Exte Ondo Knickers Review

I broke down and used some of my award money to buy Exte Ondo Knickers from Terry. This morning it was cool enough to give them a test ride. In a word, WONDERFUL. The best knickers I've ever worn (have tried Terry's knickers, PI sugar knickers, and witches britches). Worth the cost? Yes.

Don't have to say just how beautiful these tights are in terms of styling, color, etc. Fit is true to size (like Louis Garneau). The fabric is comfy and supportive, and inside, it's fleecey so it will keep you warm. It actually was a bit warm--57 degrees--for the knickers, but I stayed comfortable and dry. I can see wearing these knickers in temps down to temps down to 40 or possibly, 35 degrees. The chamois is excellent. Not bulky but provides tons of cushioning.

Call it fate---came home today to find them here at TE, so of course, I bought another pair!

I saw them in a catalog with the matching jacket - awesome.
It almost makes me wish it got cold enough in L.A. to wear them!

A question... does the brand have a smaller Euro fit (ala Castelli)?
I may try their lighter fare in the future.

You mean the new ones in pistachio and orange?? I've been not looking at them- especially the pistacios. Must resist.

Thanks for the review. I ordered a pair of Assos knickers that haven't come in yet. If they don't work out, I'll give these a try.

V.

For those of you who love knickers, I just have to ask: if the temp is below 55, why not just wear full-length tights? I have two pairs of tights, and a pair of legwarmers, and I guess I just don't "get" knickers. It seems like if they are warm ones, you'd need to keep your calves warm too. I can see very lightweight ones for slightly cool rides (say 55-65 degrees) better than heavier, fleecy ones for even cooler temps, like mickchick mentions. If it's 35-45 degrees, I want full tights!

Please enlighten me! :)

Thanks,
Emily

Emily, if it's below 60, I wear full length tights of varying wamrth thickness.
But I wear knickers in the warm weather, not shorts. Two reasons:
1) I tend to get colder more easily and to not overheat and get sweaty like most people I know.
and 2) At 52, I have some cellulite and some varicose veins and I just hate how shorts emphasize these features. Kickers smooth everything out, cover my back-of-knee veins, and to me they just feel wonderful. :cool: I find knickers/capris to be very comfy all summer, and they look flattering. If i want, in the cold weather I can also put some favorite chamois capris or knickers under a non-chamois cold weather full length tight, and there is no sausage elastic look at mid thigh because the knickers end right below the knee and it doesn't show.
Knickers and capris are not for everyone I'm sure, but perhaps you can understand now why one person at least likes them! ;)

I love my knickers for much the same reason. (Ibex wool www.ibexwear.com)

I am of course stunningly beautiful and svelte (ha ha) but prefer to wear knickers or skorts rather than bike shorts.

Haven't been in anything cold enough here yet to need more than my knickers, but if I do need tights I'll probably get a pair from Ibex.

I wore them yesterday morning for a 47 degree ride -- I've never been so comfortable! The fit is perfect, the cleverly cut panels just conform to the natural body curves so nicely. And the fleeced fabric was so nice & toasty! Also very pleased with the chamois -- one of the 4-way stretch varieties, but it seems to have a very thin, stiff layer inside the sandwich for protection, somewhere in between the Castelli YPro, the Descente Strata & the Craft. Very high marks for this piece of gear. I have a 2nd pair on order, too!

Emily -- I used to say the same thing about knickers. If it's just a bit cool I'll wear warmers, and once it gets cold give me tights. Hubby converted me to a knicker fan big-time because they are perfect for all the in-between. Around 55-65 degrees, I'll wear a light-weight lycra knicker. Below 55, I want a heavier-weight, fleeced knicker. It's not my calves that get cold, it's higher up. And even if I put on a heavy pair of warmers, I always have this gap between the top of the warmer & the bottom of my jacket or jersey that gets raw & chilled. The knickers solve that problem. Because I wasn't cold down there, I felt nice & warm all over. I was in absolute heaven.

Also, knickers are significantly lighter than full-length tights. Once it gets below 45, I'll probably be in tights. But tights, because they go all the way down your leg, feel more restrictive & heavier in pedalling. I feel like I'm wearing a ton of clothes. Knickers don't give you that pulling sensation, so you still feel light & easy on the bike, much like you feel in shorts.

And another reason I love, love, love knickers -- I ride early in the morning before work, so I am always in a mad rush to get out the door. If I wear warmers & shorts, it's 3 pieces of clothing to put on versus just one with knickers. Saves me a valuable few seconds, and some mornings, every second counts!

Hmmm... there's no sizing chart. That makes it hard to tell what to order, since the sizing across various companies is so different.

V.

V---The sizing is similar to the LG wicked expensive shorts--I wear small in the LG's and the small in the knickers were dead on perfect. Cut is a bit more forgiving than the Castelli shorts, which I've found to be too tight in the thighs but fit OK in the hips/waist. I guess Italian chicks don't get big quads, unlike Irish/American girls like myself. ;) You can always send them back and exchange them if they don't fit. TE carries the orange but not the pistachio (Terry has both colors).
These shorts will make your butt look great, Nanci. You need to get a pair and treat yourself.
They are beautiful and also will make you ride more.

I want to get the matching Goiz jersey when it comes in so I e-mailed TE about sizing. They don't have the Etxeondo sizing chart, but it is form fitting. One of the gals tried on the sample and they recommended I use Castelli sizing for ordering.

Those TE gals are just too cool.

They really lood great, except....why on earth do they have to put their white reflective logo name stamped right smack in the MIDDLE of your cheek!! Is that attractive?? Couldn't they put the white logo name off to the side somewhere??

The Assos knickers have been on order for two weeks. What do you bet TE gets these to me before I get the Assos ones?

V.

Okay, I broke down and bought the matching set of Etxe Ondo Oyama knickers/Goiz jersey.

My first impression? LOVE IT. LOVE IT. LOVE IT. Superior workmanship, great fabric and top notch design. This is an outfit I would love to wear all winter long. Yeah, it was pricey, but it was worth it.

Then the bad news... it doesn't fit. :(
In street clothes I wear 0-2 and figured I could get away with ordering a size small, since euro sizes run a bit small. The Goiz jersey in small is probably close to an American size 4. The sleeves were long but the oversize was most noticeable on my shoulders, as the fabric was bunching up around my neck. Maybe if I had a decent set of b**bs it would have stretched it out better.
The Oyama knickers were too big as well, and not suited for my petite (aka stumpy) legs. I have no a** (the widest point around my hips is 31") so the chamois stuck out quite a bit in the rear. Like the upper version, if I had a decent set of cheeks it might have fit better. My guess is that the knickers is closer to an American size 6.
These are heading back to TE. I am so disappointed, they are such lovely clothes.

I have to figure out a way to get taller.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

They really lood great, except....why on earth do they have to put their white reflective logo name stamped right smack in the MIDDLE of your cheek!! Is that attractive?? Couldn't they put the white logo name off to the side somewhere??

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Actually, I don't think it looks that bad on my butt. :D I haven't ridden in them yet, but they passed the initial try on test.

TE rules... still waiting on the Assos knickers.

V.