Review: Belgian Boys Club Eddy Warmers

(2017) For those of us who are too stubborn to drag the rollers out when the temperature dips, there is one rule not to be overlooked. When final preparations have been made for a frosty ride, the garage door is about to be closed, the electronics are abuzz with activity, if the cyclist is toasty before even throwing the leg over the top tube, it’s already a folly. In a strange way, winter cycling should involve a slight chill prior to riding. Targeting the fifteenth minute of the ride is the best way to set up. Fifteen minutes of clenched jaws and ice cream headaches are hard to suffer through in the pursuit of comfort. You’ll thank yourself an hour into the ride when you realize you’re not overdressed and lugging around a wardrobe of shed layers.

So with the forecast being around freezing, with the winter winds blowing, with flurries floating through the air and signifying cold humid conditions, we decided now was the time to try the Belgian Boys Club Eddy Warmers. We were hardly disappointed.

Belgian Boys Club Eddy warmers come with side-specific fit. Here the arm warmers tags show not only the side, but also the Made in Italy tag. Also featured on the arm warmers are the reflectors on the cuff.

Last year, some old equipment decided to call it quits. The leg warmers that sat rolled up in the bureau executed the dreaded hissing sound of Lycra and polyester expanding without retracting. Even a little powder came out to remove all doubt the leg warmers had died. It’s hardly the dilemma a rider wants when being moments away from leaving for a ride. Leg warmers are perfect for cold conditions. If it’s possible to avoid using full leggings, leg warmers get pressed into service.

With the aforementioned conditions, we donned our Beligan Boys Club Tommeke bibs layered over the Eddy leg warmers and pushed out into the Bucks countryside. Imagine my concern when immediately the warmers felt cozy. I thought these would be too much for the day’s ride. Too much insulation at freezing? This got my attention. Despite riding for several hours in these brutal conditions, the leg warmers were never cold, nor did the warmers get too hot. They were extremely comfortable from start to finish.

The other remarkable aspect of these warmers involved the comfort of fit. There were no scratchy seams to distract us while riding. There were no prickly stitches to pull the hands off the bars in hopes of twisting something into a less aggravating place. No, these sat comfortably against the skin. And what the leg warmers of old from last year struggled with, fabric build up behind the knee, was nonexistent here due to a circular patch of fabric in the flexion area; the more we rode, the more we forgot about the leg warmers. They were that comfortable.

Just like the arm warmers, the leg warmers are side specific. The grippers were quite remarkable in comfort and the fleece lining was just enough to ward off winter gusts and humidity-inflicted chill.

One area of conflict came when pulling the Belgian booties over the shoes for added warmth and noticing the cuffs interfered with the reflector feature on each leg warmer. It wouldn’t be a problem during the day, but in low light conditions it could detract from the extra safety measure. It also blocked the Belgian Boys Club rubber stamp to let anyone grabbing a wheel know you shop for quality.

As the winter season continues in the Northern Hemisphere with an eye on spring, these warmers would be the perfect purchase to nudge the rides back outside instead of on the trainer. When was the last time you updated your deep winter warmers? It may be time take advantage of the expected Belgian Boys Club quality to keep us warm from the ride’s start to its finish.

Belgian Boys Club Eddy Warmers Bundle sell (currently) for €85.00. They come in two sizes, S/M and L/XL. Belgian Boys Club recommends using your bib size to establish your warmer size. They can also be purchased separately.