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1. Shibboleth - Member

   I much prefer lycra for riding in - just cant seem to get on with baggies which I feel are a bit pointless, but I'm sick of ripping the knees out of bib knicks - the last pair of Endura Roubaix ones lasted about a month before I ripped them!

   So, I've bought a pair of Endura FS260 bib shorts and matching leg warmers. Seems like the perfect solution - they even have a more robust material over the knee. And they were only about 20 quid, so not the end of the world if I need to replace them.

   Anyone else use them? Any recommendations for full length legs for sub-zero conditions?

   Posted 5 months ago #
2. druidh - Member

   The Endura Stealth tights/bibs are a much more robust material than the likes of FS260. I find them too warm for most of the year but wore them for commuting all last winter. The pther option would be the Endura MT500s which are also built from a more robust material, though not as warm as the Stealths.

   If it's only the knee thing that's really bothering you, you could team them up with some lightweight knee-pads - something like the G-Forms?

   Posted 5 months ago #
3. Shibboleth - Member

   I think the last 2 pairs of bib knicks I had are the Stealth - thicker Roubaix fabric? I love the fit and quality of them, but they're the thick end of 70 quid, and I invariably rip them. Not a fan of knee pads for the same reason I don't like baggies - I prefer the bear minimum that the weather and decency allows!

   I've got the FS260 knicks for road biking, and they're surprisingly warm as they use a wind-stopper fabric.

   The leg warmers have fleecy panels and a more rugged, water resistant fabric over the knee - the look the dog's bollox, I'll try them tonight. Excellent quality and value for the money!

   I wear full length roubaixs when it's really cold, but I run fairly hot and don't ever feel overly cold in the legs...

   Posted 5 months ago #
4. djaustin - Member

   bib knicks for warmth and enduro Humvies over them for the pockets and mud shedding back at the car. Works for me. Never ripped a pair.

   I find legwarmers fall down my errr... shapely legs (but they are a Large and only cost £10).

   Posted 5 months ago #
5. Shibboleth - Member

   I never use the pockets - I always carry a rucksack. But I find baggies snag when I get off the back of the saddle, the popper is always coming undone and you constantly have to adjust them. Plus, the liner is rubbish and those click-fast things... not worth a carrot.

   And have you felt the weight of those things? Always preferred bib knicks, just like a second skin.

   I'll report back tomorrow on the FS260 leg warmers. Knowing my luck, I'll bin it and rip a hole in the shorts!

   Posted 5 months ago #
6. ourmaninthenorth - Member

   Bit difficult for me to comment on baggies - I haven't ridden my MTB for 18 months.

   One the road, I tend to hold onto bibs + knee or leg warmers for as long as I can. Mainly because my only pair of longs have a hole on the knee which I've yet to repair.

   Good choice on the bibs + warmers.

   Posted 5 months ago #
7. Oscillate Wildly - Member

   fs260 leg warmers here - i cannot fault these at all! let me tell you this, if you enjoy getting muddy and continually riding regardless of weather then these are the warmers for you....they are not totally waterproof but ive yet to have ANY water soak through them onto my legs.....i am talking a hell of a lot of water/rain/stream/mud/snow/ice/ everything thrown up at the shins on descents and not once have my legs being a) cold or more importantly b) wet!

   they are a bit of an odd fit at worst, but they are bloody good...ive just rewaterproofed mine with my shorts and the water is just beading off again i know it will eventually stop beading due to grit and mud etc, but im still 99.9% sure it wont penetrate the material!

   i can only guess if your a roadie then these combined with the same version of the bib shorts must be an absolute godsend to you...

   10/10

   Posted 5 months ago #
8. Shibboleth - Member

   Yep, I'm a roadie too, and I bought the FS260 bib knick for sunday best road biking - they're too nice to rip up on the mtb! But I love the fit and the fabric, so they were an obvious choice for shorts and warmers.

   I have to say, the short/warmers combo looks even better than the bib knicks - really stylish, nice stitching and contrasting panels.

   What did you proof them with? Grangers?

   Posted 5 months ago #
9. Shibboleth - Member

   Wore this combo last night, temps around 0-2°c, howling wind, hail and snow blizzard...

   Absolutely fantastic, legs remained warm and dry and everything felt 'just right' in the way that quality kit does. Very impressed.

   Posted 5 months ago #
10. Oscillate Wildly - Member

    ooops sorry for late reply! i reproofed them with the new nikwax 11.1 tech wash! its pretty amazing stuff, a few engraved bits of mud and dirt as expected , but still bone dry and legs were nice and warm! they really are great!

    quite tempted to get the arm warmers now, infact edit do they actually do them in arm warmer?

    i got some gore windstoppers just recently and they keep falling down, so i may just get some of these bad boys instead....that said the gore ones are pretty amazing at keeping wind out only started slipping as they have worn in

    Posted 5 months ago #
11. Shibboleth - Member

    Yep, Ribble do them and they look excellent for 17 quid... Ribble Link

    I rarely use armwarmers for winter MTBing as I tend to wear long sleeves, but I like the look of those for road biking. The Castelli ones look nice too, and not silly money. I have Lusso ones which are basic but fit well.

    Posted 5 months ago #
12. karnali - Member

    dhb pace fleece bibshorts and 260 knee warmers here unless its cold enough for longs

    Posted 5 months ago #
13. Shibboleth - Member

    Only ever had one pair of DHBs, some bib knicks that I bought about 4 years ago. I was really unimpressed with the quality - fabric was really 'saggy' which made them feel less robust, the zip was a tiny fiddly little thing, the pad was too far forward and the stitching all came undone.

    I keep seeing good reviews about the new stuff, but I'd think twice about buying it...

    Posted 5 months ago #
14. trickydisco - Member

    I bought the dhb pace roubaix full length bibs about a month ago. been using them on the commute and they've been great. Although I have been wearing some aldi tights underneath as an extra layer in the colder weather.

    Posted 5 months ago #
15. njee20 - Member

    I only have 2 pairs of tights that I get on with, both Assos, and with current prices I don't fancy replacing them, so always tend to wear leg warmers on the MTB (again Assos ones are lovely)! 2 pairs of bib shorts for a bit of extra crotch warmth works well, and stops you getting a muddy crack! Or overshorts.

    Posted 5 months ago #

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