Biemme Energy Bib Tights
By James Sharp

Biemme might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of cycling clothes, but if you follow road racing at all, you have seen their clothes on the T-Mobile and Jean De Latour teams, among others. Founded in 1979 Biemme makes apparel for cycling, soccer, basketball and volleyball. However, their original focus--and their continuing specialty--is cycling apparel. They make all of their own garments, from start to finish, something that is rarely seen in today’s global economy.

We recently sampled their Energy bib tights. These feature windproof front panels, their best chamois, the FX Pro, and ankle zippers with reflective piping. More on the windproof front panels later. The FX Pro chamois is made in two layers, with the top layer being made of Mititech anti-bacterial treated Coolmax. The chamois has lateral seams that shape it for optimal comfort while in the saddle.

The entire front of the Energy bibs is made of A-Tex. A-Tex is basically a windproof membrane laminated between two other materials. This makes the tights very insulative from the chilling effect of the wind. The back of the tight is made of Superroubaix Thermastat. This is a cold weather fabric that is elastic and wicking, though not wind resistant. By placing the Thermastat fabric on the back of the tights, Biemme is able to help the breathability of the garment as a whole, while keeping the advantage of a windproof front.

I found these tights to be ideal on road rides. This isn’t really a surprise, since that is exactly what they are made for. In fact, there was little to fault on the road. The chamois provides enough padding without being too bulky, and the Thermastat fabric does a nice job of wicking moisture away. The A-Tex front isn’t really all that breathable, so sweat does tend to condense there a bit, but it really isn’t noticeable until after the ride or after cooling down. My biggest complaint is the shoulder straps. I have been wearing bib shorts and tights for a long time (they are my choice for road cycling) and I have never had the straps slip on me. These proved to be the exception. I seemed to be adjusting the straps every 20 minutes or so. Biemme could eliminate this problem if they made the back of the Energy tights a little higher up. This, perhaps, wouldn’t have been as much of an issue on someone with broad shoulders.

On the mountain bike, the tights have proved to be tough and comfortable. The strap issue isn’t as big a deal, since a hydration pack will keep them in place. A bigger drawback is the Thermastat, ironically. While it is fantastic on the road, off-road, where the cold is often accompanied by the wet, the warmth offered by the fabric is overwhelmed by the amount of water that can be kicked up by a big knobby tire on a wet and muddy trail. If the A-Tex fabric were placed on the back of the legs, their off-road-ability would be improved.

Summary: The Energy bib tights by Biemme are as comfortable as they are functional. The wind proof front does exactly what it was designed to do, that is, protect the rider from the chill of the cold breeze often encountered while riding. The rear of the garment breathes allowing moisture to transfer away from the wearer. I also found the tights to be well made and the materials durable, resisting snags from use and washings. I would recommend these to anyone looking for warmer clothes for the cold days of winter, provided they had fairly broad shoulders. The Energy bib tights retail for $99 and are made in Italy.

James Sharp is a contributing editor for GearReview.com specializing in mountain biking.

For more information, contact:
Trialtir U.S.A., Inc
5800 Windfern Lane
Houston, TX 77041
Phone: 1-888-867-4334
E-mail: customerservice@trialtir-usa.com
www.trialtir-usa.com