Rivelo Men's Headley 3/4 Bib Knicker

Three-quarter-length tights are an acquired taste, but there's no doubt the Rivelo Men's Headley 3/4 Knickers look the part and perform well on the whole. The fit behind the knee was a slight issue for me, but otherwise they're very comfortable and provide just the right amount of protection for autumn and spring, as well as milder winter days.

Ever since 3/4 bibs first made their way onto the scene in Belgium, their flexibility in dealing with milder cool-but-not-cold weather has appealed to many. For my money, I've always liked the partially covered look – it's kind of hardcore Flandrian, mixed with the bonus of a little extra insulation.

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In the case of the Headleys, we're looking at a particularly thin fabric, so you're getting a lot of breathability. Despite a very thin and slightly insulating fleece layer, cold air can still impact on your thighs, so it's worth thinking of these as suitable for mid-spring and autumn use only. Unless you have a little Flandrian blood in you, of course.

This does make them good for high-tempo riding, as well as racing, if that's your bag. The knee section is constructed of a mesh fabric, which is very breathable and flexible around the joint. That said, it's not anatomically cut, so although the fabric is stretchy and mouldable, I found that it could bunch around the back of the knee. Add in sweat and a long ride time and the result was a bit of chafing – nothing horrendous, though, and elsewhere the knickers are very comfortable.

The hems are fitted with five flat lines of silicone to form a gripper, which holds the bottom of the tights nicely in place around the calf, and the thighs give good levels of light compression via the ergonomic panel construction for a supportive feel. You also get flatlocked seams for additional comfort at the panel joins.

The pad is also well considered, although it's fairly lightweight. It's a Cytech model – the same brand that supplies Rapha with its pads – and I know from experience how competent these are. You can use it for hours in the saddle without a problem, with the textured interior padding offering very good comfort around the sit bones.

Higher up, the bib section is also comfortable, made of a black mesh fabric, with the fleece extending above the shorts area at the rear and offering a little protection to the lower back when the weather gets a bit squally.

As with all Rivelo products, the design is stylish, and they're available in three colourways – a full black, black and red (the band around the back of the calf), or black and a blue band. They look the part, which helps make the £130 asking price easier to swallow – it's hardly a bargain, yet not dissimilar to bib tights/knickers from other specialist brands (and they're currently on offer at £49.99). 

> Read our guide to the best winter bib tights and trousers

On the whole I like the Headleys, although I would choose winter bib shorts and thick knee warmers when the temperature drops into single figures. They're flexible for spring and autumn use, and I would gladly use them again, even with the behind-the-knee issues.

Verdict

Well made and good for spring and autumn, if you can live with the knee fabric bunching