B'Twin Aerofit 900 3/4 bib tights

Aerofit 900 is B'Twin's top end range and with a decent looking pad, cut and design these three-quarter-length bibs look pretty good, but don't compare well with similarly-priced opposition.

Putting on the Aerofit 900s for the first time there is a lot to like. The 80% Nylon/20% Lycra mix of the main leg part of the garment is stretchy enough to be easy to get on but not overly so that it still provides a decent level of support for your muscles.

The bibs are light and offer a good fit whether you are standing or in the saddle. The straps themselves are unobtrusive where they pass over the shoulders and they're comfortable without a base layer.

At the other end you get elastic grippers to hold them in place at the calf and they do the job well without gripping too tightly.

The only thing I'm not a fan of is that the material has a cheap feel to it. It's very thin and quite fragile compared to the similarly priced dhb Vaeon bib three-quarters. Although the B'Twins seem to be standing up to plenty of wear and tear at the moment it'd be interesting to see how they are in the long run. Saying that though the two-year warranty would come into play if anything goes wrong.

Once on the bike the pad feels pretty good with a mixture of gel inserts and foam padding plus some channels to avoid numbness. It's a bit on the thick side for me I found it comfortable for 90-minute to two-hour rides but once over that I did find numbness was an issue.

The lower back panel is made from Equarea fabric which is designed to be worn next to the skin to work as a breathable wicking material. It's a good idea to position it here as when in the race position (these are pro level shorts after all) the wind blows along your back and does remove a lot of excess heat.

Overall, The Aerofit 900 three-quarters are almost there but not quite. Most of the B'Twin range impresses due to the fact that its pretty good and its really well priced. The Aerofit's have snuck into the territory of the aforementioned dhb Vaeons priced at £47.99 and unfortunately the French supermarket's offering just doesn't quite meet the standard. The lightweight fabric does make the 900s ideal for cool summer morning or evening rides though, rather than just Spring or Autumn so you'll get plenty of use for your money.

Ironically for a pro short, the thickness of the pad would suit the more upright rider. If, like me, you tend to ride with quite a drop from saddle to bar you'll notice a fair bit of bunching which can result in numbness once the computer clicks over the two hour mark.

Verdict

Not a bad effort but left a little wanting at this price