Leg warmers

markiegrim

As its getting cooler on a weekend morning, I was going to buy some tights. I didn't want bib type, but LBS said elasticated waist type tights tend to come down as the legs flex (although, as I said, I don't get this issue in my shorts)

He said if I was not interested in bib tights (not really...mostly on grounds of cost and minimal use), then I should get leg warmers instead

Was this sound advice? I asked if leg flexing causes long waist tights to ride down, why not leg warmers? Didn't really answer

Any advice? Leg warmers might be good for me as I will be able to wip them off as it gets warmer on Spring/Autumn mornings (when I am likely to do more riding)

Are they comfortable?

Thanks

diamonddog

So if in the opinion of the bike shop the tights would come down as your legs flex why wouldn't the leg warmers do the same, doesn't make much sense to me. I have roubaix bib tights but am considering tights for when it's not quite cold enough for the roubaix bibs.
Get what you fancy the most it's your money.

ForumNewbie

I bought leg warmers from Aldi last year and they're great. The first time I wore them I wrongly put them up over my shorts and they rode down as soon as I started cycling. Once I realised they should go under the shorts with the elastic against my legs, they were great and don't slip down at all.

Initialised

I picked up the Aldi one this year, if I like and use them enough I'll get better ones when they wear out.

nochekmate

Got some Assos legwarmers and they were not that expensive - great bit of kit. Used a tremendous amount - warm enough to wear on all but the coldest of days and can be worn throughout spring and autumn underneath bibshorts. No problems with them falling down.

Legwarmers and armwarmers both well worth getting as part of one's cycling wardrobe!

kentphil

My Endura fs260 pro legwarmers have been great. They didn't slip as I feared they might do. Even after many washes over last winter they are still very good.

anthdci

I usde lidl leg warmers all last winter and didn't have a problem wearing them with bibshorts. Didn't drop down at all. Bought an extra set for this winter they were that good. I don't see the point in paying for bib tights when you have the flexibility of changing between shorts and full lengths so easily.

Anonymous

On days where it isn't quite cold enough for the full winter bib tights, I have taken to using a cheap pair of leggings I bought from Primark (for this purpose) they do me well and don't interfere with the chamois.

markyone

Winter bibshorts for me with castelli nanoflex leg warmers,should be ok for most of the coldest of days.

t4tomo

I use bib shorts plus I have Arm and leg warmer plus a pair of non bib non padded tights if its really cold to go over the bib shorts. I probably use th e arm warders more than the leg warders but both good investments

Didn't see the need to pay for extra bibbing and padding in the winter gear.

smidsy

The leg grippers at the top of leg warmers normally do a good job (as long as you get the correct size).

They are a good option but if it is really cold the shorts are normally the limiting factor (assuming you have normal lycra ones).

You can get differnt thicknesses/materials of leg warmer so you can pick and choose to suit.

They are a versatile option if you are dead against bib tights (which there is no reason to be).

gethinceri

Aldises' leg warmers are the kiddies.

paulorg

I use 1 or 2 pairs of Ron Hill Bikesters with a pair of shorts underneath depending on how cold it is, they're knocking on a bit now so the high back tends to slip down a bit but they have a drawstring so as long as you tighten it up there are no 'modesty' issues. I did buy some Aldi leg and arm warmers this year just to try them out. I've only used the arm warmers so far but TBH I was disappointed, not anywhere near as good as my lusso ones which only cost about £2 more than the Aldis, fit is ok but they didn't warm the arms and weren't thick enough to keep out the windchill. I will try the leg warmers at some point in the next few weeks but I'm not confident.

paulorg

Oh, and sorry, I've only seen Peppa Pig once so I can't really comment on it

cougie

Waist tights are rubbish - they will come down - you need bib tights.

Leg warmers are secured by your short grips and theres less weight in them anyway.

Leg warmers are fine for spring and autumn - but I'd go thermal bibs for winter.

Its all well your leg warmers being thermal - but if you're wearing normal thin lycra shorts....

I have the padless ones and wear over my bib shorts. Bibs all the way !

dennisn

markiegrim wrote:

Are they comfortable?

Are socks comfortable? Are gloves comfortable? Are shirts comfortable? C'mon? :roll: :roll:

clickrumble

I wear tights in the winter as I really can't bring myself to wear something that is called bib, plus it appears there are some practical difficulties associated with wearing bib tights if you are out for a longish ride and need to answer the call of nature. To stop the waist band rolling down I wear braces (I've got some rather snazzy red ones!).

doug5_10

Clickrumble wrote:

I wear tights in the winter as I really can't bring myself to wear something that is called bib, plus it appears there are some practical difficulties associated with wearing bib tights if you are out for a longish ridvarieties e and need to answer the call of nature. To stopv the waist band rolling down I wear braces (I've got some rather snazzy red ones!).

If you're a lady yes, otherwise its a piece of the proverbial urine. You just pull down the front of the bib, those more thermal varieties with higher torso have a zip for convenience. Waist gripper anything feel like a heap of crap once you've tried bibs.

itboffin

Specialised roubaix can't beat em

giant_man

Shorts and leg warmers for Autumn and bib tights for Winter. Very easy really.

cougie

Clickrumble wrote:

. To stop the waist band rolling down I wear braces (I've got some rather snazzy red ones!).

Soooo - you've basically got bib tights anyway.

Back in the day before bibs were available we all used to wear shorts and braces. They were bloody lethal - pinging off your shorts when you're getting dressed. How I didn't lose an eye - I just don't know. Go for bibs.

Pross

diamonddog wrote:

So if in the opinion of the bike shop the tights would come down as your legs flex why wouldn't the leg warmers do the same, doesn't make much sense to me.

Because the leg warmers have very good grippers that are tight to the skin. Waist tights on the other hand can't have a particularly tight waistband for comfort reasons and as they are generally worn over padded shorts so there is a lack of friction allowing them to slide over the shorts and come down.

apreading

I have never had waist tights fall down, nor have I ever had a pair of normal trousers fall down when at work/in the pub etc. I still cant think why this would happen...

I can buy that some cycling jerseys are a bit short so need short/tights with a higher waist than normal to avoid a line of exposed flesh but during winter with several layers on I have never been in a situation where at least one of the top layers isnt long enough.

Dont get me wrong - I am not against bibs per se - I have several pairs of (some expensive) bibshorts and they are fine. I mainly bought them because that seems to be the only way to buy the best shorts with the best pads but I get on fine with them.

The problem I have is that I have tried countless pairs of bibtights and leg warmers from all sorts of manufacturers and they were all too restrictive around the knees and/or too short. Leg warmers almost all fall down if they are not so tight that I cant bend my knees. I have a similar problem with arm warmers and some long sleeve jerseys (although most jerseys are ok) around the elbow.

A couple of years ago, I happenned on some winter running tights from Decathlon. Waist tights that fit perfectly, are warm, allow me to bend my knees properly and stay up somehow...! Wear them all the time - sometimes over bibshorts. I now see no reason to buy anything else - helped by (but not because of) the fact that they are only £12.

I have found one pair of winter leg warmers that work for me - from Funkier. Yet to find any lightweight leg warmers that fir. I must have tried 20-30 other types before I found these. Have yet to wear them on the bike though because my tights fold up just as small and are more comfy.

I did find a couple of pairs of arm warmers - some winter ones from DHB and actually some 'arm-coolers' from Pearl Izumi that make great light arm warmers as well as coolers.

Still cant see why tights would fall down unless you bought some that dont fit at all...

diamonddog

Pross wrote:

diamonddog wrote:

So if in the opinion of the bike shop the tights would come down as your legs flex why wouldn't the leg warmers do the same, doesn't make much sense to me.

Because the leg warmers have very good grippers that are tight to the skin. Waist tights on the other hand can't have a particularly tight waistband for comfort reasons and as they are generally worn over padded shorts so there is a lack of friction allowing them to slide over the shorts and come down.

I hear what you're saying, but I would tend to wear them under my other shorts which in my case they would be bibs but as the OP has said he wears shorts and has never had a problem with them rolling down, but it's up to him what he goes for.

Dezcore

No one else just continues wearing shorts? Just me then, last year only have running trousers over the top of the shorts once it dropped below 0.

Initialised

Dezcore wrote:

No one else just continues wearing shorts? Just me then, last year only have running trousers over the top of the shorts once it dropped below 0.

We have a thread for bragging about that over in Commuting: viewtopic.php?f=40012&t=12807387&p=17464492&hilit=%22still+in+shorts%22#p17464492

I've been meaning to resurect it but I'm rocking the Aldi Leg and Arm warmers so have already disqualified myself.