• Specialized Winter Bib Tights
• £59.99
• www.specialized.com

I’m sure the Ground Effect Half Pipes that Mike tested recently raised a few eyebrows from some corners of the Bikemagic community, but while legwarmers are ideal for changeable conditions, sometimes you just know the weather isn’t going to take a turn for the better.

That’s when full-length tights come into their own, and we’ve rapidly become fans of bib tights. They’re more comfortable than the non-bib variety, and though getting into and out of them (and not to mention pee stops) is a faff, they’ll quickly become a staple of your wardrobe once tried.

The aptly named Specialized Winter Tights are made from Super Roubaix material, a lycra with a fleece lining which is incredibly warm and comfortable, and does a good job of retaining heat but letting moisture escape. Fit is good, with the material providing enough stretch that the number of seams on the legs has been kept to a minimum – the merest hint of pre-shaping exists in the legs.

You don’t get the Body Geometry chamois found on the company’s top bib shorts, but the Winter Tights’ Impact chamois is still impressively comfortable. The price is kept down with the notable absence of features such as zipped legs, foot loops and zipped waists, but their performance isn’t any the worse for their absence.

Ups and downs

Positives: Fit, well-priced, warm

Negatives: Large Specialized logos may offend those with subtle tastes

Verdict

They fit well, they keep your legs warm, and they’re not overly expensive, making the Specialized Winter Tights a top buy.

Performance: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Overall: 4/5