Domino Bib Knickers
Features:
- Road Rash Protective Series
- Invista Leather and Lycra Protective Panels
- Race Weight Lycra
- Cool Max Chamois
- Flat Lock Stitching
- Lifetime Warranty (except damage from your golden retriever)
- Nylon Draw String for added comfort and fit
Reviewed by Garuch
Overall rating out of 10: 9.2
The Road Rash Knickers from Domino would typically be a moderately warmer weather piece of cycling clothing. But this weekend I used them as my outer layer for a chilly mountain bike ride. At first I have to admit that the idea seemed a tad strange to me, but since I needed to get this product reviewed, I took the opportunity and wore them. But, as I slipped them on over my Cannondale outer tights and the Mountain Hardwear HyperDry Base layer tights, I began to realize that the ensemble made sense. I was not certain about the wind stopping of the base layer and I knew the Cannondale tights were not terrific in that area so the knickers provided another layer of protection for those sensitive nether |
|
|
regions above the seat. They worked very well!
Plus, and this is the neat part, Domino places suede like leather panels in all the spots most prone to road rash. In this case the hips and outside of the thigh. This as it turns out, is also the place that most brambles and other scratching plants love to tear at you and your bike clothing as you rocket down the trail. The Domino Knickers absorbed the punishment unscathed and while they were at it, they also protected my sensitive fragile body!
Did I mention the comfort? The fabric that Domino uses is very lightweight, highly durable, but incredibly subtle with just the right amount of stretchability woven in. The leather panels are softer than fine glove leather and get this, they stretch! Specially bonded with Lycra the leather feels like leather but performs like Lycra, it's terrific stuff. The leather panels are flat seamed into the Lycra panels that fully accommodate all range of motion. The CoolMax Chamois was perhaps the slightest bit oversized for my taste but, I have found that observation on my part typically goes away after the first washing, so we will see.
After the ride I fully inspected the knickers for the usual pulls and thread danglers that spandex exhibits after thorn rips, and although I made several unscheduled excursions into the brush, skimmed several tree trunks and actually did a full endo into an evergreen shub, I found not one sign of such abuse on the knickers. Not one!
Ok now, the one single thing that I am not fully understanding is the sizing. I am not a big guy around the hips. Yes, I have a paunch, but my hips are smallish for my size. Yet, I generally take a large in shorts and tights. Dan and I had tried on a large set of shorts from Domino earlier and we found them to be oversized and loose. These knickers were a medium and they were still slightly large. I will need to check this after the washing. It is possible that they are built slightly large to make certain that the leather panels are not constricting.
I enjoyed these knickers and I look forward to continued use of them. Thus far, Domino products seem to be top shelf, all the way!
|
