Talk to me about legwarmers

Ben6899
Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
edited June 2013 in Commuting chat
I'm currently wearing these legwarmers: http://shop.craftsports.us/leg-warmer-3d-31378.html

However, they have seen so much wear that they're see-through on the knees. So I need some new ones. Do I go like-for-like (these have been great) or is there a better deal elsewhere?

Your considered responses are appreciated in advance.
Ben

Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/

Comments

  • spasypaddy
    spasypaddy Posts: 5,180
    i use the louis garneau ones, they are good
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  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    I have Gore ones; they are totally useless. Just about ok on the bike, but off the bike they go Nora Batty within seconds, and soon afterwards they fall down completely. Gore knee warmers are almost as bad.
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • dhope
    dhope Posts: 6,699
    If prev ones have been great, get them again.
    The Rapha ones I have have been good, but I'd probably only buy them in the sample sale again.
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  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    DHB Roubaix ones for me, they were great over winter and cheap as potatoes
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

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  • msmancunia
    msmancunia Posts: 1,415
    Castelli for my (ahem) curves.
    Commute: Chadderton - Sportcity
  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    spasypaddy wrote:
    i use the louis garneau ones, they are good

    Same here.

    But its now summer, so man up and just wear your shorts until autumn comes around
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  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    t4tomo wrote:
    spasypaddy wrote:
    i use the louis garneau ones, they are good

    Same here.

    But its now summer, so man up and just wear your shorts until autumn comes around

    Very fair comment. But what about grabbing a pair inevitably on sale because it's now summer and I should MTFU? :)

    By the way, the horror stories of legwarmers going all Nora Batty are making me think I should stick with what I know.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • walkingbootweather
    walkingbootweather Posts: 2,443
    I useful video on how to wear legwarmers here.

    Fortunately I have legs like Jane Fonda so can carry them off :wink:
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  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    walkingbootweather wrote:
    I useful video on how to wear legwarmers here.

    Fortunately I have legs like Jane Fonda so can carry them off :wink:


    More valuable instruction here
    rubertoe wrote:
    DHB Roubaix ones for me, they were great over winter and cheap as potatoes


    Yup, I've got those as well and they are great. They even have little pink accents to they match my Rapha gear.
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  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    +1 for DHB.
  • anonymousblackfg
    anonymousblackfg Posts: 2,029
    I have no opinion, but Knee warmers are such a better look, if going down this route, get yourself some DHB's
    If I know you, and I like you, you can borrow my bike box for £30 a week. PM for details.
  • essex-commuter
    essex-commuter Posts: 2,188
    Il Principe wrote:
    +1 for DHB.


    Yep.
  • samsbike
    samsbike Posts: 942
    Just to buck the trend I have some endura ones and they were lovely last year.

    Didnt slip or fall down and have a little zip at the bottom to help seal them. They are also nice and long so I can cover the top of my boots to stop water slipping in.

    recommended.
  • clarkey cat
    clarkey cat Posts: 3,641
    I wear Shutt legwarmers and they are good.
    Dolan Mythos
  • veronese68
    veronese68 Posts: 27,882
    samsbike wrote:
    Just to buck the trend I have some endura ones and they were lovely last year.
    I've got a pair of those, had them a couple of years and am happy with them. The reflective bits started peeling off after 18 months, turned out the EPO had taken to turning on the washing machine without her glasses and had been washing stuff at 90'C so not the fault of the knee warmers.
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  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    anonymousblackfg wrote:
    I have no opinion, but Knee warmers are such a better look, if going down this route, get yourself some DHB's
    Horses for courses, you really want a pair of each. Knee warmers are great when it's 7 or 8 degrees, but by the time it's pushing zero I want to protect my calves too. For those days when it's freezing first thing and then tops out at 15 degrees, leg warmers are the only option.
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    msmancunia wrote:
    Castelli for my (ahem) curves.

    You do know your supposed to wear them on your legs right?
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    TGOTB wrote:
    anonymousblackfg wrote:
    I have no opinion, but Knee warmers are such a better look, if going down this route, get yourself some DHB's
    Horses for courses, you really want a pair of each. Knee warmers are great when it's 7 or 8 degrees, but by the time it's pushing zero I want to protect my calves too. For those days when it's freezing first thing and then tops out at 15 degrees, leg warmers are the only option.

    Ehm, those days full bib longs are the only option really. Leg warmers are a compromise.
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  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    gabriel959 wrote:
    TGOTB wrote:
    anonymousblackfg wrote:
    I have no opinion, but Knee warmers are such a better look, if going down this route, get yourself some DHB's
    Horses for courses, you really want a pair of each. Knee warmers are great when it's 7 or 8 degrees, but by the time it's pushing zero I want to protect my calves too. For those days when it's freezing first thing and then tops out at 15 degrees, leg warmers are the only option.

    Ehm, those days full bib longs are the only option really. Leg warmers are a compromise.

    So are bib longs, unless you want a sauna experience on the way home. The only real no-compromise solution is bib longs, and shorts in the bag for the evening ride (though that's a compromise because you have to carry them).
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Anything that allows me to wear just shorts more is a Good Thing. Leg warmers do that - I'm with TGOTB.

    Knee warmers are a waste of time :wink:
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  • petemadoc
    petemadoc Posts: 2,331
    I have some Assos leg warmers, they feel nice and stuff but they slip down pretty quickly

    I have some Castelli knee warmers too, they're good and don't slip. Might get the proper leg warmers.

    No need for them now until the Autumn really.
  • itboffin
    itboffin Posts: 20,072
    I have Rapha and dhb and neither is anywhere near as good as spesh roubaix

    That said if it's just the keep the summer nip at bay just rub on some Rapha embro creme, but don't over do it.
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  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Thanks for the contributions, everyone.

    I struggle with my calves in colder temperatures so I need to warm them up carefully on early outings. I think this stems from playing football on heavy council pitches in a previous life, and not stretching/massaging my calves properly afterwards.

    Anyway, I digress... it's a toss op between the Craft ones again of the dhb ones, which seem to get great reviews here.
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    Specialized, they stay put and are multi panel so fit well and the back is a lighter fabric
  • Daz555
    Daz555 Posts: 3,976
    Having never worn leg warmers in any UK weather, I'm interested to know how cold it has to be for people to don them?
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  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    2 or 3 degrees for me
  • Ben6899
    Ben6899 Posts: 9,686
    Daz555 wrote:
    Having never worn leg warmers in any UK weather, I'm interested to know how cold it has to be for people to don them?

    It needs to feel like less than 10C, for me - so a cold morning with a stiff breeze will do it at this time of year. Do you go straight to tights?
    Ben

    Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
    Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    knee warmers 10c to 5c

    full bib longs less than 5c.
    x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
    Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
    Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
    Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra
  • rubertoe
    rubertoe Posts: 3,994
    i love my leg warmers,

    Alot easier to discard than tights if you get warm...
    "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got."

    PX Kaffenback 2 = Work Horse
    B-Twin Alur 700 = Sundays and Hills

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