Price: £79.99 / $TBC / €80
Weight: 301g - small
Colours: Smoked black
Sizes: M-2XL
I test a lot of bib tights, and since early autumn last year, I’ve been hard at work trying out all kinds of different options in a range of conditions and riding intensities.
I started testing the Van Rysel RCR Sport Winter bib tights back in the autumn and was immediately impressed. They are a more affordable pair of good quality bib tights that I was comfortable in from the off. Ultimately taking the best budget bibtight option in our best winter bib tights buyers guide.
The bib tights retail at £79.99 / $TBC / €80, less than half the price of some big-name heavy hitters, and whilst they don’t have quite as much protection and thermal efficiency as something like the MAAP Apex Deep Winter they are still a pair of bib tights you could use all winter, I’ve been impressed. They are the most expensive bib tights in the Van Rysel lineup, and the brand offers several cheaper options for both men and women.
If you're looking for winter foot protection as well check out our best cycling overshoes buyers guide.
Design and Aesthetics
The RCR bib tights are made in China and feature a Polyamide, Elastane, and Polyester mix, alongside a Polyurethane membrane. There is also a fairly chunky label you may want to cut out, and Van Rysel has attached it to a small extra piece of fabric to make this easy, he's not bothered me however.
The bib tights come in one colour, black and don't feature much branding, meaning they should go well with nearly everything. There is a 'Van Rysel' wordmark on the left quad and a smaller 'cold protect extreme' wordmark up on the lower back. There are two reflective strips on the lower legs, and that's about it. I really like the aesthetics, they make for a good-looking pair of bib tights.
The inside of the tights is soft and comfortable, a soft Roubaix fleece lining has been used and helps you feel snug. The chamois pad is provided by Elastic Interface, a brand that produces pads for a range of popular cycling brands. Externally Van Rysel claims it has added a wind and waterproof membrane to the shins and thigh and these areas of the bibtights feel and sound different to the touch compared to the softer material around the rear of the quads, calves and knees.
The bib straps are made from pieces of wide, stretchy mesh and the end of the tights up at the stomach is stretchy but not so tight it feels restrictive, something that's nice for normal riders, not super skinny pro riders.
There appear to be over 700 largely positive reviews on the Van Rysel website, which indicates the bib tights have been generally well received, and rightly so.
Performance
In use, the RCR tights have performed excellently for me, first off is comfort. I suspected almost immediately that I would have no issues whatsoever with them and this has continued to be the case. Van Rysel has got everything right, with none of the design flaws that can cause issues when it comes to bib tights not fitting right and they are really comfortable In use.
The length is pretty much perfect for me and the bib tights are true to size, I have a size small test pair, but see the size range starting from medium currently online, so it's worth checking this. The area behind the knee is in no way restrictive or tight, the bib straps are nice and wide, I'm not so keen on really narrow straps that tend to get twisted and need adjusting when you pull them up.
On the chamois front, I've been completely comfortable with the elastic interface pad. I suspect major discomfort in a decent-quality pad has more to do with bike fit and setup than the shorts or tights themselves, but that's a discussion for another day. Overall, the chamois has matched anything else I've used this winter in terms of comfort.
The waterproof membrane has so far performed well, water beads well on the calves and quads of the tights, and in my tests at home without wind and being on the bike, I can feel a difference immediately when spraying water onto different panels on the tights. I'd disregard 'waterproof' really, in rain, water will penetrate the lighter panels on the tights and you will end up wet, like plenty of other bib tights on the market. But you will enjoy some decent spray protection for your money, which is nice.
The ankles have a raw edge finish, meaning there isn't a seam or anything, this plays well with overshoes but also looks smart on milder days if you leave the overshoes at home.
Warmth-wise, I rode these from autumn through to spring riding, and I think these bib tights fit the bill. They aren't going to be as warm as some deep winter heavy hitters like the POC Thermal Cargo bibtights I recently tested, so you may need to look elsewhere if the maximum amount of warmth is what you need.
Value
These bib tights represent good value for the money, just like the Van Rysel Racer 2 long-sleeve base layer I recently reviewed. They are comfortable and have worn very well for me, in fact, they still look brand new, and Decathlon has specced a quality chamois pad and at least a water-repellant membrane on sections, boosting the value proposition.
If you don't want to go mad on winter kit spend, or perhaps want some good bib tights to use alongside shorts and leg warmers the RCR bib tights are a good way to do it.
Verdict
These are good bib tights that are as comfortable as options over twice their price, making them another quality, competitively priced offering from Van Rysel.
They are thinner than some thick, heavy-duty tights and can be worn all winter round for a range of riding. If you do want the maximum amount of warmth and windproofing you will probably need to spend more though. They have done everything well for me, steady spins, road riding, gravel and hard club rides. Van Rysel does it again.
