On test: Pearl Izumi Therma Fleece Bib Tight, April 20, 2006

Mmmm… toasty!

The folks at Pearl Izumi were considerate enough to make sure James Huang was adequately dressed both above and below for proper winter riding, and he finds the Therma Fleece Cycling Bib Tight to be his new best friend.

Pearl Izumi's Therma Fleece Cycling Bib Tight

Pearl Izumi's Therma Fleece has been a bread-and-butter material for years, and for good reason. The pleasantly fuzzy inside loft provides ample warmth in a surprisingly wide range of temperatures and the fabric's wicking ability allows it to impart reasonable warmth even when wet.

This eminently useful fabric is integrated into both the upper and lower halves of the Therma Fleece Cycling Bib Tight. Multiple panels are joined using smooth flatlock seams and 8in long ankle zippers facilitate ingress and egress. Gripper elastic in the ankle openings prevent the legs from riding up during use, and a smattering of reflective appliqués add a little bit of insurance for those rides when you were just so sure you could make it back before the sun went down…

To top it all off, Pearl Izumi stitches in its proven Pressure Relief Technology (PRT) chamois which is designed to reduce pressure points using a multitude of different padding thicknesses and densities. In addition, the seams in the chamois are strategically located or eliminated altogether to combat chafing.

Maybe just one more chocolate chip…

A cyclist's leg in motion is not an easy shape to pattern around, but the fit of Pearl Izumi's Therma Fleece Cycling Bib Tight was spot-on with an even snugness all around and nary a bit of bunched fabric to be found. The remarkable stretchiness of the fabric certainly helps here, but clearly some design time was put in to get the fit just right.

Out on the road and trail, these tights proved to be remarkable adept at handling just-above-freezing temperatures all the way up to the upper 50s. On the cold end, in particular, the use of Therma Fleece in the bib portion of the tights was a welcome feature that added a measurable amount of warmth up top.

Careful patterning

Outside of that range, you begin to notice either the distinct lack of dedicated windproofing material anywhere or the enhanced insulative abilities of the fabric. Inside of that very broad sweet spot, however, things were just peachy.

As in previous experience, the PRT chamois also proved to be quite comfortable. Some may still complain that the chamois is too thick (resulting in a bit of 'diaper' feel upon putting them on), but that's definitely a personal preference thing. Regardless, chafing was a non-issue during typical winter-length rides, and as with any good chamois, this one was barely noticeable at all while on the bike.

If I had to make one request, it might be to add a short zipper out front to ease pit stops. This feature wouldn't help the XX crowd much, but those of us with the dreaded Y chromosome often have a hard enough time with bibs as it is and a bit of convenience often goes a long way in this sort of situation. At the very least, though, the front of the tights is cut fairly low so bathroom breaks don't require a full upper body strip-down.

Otherwise, though, I'm not entirely sure how Pearl Izumi would make this set of tights much better than they already are. Make them cheaper? Built-in glucose solution drip-feed? A free box of donuts?

Pro: Impressively wide comfort range, excellent fit, and a comfortable chamois in a reasonably priced package
Con: A short zipper up front would be a nice feature…
MSRP: US$109.99
Fabrics: Therma Fleece
Colors: Black
Sizes: S-XL
More information: www.pearlizumi.com
Cyclingnews rating:

See also: Pearl Izumi Barrier Jacket, Pearl Izumi Vector Jersey

James Huang is chief guru at mountain bike suspension site www.angryasian.com