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velobici rené thermal bibshorts

at the beginning of last week, i spoke on the phone to a former colleague, who now lives somewhere in southern englandshire. i'm afraid my lack of geographical awareness prevents me from being more specific than that. however, she informed me that one of her sons had been playing, shirtless, in the back garden as they enjoyed temperatures of between 18 and 20 degrees. true to their usual southern-centric mindset, the radio and tv weather forecasts consistently refer to the prognostication that this mild spell is likey to last throughout the coming week.

i'm inclined to phrase my riposte in the vernacular, to wit: "come over here and say that."

2019 has yet to reach the third month of the year, three months that those of us in the atlantic ocean (at least), would still regard as being the throes of winter. we're still having ferries either cancelled or diverted between ports, due to the direction of the galeforce winds that form a perennial background to our daily ministrations. on the plus side, we probably gain far greater mileage from winter garb than does the southern and eastern part of the united kingdom. on yesterday's sunday morning ride my garmin was happy to report that the ambient temperature hovered around eight degrees, with galeforce windchill lowering that closer to five.

yet, always keen to demonstrate how big and tough and strong we are on the outer edge, one of the fellows in the peloton arrived for the grand départ clad in a pair of bibshorts and sporting bare legs. while i admired his tenacity, i had accessorised my own pair of velobici rené thermal bibs with a pair of merino kneewarmers. as an individual from an older generation, i figure there is no shame in keeping those boney knees covered at least until easter (weather permitting).

suspicious as i usually am about all manner of things cycling, from electronic gearchanging to hydraulic disc-brakes, i have been happy to eat humble-pie when it comes to assessing the effectiveness of thermal bibshorts. originally, such an animal seemed every bit as effective as the proverbial 'chocolate fireguard'. it may seem to be stating the obvious to point out that any pair of bibshorts from any manufacturer you care to mention, stretch only as far as just above the knee. unless of course, you're sean yates.

so, even if those bibs feature a cosy lining of one sort of another, those knees, shins and calf muscles are still completely exposed to the vicissitudes of what i believe we have agreed to refer to as 'winter'. if you're of a similar mind to yours truly, that might seem somewhat of a pointless exercise. except, oddly enough, it isn't.

excluding those merino kneewarmers, for which i remain quite thankful, velobici's rené, all season bibshorts, proudly made in england (the same country allegedly experiencing an insubordinate level of mild weather) are the bee's knees as far as i'm concerned. despite a biting wind that had us shivering whenever we stopped to allow for gruppo compatto, my nether regions and chris hoy replica thighs remained fortified by cosy lycra.

and though scarcely designed to augment those thermal properties, it's comfortingly pleasant to see the two velobici logos embroidered, rather than applied by means of dye-sublimation. it's a quality feature on a quality garment.

the bib section consists of flat straps and flatlock stitching, obviating any tendency to exert untoward pressure on the shoulders. the front section has been ideally considered to allow for a comfort break, devoid of any accompanying gymnastics so to do. this always seems a factor that ought to be given priority at the design stage, but to be honest, that's not always the case. the brightly coloured 'bioceramic 7 hour pad', constructed, according to velobici, using 'foam carving technology' avoids placing any foam at the sides which are regarded as surplus to requirements.

however, i'm happy to leave the extensive descriptions and technological flim-flam to velobici; none of this is really of major concern when sitting on and cycling in bibshorts as comfortable as these. i've said it on many previous occasions: the best compliment that can be paid to any pair of bibshorts, is that you completely forget that they are there (modesty permitting). the rené all season bibs are just such a pair. i can guarantee that i'll still be wearing these shorts when scotland achieves temperatures currently apparent down south.

probably for a couple of days in mid-august.

(velobici's rené all season bibshorts are available only in black with gold embroidered logos. they can be bought in sizes ranging from xs to xxl at a retail price of £180.)

velobici rené all season bibshorts

monday 25 february 2019