Rivelo Men's Winnats Bib Tights

British cycle clothing company Rivelo's Winnats bib tights are great quality, stylish, and perform really well in the cold.

Cut in such a way that the form fit is perfect, without any constrictive or uncomfortable compression, the Winnats are made from Thermo Roubaix fabric for warmth and have external panels that are fortified with a durable water repellent (DWR) coating.

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This combination works very well to keep you warm in freezing temperatures (I made sure to get out during our recent sub-zero cold snap), and to keep spray at bay. The DWR aspect isn't hugely durable when exposed to a lot of rain, but it's a nice extra that'll deal with puddle spray when needed.

Up front, the zip does right up to the bottom of the sternum, which provides that extra bit of coverage when the wind gets up, but also gives easier access when nature comes calling. Likewise, there's decent length in the legs so your ankles are well covered, and you can ride assured that they won't pull up thanks to silicone grippers around the hems.

Should the weather warm up a touch, the base of the tights are fitted with zips that undo to halfway up the calf muscle. This adds a spot of ventilation, as well as making them a little easier to get into.

The shoulder straps are comfortable, if a little tight when standing. Naturally, they're designed to be worn in a riding position, so should you come to try on a pair without sitting on a bike, don't let this put you off. They're supplemented with a mesh back for a smidge of breathability too, but as the name of the game is warmth with the Winnats, I can't say I'd have really noticed the difference if it was meshed or not.

The pad is also premium quality, featuring 'Oeko-tex' stretch fabric for optimum fit. I had no complaints in this department – even when tested on an 80-mile ride without much prior 'saddle time', I stayed comfortable and free of pressure fatigue. For which I was very grateful.

These top features make the Winnats bib tights a really great pair to own – in the black and red colourway featured on my test sample, and the full black. The only downside to the red/black is that the red panel sits on the inside of the lower leg. It looks great, right up until the moment you accidentally rub your dirty chain against it... The result: a tattoo that I've yet to be able to remove.

That's not to say they don't wash well – it's just that chain oil is particularly tough to remove. Sizing remains consistent, and washing delicately maintains the Roubaix fabric brilliantly.

> Check out our guide to the best bib tights and trousers here

On the value front, £130 is probably about what you'd expect to pay for these premium tights, but sign up to Sport Pursuit (the online active sports discount store) and you'll find much of the Rivelo range at a discount. Currently, the Winnats are available for £59.99, which represents great value.

Overall, these are top quality bib tights, which I would argue are only just shy of the very best on the market in terms of quality, and currently available at a fantastic discount online. Highly recommended.

Verdict

Top quality bib tights that keep you warm even in sub-zero temperatures, and dry for at least a while