I used the Supersonic knicks primarily for road biking, but I did also wear them for mountain biking, underneath light shorts of course. I chose the medium size which was a good fit for me; not too tight but firm enough. The wide leg bands are really good; they seem to work well keeping the knicks from bunching up and it was a good feel compared to the narrow and tight cuffs common in knicks. The black is neutral, so if you are after style points, they can be easily matched to the rest of your kit.

Supersonic knicks, a nice cut and good look

On the bike I found that I was adjusting my position on the saddle for the first five to ten kilometres of each ride before I become settled. Every backside is different and some knicks tend to suit me better than others. Once I settled into the knicks however, they were flawless, no discomfort or chaffing, even on long rides. Wearing leg warmers with these worked well, though for cold weather these knicks are a little “light” in the parts you want to keep warm.

Softtail chamois in the Supersonic’s

The 3/4 Snake Bite bib knicks really suited me well but, I have to admit up front, they are incredibly un-sexy. When people use the pejorative Middle Aged Men in Lycra (MAMIL), they’re thinking of me wearing these knicks. I really wasn’t helping the cause at all; full length tights or standard knicks are a better look. The annoying flip-side is that they are quite practical and I really enjoyed wearing them.

Your author, wondering if he can go out in public like this

As bib knicks they are comfortable and add another clothing layer to the lower torso (good for the kidneys). They stretch over, and keep warm, your thighs and knees, and only your lower calves are exposed. During an early morning criterium, another rider in my grade commented that I had no chance of performing in the race with my legs exposed. I don’t know whether he was being thoughtful or had spotted me as a serious contender and wanted to intimidate me, but I took the challenge and achieved my best placing for the season in that race. Obviously my legs were warm enough.

Where these knicks really stood out was during long rides with cool early morning starts. They work really well for the transition from cool to warm; you may get a little more air on your calves when it’s cold, but when it does warm up they are light enough to keep you from feeling as though you are stuck in jogging pants. It’s a bet for both sides; if you face changing weather conditions they leave you a little less exposed and they save you from having to stow leg-warmers in your back pocket.

Compared to the Supersonic knicks, these were comfortable the minute I sat on my bike and didn’t need time to adjust and wear in. For long rides I never had issues with a sore backside. The chamois used in the Snake Bites is the (relatively) new eXo skeletal pad and Ground Effect are onto a winner with this, at least for me.

Super comfort (for my backside) with the eXo skeletal chamois

Both of these knicks are well made, they have nice and clean stitching and when you have them in your hands (and on your butt) you can feel that they are quality products. Ground Effect are still making their gear in the land of the long white cloud (New Zealand); they don’t outsource their quality.

While the Supersonic knicks are good knicks, the ‘Softail’ chamois in these didn’t seem to fit my backside as well as the Snake Bite 3/4 bib knicks with eXo skeletal chamois. The Snake Bites hit a sweet-spot for me and were perfect for transitional weather and varying riding conditions. Well, almost perfect, as they though don’t earn any points from me in the euro-cool department.

If you’re into the technical details, like the 4-way stretch nylon lycra, contour fits and multi-level pads, you can read up on these on the Ground Effect website.

The Supersonics retail for $109 and the Snake Bikes for $179. You can order from Ground Effect directly.

So now that I’ve outed myself, let me tell you that if you’re serious about comfort on the bike, the Ground Effect Ringleaders are the bib knicks you want to look at, regardless of your preferred mode of mischief.

My first impression as I pulled them out of the wrapper was that these knicks are designed to last. The attention to detail is excellent and unlike some other recent performance sportswear purchases I’ve made, few if any shortcuts appear to have been taken. Choosing the cheap way out, such as going light on the stitching around the outer edge of the chamois to avoid chafing, has been ditched in favour of the application of careful thought to the design, giving equal weight to durability.

The material used in the construction of the Ringleaders has a matte finish and is soft on the skin. Flat seams have been used throughout the leg and hip area, and are positioned away from problem areas to limit the opportunities for friction and chafing. The “warm machine wash 40C” care instructions are reassuring; “hand wash only” is a phrase I’ve learned to view with suspicion.

New from Ground Effect this year is the “eXo skeletal” pad. It uses 3D anatomical shaping and multiple levels of foam to maximise padding where it’s needed, and remove bulk where it’s not. The raised blue saddle-shaped section of the chamois panel is bonded around the edge instead of sewn to its backing, removing seams completely from a critical area closest to the most vulnerable and chafe-prone part of my inside leg.

In an interesting departure from the rest of the market, the Ringleaders omit the silicone bead leg gripper seen on most midrange-to-premium shorts. Instead they use a double layer of textured lycra that they’ve branded their “Bandolier cuff”. I raised an eyebrow at this initially, however in use I found it moves up no more than my other bibs with silicone grippers, and it’s less restrictive.

The 12-panel cut provides a snug and creaseless anatomical fit which felt reassuringly firm, although not as tight as compression bibs. While tight-ish around the crotch and shoulder area when worn for the first time, I found the sensation disappeared once on the bike.

Flat seams, snug fit, high-tech chamois and other bells and whistles aren’t much use if it doesn’t all stay in place. I’m pleased to report that after a number of wet rides, cold rides, warm rides and long four hour plus rides, there were no creases, no sliding out of position and no bunching up in uncomfortable places.

Initially I was concerned the matte finish on the blue centre padding might be a source of friction, but my fears were baseless. I never once wished I’d applied chamois cream at the start of a ride. In fact the most memorable thing about these bib knicks is that I completely failed to notice them. This is as it should be. Unfortunately it is not as common as it should be, unless you spend a lot of money.

One comment I sometimes hear from bib knicks sceptics is that the additional “singlet” layer on the upper body must make your ride hotter. Yes, there is an element of truth to this. On the other side, though, it’s just not that noticeable and it has never been enough to change my decision to ride or race in bib knicks on a hot day. I’m of the view that on hotter days, with a higher perspiration load, it’s more important than ever to ensure things stay put without sliding around out of position. The Ringleaders do the job perfectly.

As a guide to sizing, I’m a 185cm adult male of about 80kg, and a medium was a good snug fit. Admittedly, my high school nickname was “stick insect”, but if you are a smaller build or female, your sizing options may be a bit limited.

Overall I’m quite impressed with how these shorts have performed. They are the equal of some much more expensive high-end Italian bib knicks I own, and they’re made by our bro’s over the ditch.

Likes:
+ Comfort
+ Fit
+ Solid and durable construction
+ Light enough to wear on a stinking hot day without boiling the radiator
+ Excellent value for money
+ Not available in white

Dislikes:
- They only sent me one pair!
- More size options would suit smaller riders

The Ringleaders Bib Knicks are available online directly from Ground Effect for $179