Giordana FormaRed Carbon bib tights, a second layer of skin for when winter sets in

Sometimes, wearing riding gear meant for winter means dealing with a bulky fit that feels as if it slows you down. The Giordana FormaRed Carbon bib tights, which I have been riding in this winter, are snug and warm, without any cumbersome bulkiness.

These tights, put simply, are ideal for winter road riding.

Something I noticed almost immediately during my first test ride was the materials used in the FormaRed Carbon tights’ construction. In the seat panels, they’re made from protective SuperRoubaix AZ material, a thick but breathable fabric that repels moisture when rooster-tailing wheel spray can otherwise make things difficult for a cyclist. That material is also effective at retaining heat. It’s applied for maximum effect not just in the seat of the tights but around the thighs.

A lot of that comfort, of course, is thanks to the design of the fabric itself, which uses a microfibre knit to keep things breathable while also tight. Taking that snugness and applying it elsewhere in the design, the fabric is also used in the quadricep region to allow a slight bit of compression, reducing the soreness-inducing effects of pooling lactic acid in the legs .

In designing the FormaRed Carbon tights, Giordana also took the same principle used in the SuperRoubaix AZ material and applied it to the SuperRoubaix Carbon material used elsewhere on a rider’s leg. The SR Carbon fabric uses the same interlocking microfibre knit, placing it around a cyclist’s knees and calves. With this construction, Giordana claims the carbon fibre minimizes the interference of static, keeps the joints and muscles tightly covered and protected against fatigue, and just as important, keeps the rider protected against the unforgiving elements of winter.

With a curved shape that fits the body’s contours like a glove—a fit that’s kept in place thanks to silicone grippers at the cuffs of the tights and its secure bib straps, made from AeroFix fabric—Giordana’s top of the line Carbon tights allow a full, free range of movement, without feeling restrictive or binding.

The tights’ Cirro O.F. chamois uses aloe vera particles to protect against bacteria naturally, while also providing a pleasant cooling effect during a ride. A second layer of the Cirro O.F. Chamois uses a pad of expanding memory foam that helps ventilation, moving moisture produced by the body outward where it can be more easily evaporated. After a long ride in the cold, the chamois keeps you comfortable.

Trying these tights for the first time during a ride of several hours through the penetrating, -15 cold of winter certainly demonstrated their effectiveness best. Warm, form-fitting and flexible, they’re the next best thing to the freedom of riding in shorts—something that’s no doubt totally out of the question this time of year.

Giordana’s FormaRed Carbon bib tights, available through Uno Imports for $299, come in black and range from small to XX-large.