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review
Tights & longs

Ribble Nuovo Men's Bib Tights Black

8
by dave atkinson
Fri, Mar 16, 2018 09:45
0
£85.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Good quality winter tights that perform well on colder rides
Weight: 
288g
Contact: 
www.ribblecycles.co.uk

Ribble's Nuovo bib tights are the accompanying bottom half to the Nuovo jersey we tested not so long ago. And they're pretty good performers: comfortable, with a good pad and some nice detailing.

  • Pros: Comfortable, pad is good quality, warm enough for winter
  • Cons: Not really windproof, not the best in the rain

> Buy these online here

The main part of the bibs is a multi-panel construction from a Roubaix Lycra that feels good to wear and is nice and stretchy. The fabric isn't any more windproof than the jersey, save for the ankle sections, which are a much more compressive fabric and keep the bottoms from riding up. The lack of windproofing is much less of an issue on your legs, although if you have sensitive knees you might want a bit more protection from cold gusts.

Up top there's a mesh back layer to help with breathability there, and the straps are a wide, flat elastic that only stretches up and down the strap. That means they lie flat and don't bunch, and they're comfortable over a baselayer or next to the skin.

The 'Cytec Elastic Interface® 7 hour 12mm thick endurance pad' has a front cup to keep everything toasty in the cold. It's a reasonably bulky pad but very comfortable, and I've had no issues with saddle discomfort on some fairly long rides.

The stretchy Lycra of the legs is comfy in use too, and there's a bit of water repellency in the fabric that'll shrug off light rain and road spray for a bit. They wouldn't be your first choice for wet rides but they're good in the cold, and perform better than the jersey in colder weather.

> Buyer's Guide: The best clothing to keep you warm on the bike

There's a nice reflective panel on each leg that's unobtrusive but gives you a bit of extra visibility after dark.

They're better value than the top as well. At £85 they're a similar price to similar tights in dhb's range, which is probably the most direct competitor here. In terms of comfort and quality they're pretty good, and they feel a bit more thought through than the jersey they accompany, so are deserving of a higher mark.

Verdict

Good quality winter tights that perform well on colder rides

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Ribble Nuovo Men's Bib Tights Black

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Ribble says, "We've taken a great deal of attention designing the Nuovo bib tights because we recognise they're the most important piece of cycle clothing and that comfort here is the overriding priority.

"The multi panel construction ensures a neat, comfortable fit and the fabric we've selected is thermal, durable of a high density and contemporary. For extra breathability the back panel is a mesh fabric and the seamless braces are designed to be lightweight and comfortable. We have also added an anti-abrasive panel to outer hip and thigh to provide additional protection against any unexpected falls!

"For maximum comfort we've chosen a high quality, tried and tested, 7 hour endurance pad. The pad also has a cupped front for extra warmth and protection!

"A discreet reflective panel incorporated into the legs makes these an essential winter piece."

#defywinter

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

From Ribble:

Moisture wicking

Thermal layers

Anti-abrasive panels

Water resistant

Windproof

High quality Cytec Elastic Interface® 7 hour 12mm thick endurance pad with cup

4-Way stretch compressive fit fabric that wicks away moisture

Breathable mesh back panel

2-way stretch seamless braces for added grip and comfort

Discreet design reflective panels

Fabrics

86% Polymide 14% Elastane

Care Guide

Machine wash at 30C

Wash with colours

Do not tumble dry

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Cool wash, come up like new.

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

Very well – comfortable and warm with a good pad.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

All-round comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Not windproof like Ribble claims.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Very good performance, value is decent and doesn't really knock the overall score down.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 189cm  Weight: 94kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Ribble Nuovo Men's Bib Tights Black 2018
Ribble Nuovo Men's Bib Tights Black
Ribble 2018
Ribble
Dave Atkinson

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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