Superman or hidden away: tights and shorts

CJ Bill

With the mornings getting colder I've already had a few days of wearing tights. I have a couple of pairs of unpadded tights for autumnal use that I wear with old padded shorts and I've always put the shorts over the tights. However, getting changed at work last week one of the other cyclists there was putting his shorts on then tights.

So out of a spirit of idle curiosity which way you go about layering?

UndercoverElephant

Shorts first, then tights - that way you actually get the benefit of the pad.

CJ Bill

UndercoverElephant wrote:

Shorts first, then tights - that way you actually get the benefit of the pad.

Good point!

Agent57

I have two pairs of padded bib tights.

Even on the -7 degree mornings, I've never felt the need for more than one layer on my legs; but if I were layering unpadded tights and padded shorts, it might depend on which I had more pairs of. If I only had one pair of tights, I'd definitely put them on the outside so I didn't need to worry about washing them as often.

Other than that, I've never really thought about it, so don't really know what I'd do.

An advantage of tights over the top is that it's easier to take them off if you decide you're too warm, I reckon.

Could try leg warmers instead (which would go under the shorts).

Mrs_Ragbrutty

I actually 'won' my padded tights in a race. Love them. Don't know how I coped before. Oh yes, running tights over shorts.

adr82

I only have a single pair of padded tights, so if they're in the wash I just use a pair of shorts + a set of knee/leg warmers. Never thought of trying to do any more layering than that... the tights are warm enough as it is!

SimonAH

Sorry...am I understanding the question correctly?

1) Shorts UNDER tights??? Have you seen what a toddler wearing a nappy under tights looks like?? Scale this up to six foot.....

2) Shorts OVER tights???? It's not Superman that is coming to mind, more one of those creepy guys that live in their mother's basement and attend a lot of conventions.

You may wear EITHER shorts or tights.
If wearing shorts you may also wear undergarments.

roger_merriman

Since it's commuting, none of the above since I use el cheapo work trousers that dry in no time.

asprilla

SimonAH wrote:

Sorry...am I understanding the question correctly?

1) Shorts UNDER tights??? Have you seen what a toddler wearing a nappy under tights looks like?? Scale this up to six foot.....

2) Shorts OVER tights???? It's not Superman that is coming to mind, more one of those creepy guys that live in their mother's basement and attend a lot of conventions.

You may wear EITHER shorts or tights.
If wearing shorts you may also wear undergarments.

I'm making the assumption that only the tights OR the shorts have a pad.

Padded bib shorts with unpadded tights is the way forward.

DonDaddyD

I go for the Spider-man look:



tights over or under shorts restricts the thighs.

SimonAH

DonDaddyD wrote:

I go for the Spider-man look:



tights over or under shorts restricts the thighs.

Tee hee, spoderman has a stiffy!

bobbygloss

Tights over padded bib shorts.
But I've also got a pair of unpadded bib tights. What to wear under these? Bib longs over bib shorts seems silly, and normal shorts would defeat the purpose of having bibs.

Wrath Rob

Tights under shorts means that you need to wash both every day. Tights over shorts means you can keep the tights going for longer. Also makes sense given that you probably also have more shorts than tights.

CJ Bill

SimonAH wrote:

You may wear EITHER shorts or tights.
If wearing shorts you may also wear undergarments.

Undergarments? Undergarments!? My girlfriend wears undergarments under her cycling shorts on a monthly basis, a gentleman goes commando, period (or lack of).

On reason tights and shorts is good for me is that I have a couple of pairs of old shorts (Endura MT500s) that are unsuitable for wear on their own due to wear and tear, but still have good padding in them.

SimonAH

Aha, in this context I was referring to baggies...