Leg Warmers or Bib Tights

Personally I just bought some tights to go over my bib shorts. They do the job really well and also mean that if I'm cycling and find that I'm getting too hot then I can just take them off. Plus I can wear them for short local rides to friends houses, where I don't really feel I need the padding from my bib shorts. The ones I bought are these http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-vaeon-rouba ... ist-tight/

Bought some Funkier thermal bib tights, nice fit but actually not warm enough when it gets near 5deg C. Bought some Endura leg warmers, and they are actually warmer, party due to the fact that I themn have 2 layesr over my quads. I also have the option of using my non-thermal leg warmers over the bib tights...non padded bib tights over shorts also have the benefit of 2xlayers over your quads.

I have both. These http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-pace-superr ... bib-tight/ and some dhb leg warmers. The bib tights keep my legs warm, but the leg warmers do a good job there too. The difference i find is water retention. The warmers tend to hold water when they get wet, and the tights do a much better job of keeping water repelled.

My vote is resoundingly for bib tights.

It's worth noting that for training and sportive events 'the professionals' will often wear knee or leg warmers when many amateurs would wear just shorts, and tights when many amateurs would wear knee or leg warmers; wearing tights from as early as late August*. That's not to say that they do it and therefore so should you, but being cold doesn't do any good for you either. I used to wear shorts all year round but now that I wear tights (just unpadded DHB ones over the top), I don't think I would want to go back.

*See for example:

Flasher wrote:

Both, when it's cold and going to stay that way (winter) use the bib tights, when it's cold but looks like it may get nicer (autumn/spring) use warmers, and take them off once warmed up.

+1

Leg warmers have their place - but winter isnt it. Get some nice thermal tights to wear over your shorts. I guess your shorts are just Lycra ? So your thighs and bits would be colder than the rest of your legs if you got thermal legs.

Sorry - half hijacking this thread but I'm after a few opinions on padded and non-padded bit tights and regular, non-padded tights.

I'm currently wearing padded bib-shorts and leg warmers and I'm about to start shopping for tights. So I can go and get proper padded bib tights but then I see a few posts about wearing unpadded bib-tights over padded bib-shorts. What are folks pros and cons for this.

Similarly, if I've got padded bib-shorts on, why would I wear unpadded bib-tights, if I could get unpadded tights to wear over the top without the braces?

Regarding unpadded vs padded, it really just comes down to how comfortable your shorts are and how often you're likely to want to wear tights. If you're happy with the comfort of your shorts and don't want to spend too much go unpadded. if you are happy to spend a bit more go padded, as even if you are happy with your shorts then wearing them all winter will only wear them out faster.

Personally I prefer padded just for the simplicity, the DHB Vaeons are pretty unbeatable in the 50 quidish price bracket.

Also you seem to be thinking about getting normal waist tights instead of bibs if you're wearing them over bib shorts? This is a mistake, one of the advantages of bibs is the fact that you don't need an elastic waistband which causes discomfort.

I find it unbelievable that people are still wearing shorts/warmer combos, I wear tights pretty much from late September! :oops:

As above you need to stop that velcro rubbing somehow.

Gore stuff is excellent quality, not personally a fan of the styling but if you like it then I don't think you can go far wrong with it.

Looks wiseI like Castelli and exteondo stuff, quite expensive but then so is Gore I think.

If you like it go for it though, I don't actually particularly dislike any of Gore's styling there's just others I prefer. It's certainly not in any way offensive and they do have a very good reputation for quality. To be honest if you're buying tights then they'll just be plain black anyway I imagine?

I mentioned earlier about DHB tights, for the price they are superb. I reckon you'd have to spend near enough £100 before you found a product that was notably better.

I've got short legs so have given up on tights, never found a pair which felt right, but do have a couple of pairs of 3/4's that I wear from time to time usually on the MTB. This year however I've gone for a pair of thermal shorts (assos T.607) with leg warmers, so no folding up at the bottom, knees in the wrong place etc. etc. so find it miles better for me.
£20 replacing a pair of leg warmers was also cheaper than a new pair of tights after putting a big hole in one of the knees after a recent off as well.