Madison Sportive Oslo DWR women's 3/4 bib shorts

In drizzly, damp conditions, Madison's Sportive Oslo DWR Women's three-quarter-length bib tights are just the job. When it's not wet enough to warrant waterproof overtrousers, but you really, really don't fancy just putting regular Lycra between you and the mizzle – these fend off showers and spray and keep you comfortable and warm.

Water beads off the DWR (durable water repellent) fabric, and for short rides or commutes of less than an hour in not too Biblical weather you should get home to Soggy Bottom without too soggy a bottom. (Or legs.)

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They're ideal for much of the weather we've had for autumn, and should be great for spring. That said, they've continued into an unseasonably warm December too, and a pair of leg warmers/thick socks underneath on colder days could keep them going well into winter, if it ever arrives.

In persistent heavy rain they do wet out eventually, but for shorter, showery rides they're ideal. After a morning commute in a light shower, for example, not only will you arrive fairly dry, you'll appreciate them at the end of the day, too, when you pull on a pair of tights that aren't soaking wet on the inside for the ride home.

The soft, fleecy Roubaix fabric inner is very cosy, and all the seams are flatlock stitched for comfort. There were a couple of extra lengths of thread poking out, but I only saw them and didn't feel them. The pad is perfectly comfortable too, with well-positioned cushioning for your sit bones.

As you can see from the photos, the bib is almost vest-like, coming up very high at the front and back and providing an extra layer against the cold. It's all quite stretchy, so no problem hoiking the straps up over your shoulders getting in and out.

Incorporated into the front and over the shoulders/top of the back are areas of mesh for ventilation, which seem to do the job, though this isn't the most windproof of garments anyway. Being three-quarters, it isn't really designed for depth-of-winter rides.

> While winter's still pretending to be autumn, check out our guide to the best gear to keep you warm here

My only minor gripe was with the gripper on the legs, which I found overly tight. For my leg length/the bib tights' length, I would have preferred the gripper to sit slightly higher up my calf, but it was uncomfortable. On the bike it wasn't a problem, but off the bike it felt like the gripper was pulling the tights down.

Going down a size would have made the tights tighter (I'm a 10-12/medium and the size 12s on test were slightly generous), but then I think they'd be fighting even more against the too-tight gripper.

So on the bike you might not get a soggy bottom, but walk around in them and you might get a saggy bottom. I did anyway.

Verdict

Very useful legwear for those showery days that don't warrant full-on waterproofs