Too cold for shorts?

cedargreen

This is a plea on behalf of all those cyclists who, like me, feel the cold. Whether it's because, like me, you're 9 stones of skin and bone or just a wuss there is one sight guaranteed to make you feel even colder as you cycle to work on dark, frosty mornings.

Cyclists wearing shorts in the depths of winter. Don't these people feel the cold? Don't they realise the effect they're having on mere mortals like me?

More importantly, don't they realise that they'll knacker their knees? I don't care how fast you ride, commuting doesn't generate enough heat to keep knees warm in winter- and the faster you ride, the greater the wind chill factor.

If you are one of the shorts-in-the-depths-of-winter riders, do yourself (and everyone else) a favour and get some tights. Your knees will thank you, even if workmates/ friends/ family subject you to ridicule.

Matt the Tester

just got tights sunday went out saturday and sunday and my legs where cold as hell untill i got used to it.

prawny

Yep mis-judged it yesterday and went to work in shorts, I was in agony at lunch, my knees were really stiff. Just in light tights today, really knee warmers would be best but I haven't got any yet.

Jamey

Wore my bib tights for the first time (this winter) today and while they were a lot warmer I'm sure they restricted the spinnyness (technical term) of my legs quite a bit. Maybe I'll get used to it.

northstar

Wearing shorts will make you faster, that aside it really isn't that cold at the moment.

biondino

Jamey wrote:

Wore my bib tights for the first time (this winter) today and while they were a lot warmer I'm sure they restricted the spinnyness (technical term) of my legs quite a bit. Maybe I'll get used to it.

I always feel this for the first 30 seconds or so but they never actually seem to slow me down so it's probably a red herring.

Jamey

Yeah, I don't remember thinking the same last year so must be a contrast thing.

cedargreen

northstar wrote:

Wearing shorts will make you faster, that aside it really isn't that cold at the moment.

How do shorts make you go faster? And what sort of time advantage would they give you on a 10 mile commute?

Big Wib

cedargreen wrote:

northstar wrote:

Wearing shorts will make you faster, that aside it really isn't that cold at the moment.

How do shorts make you go faster? And what sort of time advantage would they give you on a 10 mile commute?

you think 'f**k its cold' and pedal faster

Headhuunter

Most people I see on my commute in London are still wearing shorts. They wear a long sleeved jacket of some kind but not that many in tights yet. I'm still wearing shorts! Grrr!

MonkeyMonster

Lycra shorts and ss jersey for the full manly experience...

Bikequin

Its not that cold - MTFU. :twisted:

ride_whenever

I agree in principle for keeping knees covered in winter, but 3/4 are the only manly way to go. Full length are only for sub-zero temperatures.

prawny

ride_whenever wrote:

I agree in principle for keeping knees covered in winter, but 3/4 are the only manly way to go. Full length are only for sub-zero temperatures.

True but shorts and 3/4's look pony with overshoes, and I can't have me tootsies getting cold.

Stuey01

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Lycra shorts and ss jersey for the full manly experience...

I prefer a geared jersey

Clever Pun

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Lycra shorts and ss jersey for the full manly experience...

short sleeve? jessy.. no sleeves HTFU

ride_whenever

prawny wrote:

ride_whenever wrote:

I agree in principle for keeping knees covered in winter, but 3/4 are the only manly way to go. Full length are only for sub-zero temperatures.

True but shorts and 3/4's look pony with overshoes, and I can't have me tootsies getting cold.

MTFU, or get some gore-tex shoes.

MonkeyMonster

Clever Pun wrote:

MonkeyMonster wrote:

Lycra shorts and ss jersey for the full manly experience...

short sleeve? jessy.. no sleeves HTFU

That only works because you are part bear and your shoulders are hairier than your chin!

Was pondering some 3/4 over shorts for when its sleeting at -5 any sugs for quite breathable ones?

Oddjob62

cedargreen wrote:

If you are one of the shorts-in-the-depths-of-winter riders, do yourself (and everyone else) a favour and get some tights.

How is that doing everyone else a favour? My knees are fine, probably due to the fact that riding fixed means they never stop moving.

T-Shirt and shorts all through winter for me again this year

amnezia

it is not too cold for shorts.

rmhodv

amnezia wrote:

it is not too cold for shorts.

It all depends on what time you set off in the morning. This morning when I set off @ 6.30 it was foggy and the outside thermometer was reading 3 deg C. Too cold for short I think.
Also as my commute is quite long 15 miles each I don't what to knacker my knees, and be unable to cycle. all for the sake of not wearing my tights.

monkeyjo

I started wearing my winter tights yesterday. The problem is that it's about 8 or 9°C in the morning when I leave the house but 16°C on the way home. So I can either be comfortable in the morning but too hot coming home, or cold in the morning but comfortable when I ride back.
Think I might stick with the first option.

georgee

For god's sake, it's chilly, so long finger gloves are out, but still plenty good for shorts. plea all you like to others, but just do the decent thing and admit the game is up for you, you're weak.

Men wear shorts, women wear tights.

As conery taught us, winners go home and fcuk the prom queen, loosers stand about and whinge (you'll get colder stood still instead of pedalling!)

roger_merriman

i used to wear shorts all year around as a postie, no bike as the lay of the land wasn't suited to postie bikes.

Is there any evidence that cold knees damage?

northstar

Big Wib wrote:

cedargreen wrote:

northstar wrote:

Wearing shorts will make you faster, that aside it really isn't that cold at the moment.

How do shorts make you go faster? And what sort of time advantage would they give you on a 10 mile commute?

you think 'f**k its cold' and pedal faster

He knows

pastryboy

rmhodv wrote:

amnezia wrote:

it is not too cold for shorts.

It all depends on what time you set off in the morning. This morning when I set off @ 6.30 it was foggy and the outside thermometer was reading 3 deg C. Too cold for short I think.
Also as my commute is quite long 15 miles each I don't what to knacker my knees, and be unable to cycle. all for the sake of not wearing my tights.

I leave at the same time and do a similar distance - normally wear shorts but today was damn cold so the leg warmers were out. That fog was ridiculous as well - at one point I couldn't see more than about 6ft in front of me.

If I left an hour later I'd be fine in shorts and could probably get away with short sleeves too.

PARIS75

Ron hills in and shorts home

acidstrato

"NESH" look it up

i will wear my shorts for as long as possible because I am a man and I wont be seen to be weak or inferior!



but i got tights ready in waiting

SmellTheGlove

Max Walls both ways today (not the wig) - but too warm on the way home really. Shorts packed as backup tomorrow.

snakehips

SmellTheGlove wrote:

Max Walls both ways today .

Somebody else old enough to remember Max Wall !!

I am undecided about shorts , I probably stick with them when it's too cold , but it's the short sleeves that I can't understand. Some people even wear vest like tops with no sleeves even on the coldest days.

Siamo tutti farabutti

hugh1982

Wore bib tights for the first time ever on my way home last night. Christ alive, i was absolutely roasting hot - definitely going for shorts until it gets much, much colder.

Could be that i'm just a sweaty git though...