I have dearth of cycling gear. Unlike somebody like Fatcyclist, who has enough gear for an entire season without doing a wash I haven't been doing this long enought to warrant an extensive collection of wicking fabrics that are impervious to the wind.
With cooler weather prevailing, and my foray down to the bike and gear blowout a bust, I headed down to Mountain Equipment Coop and checked out their cycling gear which has gotten better over the years.
What I found were these Castelli Leggerezza Bibtights. I am told, that, because they are Bib tights they are far more pro than just regular tight. And I desperately wish to appear more pro than I am.
I've worn these for a few rides now, and I must say that I'm disappointed I didn't get myself some proper cycling tights sooner. I would have looked funny wearing them without a bike between my legs I could have talked my way out of any awkward situations.
Here's the product description cut and paste from the MEC site.
Weight: 300g (Medium)
Step into these technical bib tights for warm, windproof comfort on the nippiest winter days. The multi-panel construction provides a highly windproof front and a warm, breathable back. The variable-thickness Kiss chamois puts padding where you need it most.
- *Front panels are windproof SG0.6, the lightest cycling fabric available today. Each polypropylene fibre is hollow on the inside, trapping air to provide weightless insulation. The fabric is also engineered to prevent water absorption.
- Back panels are Thermoflex 86% nylon and 14% spandex, with a flat face and a brushed back for excellent warmth and comfort.
- Flat-lock stitching reduces seam bulk and increases comfort.
- Seamless Kiss chamois has four-way stretch and a variable-thickness design that puts padding where you need it most and reduces it where you don't.
- Giro+ ankle closures ankle zippers.
I am glad these are 300g. Had they been 305 I would have had to pass. There is a Castelli Logo on them you can scrape off if you wish to.
I am even more glad that they have a "Kiss" chamois. The little lips stitched on the material right at head level make me feel like I am inches from having sex during the entire ride. I shall not repeat the joke I told to my wife as it got me in trouble the first time I told it.
Interestingly these tights employ the new weightless air insulation. It should have been called unobtanium but that name was already taken.
Finally the Giro+ zippers are far better than any zippers found in the actual Giro. That in itself is amazing.
In reality these tights seem to be doing the trick for me. The windproof material is in all the right places, and they do feel comfortable.
My only gripe with them is that the seem to fit a little short. I'm 6' with normal length, and moderately skinny, legs and I'm on the limit for length for the large size. Check out the sizing info for Castelli. Based on the tag that came with them the large fits 6' to 5'9" or something like that. I didn't want to go up a size and have them be too wide.
It would be ok that they are short but normally I'd just hike them up. But when I did that the lack of stretch around the knee when they were pulled up 2 inches caused my knees to start hurting. Once I pulled them down a bit the knee pain went away.
Now that I've figured that out, they're doing well for me. I'll just have to see how cold I can wear them. At this point I've worn them down to about 0 deg Celsius and they've been fine.
They seem to be sturdily constructed which is good considering all the yanking I did on them the first ride out. Even the ankle zippers live up to their billing.
I got them, not on sale or anything for $152 CDN at MEC.
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