into the outside of the thighs.
The pad is fairly dense and of variable thickness. The surface is a brushed fabric, and there are no perforations. I found it well-placed and comfortable for long and short rides.
The bib straps are wide and comfortable, with a double layer of highly breathable mesh used to anchor them at the rear.
At the lower end, the leg openings are laser cut and seamless, without any additional gripper inside them.
Branding is fairly subtle with three silver flashes designed to look like metal badges.
Q36.5 says that these bibs are for use “well into winter”. They are, remember, an Italian brand. I’d say that these are on the lightweight side for UK winters. The suggested temperature range is 8-18C and that matched how I used them, combining them with leg warmers at the start of longer rides.
They were extremely comfortable, passing the classic test of good bibs: I could ride a long time without giving them a single thought before remembering that I was supposed to be writing about them.
A note on rain – a consistent feature of riding in UK winters. These bibs don’t claim any water resistance, unlike some other winter weight bib shorts, so are best saved for cool, dry days.
The sizing guide on the manufacturer’s website is slightly odd, suggesting that I opt for a medium for my 34in waist. I’m 6ft 2in and I generally get large bib shorts, although with some Italian brands, an XL is a better fit. The large size tested here fit me well, although the legs are around an inch shorter than I’d ideally want.
Despite the lack of grippers around the thighs, I found the legs generally stayed well in place. They’re not super compressive though, so if you like the feeling of being squoze as you ride then these probably aren’t for you.
So can you really get warmer bib shorts without additional weight (albeit at a hefty price)? Well yes, the Dottore Hybrid bibs do indeed offer more warmth than a classic bib. The fabric is impressive – as light and as comfortable as summer shorts, but warmer.
Other, heavier weight thermal bib shorts that I’ve used with leg warmers can see you through temperatures as low as most tights. That’s not the case here, but they do more than I’d expected when I took them out the packet.
My only reservation is that the fine knitted fabric used on the outside of the thighs is a little delicate. During testing, my pair got a small tear in the leg. I think this was probably from a meeting with a bramble while riding off-road. Let’s be fair, brambles can tear most shorts if you’re unlucky, but my feeling is that this material isn’t the most robust in the world.
Value
The Dottore Hybrids’ list price is £220, which is a big chunk of money – although less than the Cecile Thermal Bib Shorts from Cafe du Cycliste, which are now £235.
Le Col also offers a thermal bib short for the same price as the Dottore Hybrids while Castelli’s Omloop Thermal bib shorts are meaningfully cheaper with an RRP of £160.
At a more affordable price point, Van Rysel’s RCR-2 cool weather shorts come in at just £65.
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Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Specially requested by our Pro Team for the Northern Classics, the Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Bib Shorts are for riders looking to maintain that same “race feel” of their summer bib shorts well into winter. The Dottore Hybrid Bibs feature the same Lumbar Support Panel as our Dottore Pro bib shorts coupled with a brushed knitted thermal fabric for the legs to achieve an unrestricted and “not-even-there” feeling. Riders living in the Mediterranean or other areas with moderate winters will be able to wear these bibs throughout winter.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
They’re made of a mixture of fabrics but overall the makeup is 57% polyamide, an unusually high 39% elastane, 2% polyester, 1% acrylic and 1% silver. I can’t find any notes on what the silver is for!
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
It’s in the same ball park as other big name brands
Any further comments on fit?:
I’d have like the legs an inch longer but that’s a personal preference. Otherwise the fit is excellent.
Any comments on sizing? Did it size up too big or too small?:
One to watch out for. I think the M that was suggested by their sizing tool would have been too small for me. Equally, the XL that I’d often go for from Italian brands might have been too big, so I’d say to size as though you were buying from your normal (non-Italian) brand.
Any further comments on water resistance?:
No resistance is claimed.
Any further comments on the pad?:
I simply didn’t give it a thought – there’s no higher praise.
Any issues with durability?:
Maybe – I had a tear in the leg fabric and I don’t think it feels especially tough.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?:
No issues. On other bib shorts I have had with metallic branding (Castelli, I’m mostly looking at you here) then washing has quickly got rid of the shiny metal top layer. Not here – they coped fine with washing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Maybe
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
They are extremely comfortable in the suggested temperature range, so deliver on what the manufacturer claims.
About the tester
Age: 48Height: 188cmWeight: 85kg
I usually ride: On-One BishBashBoshMy best bike is: Cervélo Caledonia-5
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 yearsI ride: Most daysI would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: Gravel riding, Commuting, Touring, Club riding, Audax, Leisure riding
