we need new nomenclature. Now.

SimonAH

Catching a glimpse in the hallway mirror my mouth worked independently of my brain and said "I need new tights"

My wife is currently beating her head with a saucepan in the kitchen trying to stop laughing and my daughter may never respect me again.

Can we rename them Thrustsleaves or perhaps Ballpowergruntcompressors?

meanredspider

There's definitely a marketing opportunity here for somebody - I have to admit that I think twice before using "tights" in company and never "knickers"

meanredspider

In fact, the more words I think of, the more cycling could do with a thorough MTFU of terms

Tights
Knickers
Mitts
Jerseys
Bibs
Leg warmers

are all terms likely to be heard in an old people's home.

Whilst we're at it, some of the sillier French words could go, too. Bidon & musette are two I find set my teeth on edge.

veronese68

I don't wear tights I wear trousers so that's not an issue. I have cycling shorts, t shirts, tops and gloves.
I also wear the trousers in our house, but only when the wife lets me.

DrLex

MRS - sound more like items in "Flashdance" or "Fame". I just refer to "bike kit", in a bloke-y way.

notsoblue

Being self-conscious about how you look in lycra is a slippery slope...

Kieran_Burns

I was sat at my desk at work musing about how warm it was this evening, turned to my workmate and said "how warm is it outside?" (he smokes)

He replied it was pretty mild, about the same as yesterday...

I then said "yeah I was just wondering whether to wear my tights on the way home"

he replied "and your name at the weekend is...?"

rjsterry

SimonAH wrote:

Catching a glimpse in the hallway mirror my mouth worked independently of my brain and said "I need new tights"

My wife is currently beating her head with a saucepan in the kitchen trying to stop laughing and my daughter may never respect me again.

Can we rename them Thrustsleaves or perhaps Ballpowergruntcompressors?

Clearly you are not projecting enough manliness. If you need to resort to making up names for items of clothing, then I think you've already lost.

Here's a man that didn't get laughed at for wearing tights

veronese68

rjsterry wrote:

Here's a man that didn't get laughed at for wearing tights

Only because he'd have your head cut off if you did.

cyclingprop

Mockery in the office stopped shortly after I held serious conversations before I'd changed out of the bibs. I.e. crotch at eye level.

notsoblue

Veronese68 wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Here's a man that didn't get laughed at for wearing tights

Only because he'd have your head cut off if you did.

None of that namby pamby changing of nomenclature...

sketchley

notsoblue wrote:

Being self-conscious about how you look in lycra is a slippery slope...

I look great in Lycra, especially in my red bib shorts and matching red top.....

jonny_trousers

SimonAH wrote:

Catching a glimpse in the hallway mirror my mouth worked independently of my brain and said "I need new tights"

My wife is currently beating her head with a saucepan in the kitchen trying to stop laughing and my daughter may never respect me again.

Can we rename them Thrustsleaves or perhaps Ballpowergruntcompressors?

Totally agree! Why don't we go the whole hog and start calling jerseys 'bra's and our shorts 'panties'? It's an outrage I tell ya! Right, I'm off to get my gear on for the trip home; I've got a lovely new Assos suspender belt to go with my Rapha stockings.

PBo

notsoblue wrote:

Veronese68 wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

Here's a man that didn't get laughed at for wearing tights

Only because he'd have your head cut off if you did.

None of that namby pamby changing of nomenclature...

Catholic -> C of E?

bails87

Ms Bails calls my bike kit my fetish gear....

majormantra

Just call them "longs". Or wear shorts all the time and HTFU.

Greg T

Call them tights - screw them all...

also, Bib tights should be called suspenders. or just actually wear suspenders. Man The Feck Up and wear birds webbing..

Cafewanda

daviesee

Cafewanda wrote:

A simple response but so, so effective

tc345

In rowing circles tights are known as leggings, which to my ears is slightly less emasculating.

I still don't understand why they are called knickers either. Anyone care to enlighten me with some etymology?

meanredspider

tc345 wrote:

I still don't understand why they are called knickers either. Anyone care to enlighten me with some etymology?

I get the impression that, in ye oldene dayes, male & female clothing terms were more interchangable. Football socks are still called stockings by some, trousers were "hose" (hosiery), and so on (I'm making this up). I think knickers were as much a male garment as a female garment. Cycling being the last bastion of conservatism (small C) (see disc brakes thread), the terms have stuck...

Fireblade96

Mrs. FB calls my bib tights "your wrestling outfit".
:oops:

Clever Pun

I've done the wrestling pose a couple of times in bibs... soon puts any mocking to bed.

I wear
shorts
3/4's
longs
Arm warmers are the embodiment of mtfu as you leave the house in a tshirt essentially

majormantra

tc345 wrote:

In rowing circles tights are known as leggings, which to my ears is slightly less emasculating.

I still don't understand why they are called knickers either. Anyone care to enlighten me with some etymology?

I think it's from knickerbockers:



I thought it was only Americans that called the cycling garment knickers though. Over here they should be "3/4 longs" or 3/4 tights".