Winter wear on the lower half

alpineaddict
alpineaddict Posts: 247
edited October 2014 in Road general
Hi folks

Poss a stupid question but those who wear full length tights under bib shorts for winter rides... Do you just double up on the chamois, or are the full length tights 'sans' chamois????

Any recommendations on winter tights, (full or 3/4) would be great... I usually prefer to be colder at the start and warm up as I heat up quite quick...

Thx in advance folks..
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Comments

  • Bobbinogs
    Bobbinogs Posts: 4,841
    There's a lot of variety as to what folks wear, which depends on the type of riding (hard riding means less clothing) and personal preference/body fat, etc.

    In previous years I wore normal summer weight bib shorts with chamois-less over tights (actually, some nice Nike running leggings) which worked very well. Last year I bought some Castelli Nanoflex leg warmers and wore them with my summer bib shorts and they were great (no need for anything else...so I will be doing the same this year).

    Try and keep your feet warm as that can make a difference (oversocks work well, as do winter boots , etc., and some decent socks).

    A lot of folks ride in bib tights which can be worn on their own (with a built in chamois) or the chamois-less version over the top of bib shorts. I have tried bib tights but never found a pair I liked as much as my regular bib shorts.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Usually I wear my shorts as ever with bib longs and no pad over the top when its cold.

    If its not too cold - then shorts and knee warmers or 3/4s.
  • alpineaddict
    alpineaddict Posts: 247
    Thx dude... Never seen any 'chamois-less' bib tights in the UK... and since moving to bib shorts/tights I can't stand wearing anything tight around my waist like running trousers etc...

    Will def look into the leg warmers though...

    Will keep looking though thx
  • danlikesbikes
    danlikesbikes Posts: 3,898
    Have a set of these which are chamois less

    http://www.shuttvr.com/shop/productdeta ... ib-Tights/

    Though bought mine In the sale not at that price, plenty of good deals right now though
    Pain hurts much less if its topped off with beating your mates to top of a climb.
  • danlikesbikes
    danlikesbikes Posts: 3,898
    madasahattersley wrote:
    A pair of roubaix tights does me. Never doubled up the shammy and never worn a set of tights over a set of shorts. Winter tights are designed to be ridden with nothing underneath them.

    Presume you mean tights with a pad are meant to be .... As opposed to tights without which are designed to be worn over cycle shorts.
    Pain hurts much less if its topped off with beating your mates to top of a climb.
  • alpineaddict
    alpineaddict Posts: 247
    Ok, so Im looking at these...

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/endu ... -prod9289#

    and these to wear with my bib shorts????

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... rod122505#
  • alpineaddict
    alpineaddict Posts: 247
    Danlikesbikes wrote:
    madasahattersley wrote:
    A pair of roubaix tights does me. Never doubled up the shammy and never worn a set of tights over a set of shorts. Winter tights are designed to be ridden with nothing underneath them.

    Presume you mean tights with a pad are meant to be .... As opposed to tights without which are designed to be worn over cycle shorts.

    But you often see folk out and about with shorts over black tights...
  • sloppyschleckonds
    sloppyschleckonds Posts: 8,019
    Assos LL's
    I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles
  • danlikesbikes
    danlikesbikes Posts: 3,898
    alpineaddict wrote:

    But you often see folk out and about with shorts over black tights...

    Leg warmers
    Pain hurts much less if its topped off with beating your mates to top of a climb.
  • letap73
    letap73 Posts: 1,608
    SloppySchleckonds wrote:
    Assos LL's


    +1
  • k-dog
    k-dog Posts: 1,652
    I ride a lot of the year in bibs and leg warmers - can get a bit of a chilly willy sometimes though. When it's colder I have wind proof longs for over shorts. Less laundry that way - obviously I wash the shorts after each ride and the longs less often.
    I'm left handed, if that matters.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    alpineaddict wrote:
    Thx dude... Never seen any 'chamois-less' bib tights in the UK... and since moving to bib shorts/tights I can't stand wearing anything tight around my waist like running trousers etc...

    Will def look into the leg warmers though...

    Will keep looking though thx

    You would wear the unpadded waist tights over the bib shorts if you did it at all.

    If you have bib shorts on underneath, the waist tights do not have to be that tight and you are less likely to feel the waist through the bib shorts anyway.
    Why would you want two sets of bib straps if you did get unpadded bib tights??

    I find leg warmers a pain. Knee and arm warmers work well, but leg warmers are just a compromise.
    I would try to get some decent padded bib tights.
    They will be far more comfortable.
    They will probably be a more suitable material.
    They will breath better than 'doubling up'.
    You can get foot loops (which I find great in winter/on tights).
    You are not wearing out your summer bib shorts (inc. increased possibility of coming off on winter roads and trashing them if they are expensive).
    You get the feeling of a new pair of bibs every 6 months.
  • prhymeate
    prhymeate Posts: 795
    alpineaddict wrote:
    Ok, so Im looking at these...

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/endu ... -prod9289#

    and these to wear with my bib shorts????

    http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shim ... rod122505#

    I usually just wear unpadded tights over my bibshorts. Seems to make more sense to me, as I only need to buy one pair of really good quality bibshorts with a nice chamois and can just pop the tights on top.

    I've actually just ordered a pair of those shimano bib tights though, with the extra 10% off code they seem really good value, so thanks for the link.
  • alpineaddict
    alpineaddict Posts: 247
    No thank you Prhymeate... Totally missed the 10% discount so you saved me a bit of money... Have ordered a couple of sizes in both as I find it so hard to judge... With free returns seems stupid not to...

    :D
  • dowtcha
    dowtcha Posts: 442
    alpineaddict wrote:
    No thank you Prhymeate... Totally missed the 10% discount so you saved me a bit of money... Have ordered a couple of sizes in both as I find it so hard to judge... With free returns seems stupid not to...

    :D

    Was tempted by these a few weeks ago but unsure about the sizing and dont have free returns, will you follow up with the sizing. I am 75kg and 175 tall and thinking large as its a japanese brand
  • alpineaddict
    alpineaddict Posts: 247
    Dowtcha wrote:
    alpineaddict wrote:
    No thank you Prhymeate... Totally missed the 10% discount so you saved me a bit of money... Have ordered a couple of sizes in both as I find it so hard to judge... With free returns seems stupid not to...

    :D

    Was tempted by these a few weeks ago but unsure about the sizing and dont have free returns, will you follow up with the sizing. I am 75kg and 175 tall and thinking large as its a japanese brand

    Will do... should be with me in next 48 hours... About the same size as I am about 75kg and 180 tall...
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLPXCRWT/p ... ter-tights

    Unpadded tights for winter.
  • epo.wks
    epo.wks Posts: 47
    You can't go wrong with a pair of winter roubaix material shorts teamed with some leg warmers, especially if you heat up quite quickly.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    epo.wks wrote:
    You can't go wrong with a pair of winter roubaix material shorts teamed with some leg warmers, especially if you heat up quite quickly.

    What happens if you heat up quickly?
  • epo.wks
    epo.wks Posts: 47
    Carbonator wrote:
    epo.wks wrote:
    You can't go wrong with a pair of winter roubaix material shorts teamed with some leg warmers, especially if you heat up quite quickly.

    What happens if you heat up quickly?

    Spontaneous combustion.
  • Tjgoodhew
    Tjgoodhew Posts: 628
    I just go for a normal pair of bib shorts with leg warmers if really cold and then some overshoes with nice thick socks to keep my feet warm.

    From years of playing football in pretty rough conditions my legs dont tend to feel the cold too much so as long as my top half is warm then i tend to be fine.
    Cannondale Caad8
    Canyon Aeroad 8.0

    http://www.strava.com/athletes/goodhewt
  • MichaelW
    MichaelW Posts: 2,164
    How do you manage the call of nature (ie taking a pee, not listening to birdsong) when all togged up in bibshorts, layers, jacket, unpadded tights etc.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Zips are wonderful inventions. Its not that much harder than with just bibs ?
  • Simmo72
    Simmo72 Posts: 262
    +1 on roubaix material, I can only speak from experience but recommend the DHB full and 3/4 tights. Very warm without getting hot and I think they are a more comfortable fit than their summer gear. Prices still good but they are steadily creeping up....some might say cashing in, others might say knowing they have a quality product.
  • alpineaddict
    alpineaddict Posts: 247
    Thx again all... I'm hoping the Endura 3/4 length bibs do the trick personally...

    I do tend to heat up quickly so would rather have that little bit exposed to keep cool...

    Thx and i'll let you know how I get on with the Shimano ones as well... Then I need to focus on my top half ;) Might visit the Aldi thing next Thursday...
  • lakesluddite
    lakesluddite Posts: 1,337
    MichaelW wrote:
    How do you manage the call of nature (ie taking a pee, not listening to birdsong) when all togged up in bibshorts, layers, jacket, unpadded tights etc.

    Just imagine Houdini getting out of a sack within a chained up suitcase...a bit of time and lot of digging around!
  • prhymeate
    prhymeate Posts: 795
    Dowtcha wrote:
    alpineaddict wrote:
    No thank you Prhymeate... Totally missed the 10% discount so you saved me a bit of money... Have ordered a couple of sizes in both as I find it so hard to judge... With free returns seems stupid not to...

    :D

    Was tempted by these a few weeks ago but unsure about the sizing and dont have free returns, will you follow up with the sizing. I am 75kg and 175 tall and thinking large as its a japanese brand

    For what it's worth, mine arrived this morning. I'm 190cm and 78kg and found that the Large size fits best. The material on the front of the legs is slightly different to the back, as if it has a windproof coating or something. They come up quite short on me, about 2 inches above my ankle, and are a little lose around the knees. Personally, I'm going to return them, as my dhb roubaix unpadded tights are more comfortable and a better fit. I imagine they could get too warm as well as my dhb tights are fine in the middle of winter yet the shimano's are slightly thicker.
    All of that said, you could do a lot worse for just over £30 and if I didn't have any tights already I might keep them.
  • Buckie2k5
    Buckie2k5 Posts: 600
    alpineaddict wrote:
    Thx again all... I'm hoping the Endura 3/4 length bibs do the trick personally...

    I do tend to heat up quickly so would rather have that little bit exposed to keep cool...

    Thx and i'll let you know how I get on with the Shimano ones as well... Then I need to focus on my top half ;) Might visit the Aldi thing next Thursday...


    If my legs get cold i find my toes get cold/numb a hell of lot quicker and numb toes in winter is brutal.
  • KnightOfTheLongTights
    KnightOfTheLongTights Posts: 1,415
    alpineaddict wrote:
    Thx dude... Never seen any 'chamois-less' bib tights in the UK... and since moving to bib shorts/tights I can't stand wearing anything tight around my waist like running trousers etc...

    it is an ongoing MAJOR gripe of mine this. I just don't understand it - and the irony is you can get them but only the really fleecy thick ones which are too warm for the winter in this country.
    Thanks to pointers on this forum I've managed to locate what appear to be the right thing online - but guess what? No Small, no Medium. Pretty much discontinued.
    viewtopic.php?f=40042&t=12976038

    We just need THIN PADLESS BIB-LONGS.
    Please.
  • alpineaddict
    alpineaddict Posts: 247
    Well, my Endura 3/4 Thermals and the Shimano full length padless have turned up today... Will be trying on later so will let you know how they are...

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