Castelli Semifreddo Bib Tights Review

The Castelli Semifreddo bib tight aims to offer the comfort of a tight but without overheating the cyclist in merely cool weather. As such, it is a product intended for the current period, extending until the end of October or even the end of November for the luckiest. Paired with a jersey or jacket depending on the weather, it targets cool but not cold conditions.

Text: Olivier Dulaurent – Photos: 3bikes.fr, Castelli

The mid-season lives up to its name. Coming out of summer with its (short) bib shorts and before winter where the (long) bib tight is one of the basic pieces of equipment, there is indeed a temperature range for which the cyclist hesitates. Indeed, and depending on their degree of resistance to cold but most often for temperatures between 10 and 17°C, bib shorts become too light but the bib tight – the one that will be suitable for the deep cold of winter – will be too warm to ensure good thermal exchange as soon as the effort becomes more intense. There is the solution of bib shorts combined with leg warmers, but it is undeniably less comfortable and less protective on the upper thighs and crotch.

A product born from a real need

The Semifreddo bib tight takes its name from an Italian dessert that is eaten cold, but not frozen. Castelli thus wanted to highlight the product’s “in-between” objective. The legs from mid-calf and the hips use Thermoflex fabric. Its main characteristics are softness and stretch. Furthermore, its moderate thickness already suggests that it will prefer the mid-season.

On the lower legs, the stretchy Nano Flex fabric is used. Even thinner than Thermoflex to prevent overheating, it is also a water-repellent product for riding on wet roads. However, Castelli clearly states that it is not a tight designed for riding in the rain.

The straps have been designed in relation to the objective: largely perforated and lightweight, they should not produce more heat than on bib shorts designed for summer.

As for the chamois pad, it’s the Progetto X2 Air Seamless that ensures comfort in the saddle area. It is a rather thick model, designed for long rides.

On the road, an objective achieved

First tested at all temperatures recommended by Castelli (from 6 to 15°C), the Semifreddo bib tight proved to be a perfect riding companion. The fit is ideal with an ensemble that perfectly follows the morphology but without restriction or excessive pressure points at the back of the knees. The leg length is at the upper end of the range, so it will be necessary to take hip circumference into account rather than stature. In the case of the test, size M was chosen (for a cyclist measuring 1m90 and weighing 72 kg). The straps are also very pleasant to use.

The chamois pad allows for long rides without problems, but it should be noted that it is rather narrow. This is not a drawback, but those accustomed to wide pads such as those found at Rapha, for example, may be disoriented during the first few kilometers.

Over the course of the rides, the only caution concerns the temperature range given by Castelli. Indeed, while the brand recommends 6 to 15°C, personally I found that 6°C was far too low a temperature to be pleasant. This statement should be nuanced depending on the cyclist, as we are not all equal in terms of cold tolerance, but the 10-15°C range (or even a little more) seems more relevant to me.

Furthermore, some of the rides were done using the Perfetto convertible jacket, whose properties are well known. Using the Gore-Tex Infinium membrane, it is both breathable and waterproof (but not as much as a Castelli Idro jacket which is dedicated to rain) and very versatile with its removable sleeves, side vents, and the possibility of zipping up from the bottom, all benefiting the overall breathability.

To conclude, and provided you know your degree of cold resistance and adapt the product’s use to your own temperature range, the Castelli Semifreddo bib tight is flawless. Breathable, comfortable at all levels, it allows for intense or calmer sessions with the same level of efficiency, without suffering from cold or overheating.

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