Conquest Core Thermal Endurance Bib Shorts

The Conquest Core Thermal Endurance Bib Shorts do a great job of keeping you warm on chilly rides. The combination of fabrics, design and construction add up to a top quality bit of kit.

Being based in Glasgow since 2007 can't have hurt Conquest's ability to design and test a product optimised for cold weather – even though it's made in rather sunnier Italy. An understanding of cold-weather cycling practicalities shows in the design of the Thermal Endurance shorts – every feature does something to keep you warm or comfortable, and does it well.

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Starting at the top, the bib straps are a light, breathable mesh with generous width at the shoulder and reaching down to the lower back. Conquest hasn't gone wild making a pair of furry fisherman's waders – you'll need to know how to insulate your upper body. Unlike some thermal shorts, the Roubaix fabric doesn't come above the hip bones. Initially I was concerned the kidney and stomach areas would be too cool, but this didn't turn out to be an issue with a jersey of the correct length.

The front of the pad comes up just high enough to keep everything warm, yet low enough to allow meeting a call of nature without disrobing – a real bonus in cold, wet conditions (and in tiny Yorkshire Dales village conveniences).

The construction is a mix of flatlock and double/triple-stitched seams in the right places – Conquest has specifically avoided any seams around the front of the hip where the fabric is compressed with each pedal stroke. I certainly didn't feel any irritation during testing, wet or dry.

There are reflective trim tabs sewn into the rear of each thigh, and moderately-subtle branding on show. The legs end in 20mm-wide (not 30 as specced) gripper microfibre strips that do an excellent job of staying in place, on bare legs or legwarmers. The cut of the leg is reasonably long, to help keep those quads warm. When paired with Roubaix fabric legwarmers (Castelli Nanoflex are my go-to) the fabrics look almost identical. There's no external treatment on offer to encourage beading, but then these are marketed as warm, not water-resistant.

At 73kg, 6ft tall with 37in hips and 33in waist, I found the medium a perfect fit. The combination of the fabric, bibs, cut and the Cytec Endurance Anatomic 6 hour chamois made for the most comfortable bibs I've worn in a long time. You'll find Cytech pads in Rapha, Assos and many other makes, and although the Endurance 6 pad is mid-range, it's still very good.

> Check out our guide to the clothing to wear for cycling in spring

Out in late-winter/early-spring conditions ranging from zero to 10°C, and sunshine to pouring rain, I was happy to be in the Conquest bibs. The height of the thermal fabric was just right, the leg length and grip likewise. I couldn't feel the bib straps at all. On one ride where I foolishly eschewed mudguards and got plastered from underneath with cold water for an hour or so, the Roubaix fabric did an admirable job of keeping me warm.

All in all, for £91 (and at time of writing half that!), the Conquest Core Thermal Endurance bibs are great shorts for cold rides – stylish, comfortable and practical. They even have a loop on the outside of the neck for, I guess, hanging them up should a hanger not be available.

Verdict

Stylish, comfortable and practical bibs for cold days out. Well worth the money