Tights

OK. I will bite. How about " When it is more comfortable wearing them than not wearing them."

As a general rule, I usually wear my tights if it's 60°f or below.

Below 50F, I'm usually packing three layers up top and two pairs of gloves. My legs don't get cold enough for tights until about 40.

40's...or I start getting too hot after about a mile into my ride.

Thanks. that's what I thought, when its more comfy to where them then not. At least they can be rolled up small and stored in a jersey pocket or whatever.

joetronic said:

Thanks. that's what I thought, when its more comfy to where them then not. At least they can be rolled up small and stored in a jersey pocket or whatever.

I hope that means you're planning on tights over shorts rather than padded tights. :eek: On long rides that start on cold mornings, I use a second bottle cage and some rubber bands to stash the extra layers as they come off.

I start at about 15 deg's C, prefer to be too warm than cold as you can cool down on a bike but hard to warm up if cold.

I'd say mid 40's. Until that level it's either regular bibs are might add in some knee warmers. They seem to be good for most cold rides as your legs stay pretty warm and the gap between sock top and warmer bottom is rather short, kinda like having a bit of a breeze blowing on that skin.

I get cold very easily for some reason compared to everyone else here. When it drops below 60 the tights come on

artmichalek said:

I hope that means you're planning on tights over shorts rather than padded tights. :eek: On long rides that start on cold mornings, I use a second bottle cage and some rubber bands to stash the extra layers as they come off.

of course. I have paddless nike tights. Over shorts. Normaly my rides start out around 55ish, and end around high sixties this time of year. the second bottel cage is a good idea, I might need to try that.

joetronic said:

the second bottel cage is a good idea, I might need to try that.

It works pretty well as long as the roads are dry. If it's raining, your clothes are going to get blasted with dirt.

Anything below 60 and I wear light weight tights, although I also consider the wind, as it has a drastic effect on how cold it actually feels. I switch to heavier tights if below 40.

joetronic said:

At what temp do you all start wereing tights. this is my first winter cycling and i picked my first pair up form the LBS today. I was just wondering when you all start where ing them?

thanks
Joe

16C and below : but you´ll often see the pros out in them at higher temps , do they know something we don´t ?

ps don´t forget the advantages that leg warmers have over tights when it´s not too cold .

You have to protect your knees! Just thin layer of skin covering that blood starved knee joint is what protects you. Add a 15-25 mph wind to cyclingspeed and that alot of windchill even at 60/65 F.

For training rides, I normally do, if I get warm I can always remove the warmers while riding.

Right around 67 F I use knee warmers/arm warmers till maybe 50 F. I'll race with these too till 40 F.

Between 60-42 F I use full leg/arm warmers w/ a fabric vest, skull cap, and long fingers "dot' gloves. Either Pearl Izumi or Gioradana warmers work fine for me.

Below 42 F to 30 F I use some sort of windfront tight that covers the knee and quads (bellweather makes nice Versatech tight, that is very light to wear and excellent mobility).

Below 30 F to 10 F I use the Pearl Izumi Am-Fib tight, which keep me warm, but are not the best in terms of mobility. It is some sort of laminate fabric with a triple knee. Gore Windstopper fabric would be great for these temps, too.

road demon said:

You have to protect your knees! Just thin layer of skin covering that blood starved knee joint is what protects you. Add a 15-25 mph wind to cyclingspeed and that alot of windchill even at 60/65 F.

For training rides, I normally do, if I get warm I can always remove the warmers while riding.

Right around 67 F I use knee warmers/arm warmers till maybe 50 F. I'll race with these too till 40 F.

Between 60-42 F I use full leg/arm warmers w/ a fabric vest, skull cap, and long fingers "dot' gloves. Either Pearl Izumi or Gioradana warmers work fine for me.

Below 42 F to 30 F I use some sort of windfront tight that covers the knee and quads (bellweather makes nice Versatech tight, that is very light to wear and excellent mobility).

Below 30 F to 10 F I use the Pearl Izumi Am-Fib tight, which keep me warm, but are not the best in terms of mobility. It is some sort of laminate fabric with a triple knee. Gore Windstopper fabric would be great for these temps, too.

Can anyone else give me their input on the Pearl Izumi AmFib bib tights? Would they be too hot if I'm training/racing in North Carolina, Virginia, etc?

Or would the Nike Windfront bib tight be just fine?

Thanks

ghostpedal said:

Anything below 60 and I wear light weight tights, although I also consider the wind, as it has a drastic effect on how cold it actually feels. I switch to heavier tights if below 40.

I do the same. Under 60 lightweight tights. Under 50 heavier weight.