May 16/16 14:48 pm - Review - Giordana FRC Bib Tights

Posted by Editor on 05/16/16
 

This is that time of year when you don't know what you will need to wear on your ride from day to day. One day it is shorts, jersey and sunscreen, the next you are digging out tights, jacket and long-fingered gloves.

There are two choices for leg coverings - tights and leg warmers. Tights tend to offer better protection if the weather is consistently cool or windy, while leg warmers work well if your ride starts in cooler temperatures and then warms up.

I have always tried to go for the best set of bib tights possible, with a built-in chamois, rather then ones that are just leggings and pull over shorts. A proper pair of bib tights will fit snugly without bunching or wrinkling, while at the same time allowing full movement. The best ones will use different materials and bias cuts for support, compression and temperature regulation.

The Giordana FRC bib tights are among the best I have tested in recent years. Multiple materials provide support and compression where required - particularly around the knee joint and calves, where a form-fitting stretch material called Super Roubaix Carbon allows the joint to move properly without bunching up. A lower back mesh panel helps with breathability and Giordana uses a top-of-the-line chamois (which many scrimp on). The zippers at the ankles are nice and long, with silicone grippers to stop them riding up.

The FRC is not what I would consider a pure winter tight, since it is not heavily fleece-lined for extremely cold temperatures. I found it to be great for single-digit and damp days, or possibly colder weather in sunny conditions. It is definitely one of the more comfortable pairs of tights I have worn, with nice wide bib straps that don't dig in on the shoulders. They are even long enough for me, but you might need to go up a size from usual, since they are a European cut.

The suggested retail for the Giordana FRC bib tights is $300; which is similar to what many top-end shorts sell for now.

Available at your Giordana retailer, or online at Uno Imports.