Madison’s three-quarter length Flux 88s aren’t waterproof, windproof or magic in any way. But they do offer a bit of extra warmth for your knees on cool-but-dry rides – and that makes them an interesting alternative to run-of-the-mill baggies.
The cut is generous and there’s plenty of room to wear knee pads if that’s your thing. The four-way stretch fabric is comfy, though the baggy cut and lack of cuff adjusters can mean the below-the-knee fit feels a tad loose. We didn’t have problems with errant bits of short snagging on the bike, but if you’re looking for a snug fit this isn’t the best choice.
Twin zip pockets are useful for stowing the bits of on-ride detritus you can accumulate, while zipped mesh side vents mean you can choose these for rides that start in the cool of early morning without fear of overheating later.
They’re supplied with a removable padded insert, but we found running our own favourite padded bibs underneath comfier. Given the lack of any weatherproofing the price looks a tad high, but for dry UK riding there’s a lot to like about the Flux 88s.
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.