Shoulder season ridding is known to throw a mixed bag of Mother Nature’s finest. In Utah, it could be 35 degrees and snowing one day, then 65 the next. We’re settling into a great weather pattern for the Hincapie Arenberg Bibknickers, so I’ve been taking advantage of it.
Hincapie Arenberg Bibknicker Features:
- Soft, supple BodE Thermal Loft™ elastic knit insulates and wicks moisture away from the body
- Knicker length bib construction covers the knees
- Anatomical Hincapie Power Chamois with E.I.T. Max fabric and perforated, high density foam inserts
- Hincapie Gel-Grip™ leg openings
- Reflective treatments for high visibility
- MSRP: $129
My Experience
When it’s not too cold and not too hot, Goldilocks would approve of the Hincapie Arenberg Bibknickers. I’ve got two pair of full-length Winter-weight bibtights that work well down into the 20’s, but they max out in the mid-40’s. The Arenberg’s are that perfect bridge between bibtights and Summer-weight bibs.
I’ve found the Arenberg’s to be in their zone from about 40 to the low 60 degree temps. The knicker length really provides extra warmth over standard bibs. It’s amazing what a few inches will do for overall warmth. Speaking of warmth, the soft brushed BodE Thermal Loft fabric feels like putting on a whole new level of cozy. These don’t have a thick thermal feel nor do they have a Spandex “cold next-to-skin” feel. It’s a perfect transition fabric for shoulder season rides. Keep in mind that they don’t block wind entirely, so when you’re topping out at 40 mph and it’s near 40 degrees, you’ll feel the chill.
The fit of the Arenberg’s is generous. These are not Euro-fit, so I’d suggest sizing down if you typically prefer a race fit. As they are, the size Large worked well, but provided a little more wiggle room than I’d prefer. Though they were larger-feeling, the chamois didn’t feel oversized and worked well with both my Specialized Romin and Toupe saddles. I found them to fit better when I wore either my Castelli or Pearl Izumi baselayer underneath.
I appreciated the uppers and the chaffe-free comfort they provided. I must add that they stretch really well for those times when a man’s got to relieve himself.
The Good:
- Bibknicker design provides comfort from the 40’s into the low 60’s
- Reflective piping ads to visibility
- Comfortable chamois
- Lightweight brushed liner adds just the right amount of warmth
- Upper stretches well for when you’ve got to relieve yourself
The Bad:
- Size runs big — definitely size down
- Simple panel design doesn’t have as much body support
The Bottom Line
For shoulder-season riding, you’ve got to have a variety of gear. The Arenberg tights pretty much make leggings obsolete in my book. It’s amazing what that little extra length combined with the proper brushed fabric will do. Size down if you prefer a race fit.
Buy Now: Available on Amazon.com
