Altura Ergofit 3/4 bib knicker

At first glance these Altura Ergofit bibs look like a typical pair in the mid-range price bracket. Quality gel pad? Check. Reflective patches? Check. Flashes of colour? Check. Sadly, once you put them on, things start to go downhill.

The first thing you notice is that getting in requires a bit of a wiggle as the mesh upper section is cut very high. This gives a little extra warmth but also means that stopping for a wee is even more of a trial than usual.

The silicone leg grippers are almost non-existent, just some tiny Altura logos, and they simply don't do the job. I have proper fat boy randonneur calves, that is to say they're chunky and have all the elegance of a boiled ham. Even so, the legs occasionally popped up over the top of them, which is annoying.

What was even more disconcerting was the way the pad folded itself in half and made itself known to my most intimate crevice whenever I got out of the saddle to honk uphill. Oh, and the reflective patches are the stick-on type and they're already starting to come loose at the edges. As a final grumble, the Lycra is starting to bobble where it has rubbed on the saddle.

On the plus side, the pad is comfortable enough while in the saddle and the brushed fleece lining is cosy and warm.

All in all, none of the flaws is fatal in its own right, but combined they add up to a piece of kit that irritates more than it pleases.

WIth Altura what you lose in panache and flair you usually gain in quality and reliability. I'd like to say that these Ergofit 3/4s uphold that reputation but sadly they have too many flaws. My favourite 3/4s are the Endura FS260 Pro bibknickers I tested last year which are the same price as the Alturas but spank them for quality, fit and performance.

Verdict

Hard to recommend these - too many irritating flaws.