FAT LAD AT THE BACK JEWEL BIB SHORTS & TOR JERSEY
£99.99 (bibs) £64.99 (jersey)
Kit for bigger frames
At 6ft 1in tall and a muscly 17.5 stone as a result of weightlifting, it’s fair to say I don’t have the build of the average cyclist. Having bought kit from a number of the big brands, even the XXL offerings clearly don’t account for riders my size. I had resigned myself to this until I found Yorkshire brand FLAB.
Its Tor jersey is great-looking and extremely comfortable, and comes in 42-52in chest sizes. FLAB even does a
Big and Tall range with a 54-58in size.
The zip sits nicely under its flap on the neck and there was no irritation from the seams. The gripper on the hem does its job perfectly with no awkward rising up mid-ride, and the three main rear pockets are well-sized to carry all the kit you might need. The smaller, zipped pocket is also very handy to keep valuables, such as your keys. The fabric wicks sweat and moisture away well, and left me feeling cool and comfortable on even the warmer rides. The only small issue I had was with the sleeves. I found them to be quite tight and they needed to be pulled up above the peak of the bicep so as not to feel uncomfortable, but I do have a weightlifter’s physique.
I had long believed I was firmly a waist shorts man. As it turns out, I’d just never worn a pair of bib shorts that fitted me properly. The Jewel’s pad looked a little thin for someone my size, but after 500 or so miles of testing I can barely remember a moment of discomfort. The bibs are well-shaped and provide cushioning where it matters. The leg grippers keep them in place without fail but were not so tight as to cause discomfort, while the FLAB branding around the bottom makes for a nice yet subtle look. You can also choose plain black or a choice of five stripe colours, or even camo, for the leg bands. The braces sat well, remaining flat with no roll-up on even the most vigorous rides. The fabric is supportive and well-fitted without feeling tight and, like the jersey, it did a great job of wicking sweat.
HIGHS
Great-looking; comfortable; good fit
LOWS
Jersey sleeves restrictive for bigger biceps