Cafe Du Cycliste Cecile Men’s Thermal Bib Shorts

The Cafe Du Cycliste Cecile Men's Thermal Bib Shorts are incredibly expensive, but in return for your significant investment you get a very good quality garment for the shoulder seasons: warmth, an extremely comfortable pad, a fantastic (if snug) fit, good length and great looks. There's no wind or waterproofing, though, so they're better suited to 'nicer' days.

Not sure how to stay comfy on the bike at this time of year? Read our guide on what to wear for autumn cycling.

> Buy now: Cafe Du Cycliste Cecile Men’s Thermal Bib Shorts for £265 from Cafe Du Cycliste

Cafe Du Cycliste says its Cecile Thermal Bib Shorts are suited to 'high tempo training and racing conditions'. They're designed in the south of France, made in Albania, and thanks to their otherworldly price tag of £265, you get free shipping, so that's something (you can also get 10% off your first order if you sign up).

These bib shorts are ideal for those months of the year when you still want to get your legs out, but you need to keep your parts warm enough. The brushed inner does just that – it's fairly light, but works down to about 10 degrees without issue. There's no windproofing or waterproofing, so these are for dry days only, but I prefer the feel of regular bibs, and I avoid rain like the plague, so this works for me.

Even if you're working hard, there's enough breathability to deal with any excess heat from the body, and I comfortably wore these on warmer October days up to around 15-16°C. A thin mesh is used for a large section of material on the back of the straps, and a smaller one at the top of the front, two areas that tend to get very sweaty when I ride.

Naturally, you can pair these bib shorts with some leg or knee warmers, to extend their usability. Though the elasticated leg grippers (they feature the Cafe logo in small silicone sections around the inside) are tight, I managed to get a fairly thick knee warmer underneath without issue.

Given their racing intentions, you might expect a racing fit, and that's definitely what you get. The fit is snug, but not overly so. It's just enough to offer a little compression to keep the blood flowing. I don't have huge quads, though (I tested a large), so bigger folk might want to try the Adèle thermal version which won't cling to your skin quite as much. The leg length is also very generous.

Each leg consists of two panels stitched together in only a couple of places to minimise the appearance of lines on the outer fabric. There's plenty of stretch in the outer material, giving you plenty of freedom of movement while riding. Unusually, given its price tag, the Ceciles feature overlock seams rather than flatlock seams. Overlock is usually avoided on bib shorts to minimise chafing, although I didn't notice anything unusual until I reversed the shorts, so for me it wasn't an issue.

The straps are also very comfortable on the shoulders, long enough for me and with plenty of stretch. I often find this an issue with bib shorts, so I was pleased that Cafe Du Cycliste has nailed the fit. Obviously, everyone differs in their body shape, but for me (long legs, shorter torso) it was perfect.

As well as being warm enough for the cooler months of the year, the Cecile bib shorts are good for use in low light thanks to a small strip of reflectivity on the back of each leg.

There's nothing reflective on the front, but the large block highlight Cafe Du Cycliste logo certainly catches your attention. Subtle it isn't (but I quite like it).

There's also a logo on the back of the bibs, and along the front of the straps, but given this is hidden by upper layers it doesn't really make any difference to the garment, other than looking quite cool when you're getting changed.

Elastic Interface pads are my favourites; I find them minimal enough to be unintrusive, with zero chafing, and also extremely comfortable. Though Cafe Du Cycliste doesn't specific the model of pad used, looking at the Elastic Interface site it appears to be a match for the 'Paris Men'.

This is a dual-density pad, with a multidirectional curvature and a smooth surface, which is said to increase saddle stability. The signature perforations at the front are meant to improve breathability too. It's certainly good enough for long distance work. I have very pronounced sit bones, and no natural padding to speak of, and I can happily ride all day long with this pad.

Value

The Cecile bib shorts do a lot of things really well and they feel like a quality garment, though the lack of resistance to wind and water might limit how often you might use them. That makes the £265 price tag even harder to justify, though as I mentioned you can get them for a bit less with the 10% promotion (or perhaps a Black Friday or pre-Christmas deal).

Gore's Transition Bib Shorts, for example, which Steve tested earlier this year, feature a windproof and water-repellent fabric, as well as an Elastic Interface pad, and they cost nearly £100 less.

Cheaper still are the GripGrab AquaRepel Water-Resistant Bib Shorts that Stu was impressed with. They have softshell panels that are waterproof and windproof, with a fleece face on the inside. They have an Elastic Interface pad (Liege HP), too, and cost £124.95.

Conclusion

If you're feeling flush and want some bib shorts for nicer days in autumn and spring, there's probably no better option out there. If you want more versatility, though – and for less money – I'd suggest looking elsewhere.

Verdict

High-end thermal bib shorts for sunny training or race days, but that price...