Crikey! It’s been a speedy but cold two months with the Endura Equipe Thermo Windshield Biblongs, which have largely met the claims implied by their descriptive monicker.
They’ve become a reliable companion in the pretty brutal chill wind that we seem to have been in the grip of for the past few months.
The details are neat; Tim identified the wide straps in the first look, and sure enough they are among the most comfortable that I have ever hoiked over my shoulders. Breathable and with no pressure on the trapezius muscles, they are nicely designed. The Equipe lime green zip is a handy addition, making a swift pitstop a little easier. The team moniker of the Biblongs means that there is a little pocket on the rear of the tights for what we think is for a team radio.
The wind and waterproof panels certainly do their job sustaining my core leg temperature on cold rides and resisting spray thrown up by wheels or lashing down from the sky. The Thermo Roubaix fabric does a brilliant job at keeping you warm. While I would not describe these as deep winter tights, they will keep you warm in temperatures down to about minus five degrees and will also work should the temperature nudge double figures, without getting too warm. The Endura boffins seem to have found the correct mix of windproof performance and thermal comfort. Good work.
The water-resistant seat panel is another notable feature. In all honesty, I can say that thus far I have only had two rides on ‘summer’ bikes, preferring to remain astride the Test Rig with its winter guards and weight penalty until conditions improve. That said, a recent outing on an Italian racing bike bound for these pages offered a suitable chance to test the water-resistant panels, which did their job on roads soaked by a sudden deluge. The resultant spray off my rear wheel was fairly dramatic but I remained pretty comfortable for the next hour home. I experienced some dampness, but not too much considering the amount of water. For the first 20 minutes, I remained completely dry.
The medium sized pair sent for test is probably a little large for my pretty skinny frame. The Equipe size chart hints at size small providing a better fit. I had a little bagginess around the gluteus maximus when stood up, but a good fit when hunched over the bars. Leg length was about right, however, although losing a little would not be a problem.
The ankle cuffs worked well, their perfect fit aided by a dash of silicone. The zips were a welcome addition, too. The legs had a light, compressive feel, and the zips obviated the usual wrestling match that ensues when donning and removing garments of this nature.
The bright pad is extremely thick and as such suited to long spells in the saddle. It is created out of a multi-thickness foam and delivered a performance to match its name: endurance rides were completed in comfort. If the team have tested them and chosen this as their favourite then hats off to them: it’s a good companion on long rides. Coupled with the wind and water proof panels, all the excuses for not riding pertaining to clothing are removed.
To conclude, these are a great choice for winter rides, and still just as handy in the current (whisper it) improving weather. A very decent staple for the season, and at a reasonable price for the performance, we’d recommend the Endura Equipe biblongs, with the usual caveat to try before you buy. That said, our experience tells us that the size guide is not too far from the mark. Good work from the team in Livingston.
Website: Endura Equipe
UK distributor: Endura
Cost: £134.99
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
