Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to REVIEWS
review
Tights & longs
Castelli Velocissimo Bibtight Castelli Velocissimo Bibtight Castelli Velocissimo Bibtight
Castelli Velocissimo bibtight

Castelli Velocissimo Bibtight

7
by Mat Brett
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Nov 1, 2012

3
£100.00

VERDICT:

7
10
Good mid-range bibtights with a comfy pad and high-quality features
Weight: 
303g
Contact: 
www.saddleback.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Castelli Velocissimo bib tights are good, comfortable bibtights for cold – but not the coldest – rides

The Velocissimos are made from Castelli's Thermoflex fabric which is a soft, brush-backed Roubaix-type material that's very stretchy. It's not as thick as some and there are no windproof areas but it's warm stuff.

The bib section is a highly breathable mesh while down at the ankles you get long YKK zips that make getting them on and off that little bit easier. The zips are covered with reflective tape and there's a little more reflective material on the butt too – it all helps.

The ankle cuffs come with what Castelli call Giro 3 grippers - featuring silicone rubber strands on the inside. In use they stayed in place just fine. The seams aren't the flattest ever but they didn't bother me at all. There are none behind the knees so there's nothing to rub there as you pedal.

The seatpad is Castelli's Kiss3 design. It doesn't look anywhere near as highly sculpted as some but it works – for me, at least. Unlike most, it has a continuously variable thickness and it's at its deepest and densest under your ischial sit bones. Personally, I'd rather it was a little thicker in the perineum area too, but it's still comfortable.

It's a pretty stretchy pad and the brushed microfibre top feels super soft even after many washes. It has a bacteriostatic treatment too in order to avoid saddle sores. The Kiss3 pad isn't quite as comfy as the Progetto X2 pad you get in Castelli's Sorpasso bibtights that we've reviewed in the past, but the Velocissimos are a lot less expensive. I've racked up big miles in these and they've felt fine throughout.

Castelli give all their clothing weather ratings. The say the Velocissimos are suitable for mild and dry conditions and temperatures of 6-15°C. I'd go with that. Below that and you'll probably want something with windproof panels to add some extra warmth.

Verdict

Good mid-range bibtights with a comfy pad and high-quality features.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Castelli Velocissimo Bibtight

Size tested: Black/red, XL

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Castelli say, "Whether you're gearing up for the cyclocross season, or you're already focused on building a base for next year, the great all-purpose Velocissimo bibtight or knicker will keep you warm and comfortable while you tick off the kilometers. They're cut from our warm Thermoflex fabric, which provides some wind protection while offering excellent insulation thanks to the brushed fleece inside.

"Thermoflex is surprisingly lightweight and stretchy, making these tights unusually comfortable. The KISS3 pad features a continuously variable thickness, eliminating the sensation of 'thick here, thin there' that can come with other multi-density seat pads.

- Thermoflex fabric for warmth and comfort

- Kiss3 pad for all-day comfort

- Mesh bib straps for breathability

- Giro3 ankle grippers lie flat and seal around shoecover

- Rear reflective piping

- Ykk® ankle camlock zippers with reflective tape for high visibility"

That's an accurate write-up, I'd say.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Castelli say this about the Kiss3 seatpad: "Dual density and infinitely variable thickness gives you the perfect cushioning for every part of the pad. Maximum thickness and density in the ischial zone tapering to moderate thickness in the perineum and minimum thickness at the perimeter."

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

The logos have started to crack a bit, which is a shame, but it has absolutely no effect on the performance, obviously. Everything else is wearing pretty well.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

They performed well. There's nothing too complicated going on here but everything works as it should.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

High quality throughout.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing stands out.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Possibly.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Castelli Velocissimo bibtight
Castelli
bibtight
bib tight
Mat Brett

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

3 comments

Avatar
zam | 11 years ago
0 likes

I bought a pair of these last year in three-quarter length and they fit prefect. The pad is comfy for long rides out and the quality is great for the price. They're warm too - but not too hot up to around 18 degrees.

The only negative is that the inside leg material rubbed away a small hole on a light fitting rubber (I have big thighs). More my fault than the equipment I suppose!

Avatar
sfichele | 12 years ago
0 likes

Castelli make great stuff, however, what is wrong with their crazy sizing. I'm a short, small, Italian. And yet I have to wear XL castellis #madness

Avatar
Mat Brett replied to sfichele | 12 years ago
0 likes
sfichele wrote:

Castelli make great stuff, however, what is wrong with their crazy sizing. I'm a short, small, Italian. And yet I have to wear XL castellis #madness

Still? A few years ago Castelli sizing was certainly very small but they've come far more into line with other brands theses days. They have size charts on http://castelli-cycling.com/ to help you get it right.

Latest Comments