Lusso 2-Zero Thermal Bib Shorts

When it's cold enough for leg or knee warmers you might not want to wear your sheerest lycra shorts, and the Lusso 2-Zero bibs fill a nice gap between summer shorts and winter gear. They're warm enough for the in-between days and ideal paired with some lower leg protection.

Made in the UK from Italian Roubaix lycra, the 2-Zeros have a 10-panel shaped construction with a high front and back; the lycra extends all the way up to the wide bib straps. It's a mid-weight Roubaix fabric that's warmer than standard lycra and very comfortable against the skin. Comfort is helped by the flat seams, and the wide, woven leg grippers with silicone detailing do a good job of keeping the legs (and knee warmers) in place.

I was initially worried that the high front would make nature breaks a bit problematic, but the fabric is plenty stretchy enough for it not to be an issue. I found the bibs generally a good fit, although those who are narrow of shoulder might find the bib straps a bit wide.

The four-layer pad is quite large and thick, and extends quite a long way forward. There's a section in front of where you'd normally expect the pad to finish that extends further up and is peppered with ventilation holes. It sits high enough to stop the worst of the windchill reaching your delicates, which is welcome on a frosty start. The rest of the pad is more standard and I found it comfortable for rides of all lengths, with plenty of padding where padding is needed.

The bibs are machine-washable, and after some decent use they're holding together very well. They've kept their shape and the fabric has resisted the wear and tear of riding. The triple-stitched seams inspire confidence that they'll stick around for a few autumns and springs.

They're called 2-Zero so are they good down to freezing point? Well, they're better from about 5–10 degrees but they're warm enough to go lower if you're going fast enough to keep yourself warm. They're not especially windproof and they don't make any claims to be waterproof so they're not the best foul-weather option but for bright, cold rides they're just the ticket paired with some knee or leg warmers, and once the temperature creeps up a bit you can wear them on their own too. At £70 they're a decent price too.

A word on sizing: I'm wearing a medium pair, when I'd normally expect to be a large. Try before you buy, if you can.

Verdict

Good quality Roubaix bib shorts that are comfy and warm