Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Velocio Women’s Thermal Bib Tights

8
£216.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Super-comfortable and stylish low-bulk fleecy bibs that are impressively warm
Very well made
Wide, comfy straps
Fabric keeps you warm
Low-bulk fabric
Exceptional chamois
Easy-pee system not guaranteed to work for all
Straps a little tricky to arrange
Price
Weight: 
260g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Velocio Women's Thermal Bib Tights are warm and well made, featuring an exceptional chamois as well as a mid-ride pee-break solution – though it doesn't work for all body shapes.

Moving well with my body when riding, these tights kept me snugly and comfortable on cold rides. They're a great buy – if you can afford them.

> Buy these online here

Velocio has used Thermoroubaix Power for the tights, a fleece-backed fabric which is very soft against the skin. It's also very supple and stretchy, and not too thick, so it doesn't restrict your movement, and that helps with breathability too. Thanks to the thin material I didn't find these bunched behind the knee at all. No issues with hotspots here, or in any other place, for that matter.

I found these tights supremely comfortable to ride in, offering plenty of warmth, plus the fabric wicks moisture quickly and effectively to prevent chilling after digging up a climb, for example.

Supple and supportive, they moved well with my body and I ended up barely noticing them on my rides. They cope well with temperatures down to about 5°C – potentially colder still, but it was quite mild during the reviewing period so I haven't been out in less than that.

2021 Velocio Womans Thermal bib tight - leg logo.jpg

A DWR treatment also does the trick on those days you get caught out; it kept showers and light rain at bay, with water beading on the surface. Naturally, it does get overwhelmed in proper, sustained rain, but at least the fabric isn't very bulky.

Now for the upper, which consists of a mesh front with two Lycra straps that cross over at the rear. The straps have raw cut edges and are 4.5cm wide, which is a good width for distributing pressure evenly.

2021 Velocio Womans Thermal bib tight - straps front.jpg

The crossover design at the rear takes a moment or two to arrange, but once in, you're good to go for the rest of the ride – stops included, thanks to Velocio's pee-break-friendly FlyFree design incorporated into the upper.

2021 Velocio Womans Thermal bib tight - straps back.jpg

As winter rides usually consist of lots of miles at a steady pace, you can be out and about in your kit for considerable lengths of time. Being able to stop at the side of the road without removing your warm top layers is a luxury we all deserve.

That said, the design doesn't work for all.

I weigh 60kg and I'm 177cm tall. The fit around my legs and across the hips is just right in the size small – nice and supportive, while not being excessively tight. According to Velocio's sizing chart, my height puts me as a medium, and so while the tights on test fit me perfectly around my hips and legs, there's not enough stretch left in the fabric for me to pull them down and make use of the FlyFree easy pee system.

2021 Velocio Womans Thermal bib tight - straps back 1.jpg

I've tested both Velocio's Ultralight and Foundation bib shorts in size small, and interestingly, the FlyFree design worked for me in those styles. So it was a bit of a surprise that, despite still fitting well in all other respects, the system didn't work for me this time.

Be reassured, though, that Velocio has its Signature Guarantee, which allows for testing and return within 30 days if your riding experience, including fit, isn't improved – so worth a go, in my opinion.

> Read more road.cc reviews of women’s cycling tights here

The chamois is Velocio's proprietary Signature model, developed with Cytech. It's a very high-density option with 200kg/m3 inserts which I found very supportive, perfect for long winter miles. It's discreet off the bike, and I like the fact that it isn't too thick, which can take away some of the feedback from the bike.

2021 Velocio Womans Thermal bib tight - chamois.jpg

There is plenty of length in the legs, and even though the bottoms are quite snug to get over your feet (there isn't an ankle zip), once on you don't get any issues with them riding up and it's comfier without a zip when riding too.

2021 Velocio Womans Thermal bib tight - legs front.jpg

An integrated reflective panel stretches across the outer side and round the back at calf height. There's no fleecy material under this, but I can't say that I noticed its absence.

2021 Velocio Womans Thermal bib tight - ankles back.jpg

Value

While you can't ignore the sky-high price, you are getting some very comfy and supportive tights that'll cover longer winter rides and those packed with efforts too.

If you prefer ankle zips, making the tights easier to slip on and off, Le Col's Women's Hors Categorie Bib Tights are a similar price (£220) to Velocio's offering, but don't have any sort of comfort break system included.

> 6 top tips to help keep you cycling through the winter

Veloine's exceptionally snugly Rocacorba Thermal Bib Tights are a little cheaper at £194.71, but I did have issues with the thicker fabric bunching behind my knee and causing hotspots.

You can get quality thermal bibs for a lot less, though, such as the Iris Women's Signature Winter Bib Tights Light at €149 (around £130).

Conclusion

Soft, stretchy, and warm but not bulky, with an excellent chamois stitched inside, Velocio's Thermal Bib Tights are ideal for staying comfortable on long winter rides, ones that you're sprinkling efforts into too. They're well worth considering, if you can afford them.

Verdict

Super-comfortable and stylish low-bulk fleecy bibs that are impressively warm

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Velocio Women's Thermal Bib Tights

Size tested: Small

Tell us what the product is for

Velocio says: 'Featuring the latest generation of our Signature chamois and an improved fit, this is a full-length winter weight tight that breathes exceptionally well and provides excellent warmth without feeling overbuilt. Supportive and compressive Thermoroubaix Power fabric throughout, the Thermal Bib Tight has a compressive feel similar to our award-winning bib shorts, with the added protection of a fleece lining and DWR treatment. A wind block panel at the front crotch for added protection from the cold makes these tights truly versatile down into the colder mid-winter temps.

Incorporating our pee-break-friendly FlyFree design, you can forget about the dreaded road side stops of removing all of your layers when nature calls."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Velocio lists:

ThemroRoubaix Power fabric: fleece backed, DWR treated, highly breathable and wicking for warmth without bulk

Integrated windproof panel at the front crotch for added protection from the cold

Flatlock stitching

Seamless Microfiber bib straps

Reflective insert panels and logos for added visibility

Proprietary Signature Chamois developed with Cytech [EIT]

FlyFree: pee-break friendly design: no clasps, zippers or snaps. Removing helmet jersey or other layers not required.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
7/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

All good when machine washed at 30 degrees.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Brilliant for winter riding – soft and low bulk, these are incredibly warm and comfy to ride in. The tights moved well with my body and a very supportive high-density chamois covers you for long days in the saddle. Unfortunately the pull-down mid-ride pee-break solution didn't work for me.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfy throughout – excellent supportive chamois, wide straps and soft, fleecy, low-bulk fabric.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Price, and that the easy pee FlyFree system didn't work for me despite the tights fitting perfectly elswhere (so I wouldn't want to size up).

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Similar price to Le Col's Hors Categorie Bib Tights (£220) and a little more expensive than Veloine's very snugly Rocacorba Thermal Bib Tights (£194.71). You can get quality thermal bibs for a lot less, though, such as the Iris Women's Signature Winter Bib Tights Light (£130).

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Soft, stretchy, warm but not bulky, with an excellent chamois stitched inside, Velocio's thermal bib tights are a quality buy if you can afford them. They also have a mid-ride pee-break solution, but I found this design is not guaranteed to work for all body shapes – despite the bib tights fitting me perfectly elsewhere, I was unable to use the pull-down system.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 24  Height: 177cm  Weight: 62kg

I usually ride: Road bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, Gravel riding, indoor turbo and rollers, track

Latest Comments