The Van Rysel RCR winter bib tights are comfortable, warm and well-fitting. They perform very well at a competitive price point
Pros
+
More affordable price point
+
Very comfortable
+
Ankle detail
Cons
-
Reflective piping on legs isn’t very neat
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Van Rysel RCR Sport Winter bib tights
Price: £79.99 / $TBC / €80 Weight: 301g - small Colours: Smoked black Sizes: M-2XL
I test a lot of bib tights, and since early autumn last year, I’ve been hard at work trying out all kinds of different options in a range of conditions and riding intensities.
I started testing the Van Rysel RCR Sport Winter bib tights back in the autumn and was immediately impressed. They are a more affordable pair of good quality bib tights that I was comfortable in from the off. Ultimately taking the best budget bibtight option in our best winter bib tights buyers guide.
The bib tights retail at £79.99 / $TBC / €80, less than half the price of some big-name heavy hitters, and whilst they don’t have quite as much protection and thermal efficiency as something like the MAAP Apex Deep Winter they are still a pair of bib tights you could use all winter, I’ve been impressed. They are the most expensive bib tights in the Van Rysel lineup, and the brand offers several cheaper options for both men and women.
If you're looking for winter foot protection as well check out our best cycling overshoes buyers guide.
The tights feature minimal branding (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Design and Aesthetics
The RCR bib tights are made in China and feature a Polyamide, Elastane, and Polyester mix, alongside a Polyurethane membrane. There is also a fairly chunky label you may want to cut out, and Van Rysel has attached it to a small extra piece of fabric to make this easy, he's not bothered me however.
The bib tights come in one colour, black and don't feature much branding, meaning they should go well with nearly everything. There is a 'Van Rysel' wordmark on the left quad and a smaller 'cold protect extreme' wordmark up on the lower back. There are two reflective strips on the lower legs, and that's about it. I really like the aesthetics, they make for a good-looking pair of bib tights.
The inside of the tights is soft and comfortable, a soft Roubaix fleece lining has been used and helps you feel snug. The chamois pad is provided by Elastic Interface, a brand that produces pads for a range of popular cycling brands. Externally Van Rysel claims it has added a wind and waterproof membrane to the shins and thigh and these areas of the bibtights feel and sound different to the touch compared to the softer material around the rear of the quads, calves and knees.
The bib straps are made from pieces of wide, stretchy mesh and the end of the tights up at the stomach is stretchy but not so tight it feels restrictive, something that's nice for normal riders, not super skinny pro riders.
There appear to be over 700 largely positive reviews on the Van Rysel website, which indicates the bib tights have been generally well received, and rightly so.
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The tights have a single Van Rysel logo on the left quad (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
And this wordmark on the left hand lower back(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Refltcie strips feature on the calves, but they do sit proud of the tights a little awkwardly (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Performance
In use, the RCR tights have performed excellently for me, first off is comfort. I suspected almost immediately that I would have no issues whatsoever with them and this has continued to be the case. Van Rysel has got everything right, with none of the design flaws that can cause issues when it comes to bib tights not fitting right and they are really comfortable In use.
The length is pretty much perfect for me and the bib tights are true to size, I have a size small test pair, but see the size range starting from medium currently online, so it's worth checking this. The area behind the knee is in no way restrictive or tight, the bib straps are nice and wide, I'm not so keen on really narrow straps that tend to get twisted and need adjusting when you pull them up.
On the chamois front, I've been completely comfortable with the elastic interface pad. I suspect major discomfort in a decent-quality pad has more to do with bike fit and setup than the shorts or tights themselves, but that's a discussion for another day. Overall, the chamois has matched anything else I've used this winter in terms of comfort.
The waterproof membrane has so far performed well, water beads well on the calves and quads of the tights, and in my tests at home without wind and being on the bike, I can feel a difference immediately when spraying water onto different panels on the tights. I'd disregard 'waterproof' really, in rain, water will penetrate the lighter panels on the tights and you will end up wet, like plenty of other bib tights on the market. But you will enjoy some decent spray protection for your money, which is nice.
The ankles have a raw edge finish, meaning there isn't a seam or anything, this plays well with overshoes but also looks smart on milder days if you leave the overshoes at home.
Warmth-wise, I rode these from autumn through to spring riding, and I think these bib tights fit the bill. They aren't going to be as warm as some deep winter heavy hitters like the POC Thermal Cargo bibtights I recently tested, so you may need to look elsewhere if the maximum amount of warmth is what you need.
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This area is very comfortable and unrestrictive, though we are all different (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
There is a large mesh back panel (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Value
These bib tights represent good value for the money, just like the Van Rysel Racer 2 long-sleeve base layer I recently reviewed. They are comfortable and have worn very well for me, in fact, they still look brand new, and Decathlon has specced a quality chamois pad and at least a water-repellant membrane on sections, boosting the value proposition.
If you don't want to go mad on winter kit spend, or perhaps want some good bib tights to use alongside shorts and leg warmers the RCR bib tights are a good way to do it.
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The ankle sections pair nicely with overshoes, and look neat and tidy without(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
The reflective strips are raised slightly and for me, could be a little neater(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Verdict
These are good bib tights that are as comfortable as options over twice their price, making them another quality, competitively priced offering from Van Rysel.
They are thinner than some thick, heavy-duty tights and can be worn all winter round for a range of riding. If you do want the maximum amount of warmth and windproofing you will probably need to spend more though. They have done everything well for me, steady spins, road riding, gravel and hard club rides. Van Rysel does it again.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Design and Aesthetics
A nicely executed design that is comfortable and warm, elastic interface pad and water repellant coating help things, only niggle would be the clunky reflective strips
8/10
Comfort
Very comfortable, soft and unrestrictive
8/10
Fit
True to size, with no issues, i'm 176cm and the leg in a small is perfect
8/10
Warmth
Warm enough for most winter riding, but not as good as some deep winter options on cold and windy winter days
7/10
Value
Excellent for the performance and fit. There are cheaper bibtights our there, but this is a good balance between price and comfort
Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
