Road Cycling - Winter Riding, Leg warmers or tights?

I'm not a big fan of cold weather, you'd think by now we'd have figured out a way to get rid of this winter idea. That aside, I'm considering buying some tights to warm me up a little. How do they compare to leg warmers? Can somebody recommend a good pair?

I use a pair like this in temps down to 20F.It works for me but everybody has a diffirent tolorence for the cold.You can find them here. http://www.coldlizard.com/cgi/wc.dll?GEKKO~catalog~DETAIL~36
As for how do they compare to leg warmers I don't know I don't use them.

I find leg warmers as efficient as tights from a warmth point of view, but generally prefer tights. I use leg warmers when the ride starts cold but is likely to warm up rapidly, they are easier to remove and stow. Leg warmers tend to slowly float down your thighs and sometimes open up a gap. Brands: anything around $30-40, usually on sale at Performance, Nashbar or Sierra Trading Post.
My Hind arm warmers are thinning out alarmingly even with only sporadic use.
Steve

Agreed with sch, but they don't creep down if you put your shorts on so the grippers are over the leg warmers. Usually. I do warmers in cool weather, tights that are basically the same material as the warmers in cooler weather, and Pearl Izumi Amfib tights if it's cold. If it's really cold, I've got a pair of gore tex cycling pants from Performance that I hook up. They rock. Remember, layering is the key to staying warm, but not too warm.

I use tights over shorts for the reason Steve mentions... warmers tend to gap between the shorts. I've got a heavy pair for cold weather, made by Bellweather, which have been great. I also have a thin pair (no insulation, sort of a heavy set of nylons, that just block wind) for cool mornings, etc., branded as Trek, don't know the actual mfg.

Had my leg warmer 3 years now and they never creep down.With tights,thats more pairs to have vs shorts all the time w/warmers as needed.

I used to use tights, but I switched to leg-warmers this year. My problem with the tights was that I didn't like the multiple layers around my waist. With leg warmers, this is not a problem. I also have not experienced a problem with the leg warmers creaping down my legs yet.

i wear knee warmers down to about 8c, and tights belows that. i rarely have the need to peel off leg warmers when it's that cold, so tights do the trick.

i also do cyclo-cross, though, and knee and leg warmers fall down and tights-over-shorts tend to snag on saddles, so i also wear padded bib knickers and padded bib tights.

I have lightweight tights for when its cool and a pair
of heavy bib tights I bought for a song at HHH.
I've worn leg warmers but being as I have chicken legs
they don't hold up well.

Marty

I've got the opposite of Lotek's legs- and those leg warmers just don't do the trick for me, whether I tuck them under my shorts or wear them over tights.

This year, I bought some good woolen tights, and I'm scrapping the tights altogether. I have such a crazy shape that those things never work for me.

On the other hand, I have pretty big biceps and triceps (for a chick), so the arm warmers work perfectly. I love 'em. The only problem I have now is that when I wear long sleeve shirts, I can't take off the arm warmers. Still, I don't mind being overly warm if need be. I hate being too cold.

Koffee

cwodave,

I ride with polypro long underwear under biking shorts. This is about the same as tights, but a lot cheaper. I ride in a very rural area so I do not care what people think about the appearance.

Just thought I would post this solution that has worked well for me.

I use 'em all: fuzzy, warm bib tights, bib knickers, leg warmers, and non-thermal tights. Whatever I can get my hands on to keep the lower half warm. And I live in an area where we usually only have a few frosts during the winter.

BTW, if you find that you have tights that ride down wear them with a pair of suspenders (they're cheap and good from KMart). Makes them almost as good as bibs.

Rich

IMHO having both leg warmers and tights gives you a lot of versatility. Just like sch was saying, warmers are handy on mornings when the ride starts out really cold, but warms up later. Then you shed and pack them and you're really comfy with just shorts. What I do to keep them from sliding down is I've sewn small patches of velcro (the loop side) to the lateral (outside) sides of my shorts kind of high up by my hips. Then also small velcro patches (the hook side) to the corresponding spot on the warmers. They never slide down now, works great :)

But on rides when you know it's going to be cold throughout the whole ride, riding tights with chamois (with nothing under them) are a bit more comfy. There are a number of good makers: Pearl Izumi, Canari, etc., with different fabric weights for corresponding coldness. Then of course when it gets really cold, overshoes help keep your feet a bit warmer. Just my $.02. Good luck!

The problem with padded tights is one of laundry. You need to wash them, like shorts, after every ride. With a short + tights combo, you can wear the same tights over a clean pair every day.

Some leggings have modern advanced features like "pockets". These are really useful for keeping "things" in.

For some reason I don't like tights. But I found a store that carries thin black poly/cotton sweat pants,which I quite like.

Another alternative would be a full set of thermal underwear t-dyed in black :)

I'm not a big fan of cold weather, you'd think by now we'd have figured out a way to get rid of this winter idea. That aside, I'm considering buying some tights to warm me up a little. How do they compare to leg warmers? Can somebody recommend a good pair?

Castelli bib tights are the best I've used. I'm just on my way out the door now for a early Saturday ride (it's 48 degrees) and I'm wearing my Castellis. They have the Progetto Y2/VT pad and are as comfortable as a standard pair of Progetto bibs.

The only tights I've worn in the past were ones that are designed for running so they don't have the extra padding around the butt area. I really like my bicycling shorts because of this padding, so, are tights also available with this same padding? If so, who makes 'em?

I really like my bicycling shorts because of this padding, so, are tights also available with this same padding? If so, who makes 'em?

Check most any bicycling mail order/online catalog. Most offer tights with a chamois. I wear the shorts with chamois under my tights.

I really like my bicycling shorts because of this padding, so, are tights also available with this same padding? If so, who makes 'em?

Canari makes tights with padding. Basically the same padding they use in their shorts and it's also affordable. Good product.

Regards.

Koffee didn't mention it but womens shorts are 3-5" shorter than mens shorts so the gap problem with leg warmers is much worse. I also ran into light wgt tights that are like heavy pantyhose and sell for $10-15. They are tailored for men (or women) but it was not clear if the construction was that much more robust than regular panty hose, which tend not to last more than a dozen of so wearings, occasionally not even one wearing according the SO. Steve

Once it starts getting cold for real, I wear tights over my bib shorts. Thin running tights down to about 40F, and heavier polartec tights when it's colder. The bibs prevent the "double waistband" problem.

I also use leg- and arm-warmers in changeable spring and fall weather.

RichC

i start naked. then i put on arm and leg warmers (pretty, huh?) then its the tights with chamois and a jersey (with hood if its clean - my wife says i look like a sperm, but its warm)
then its another, heavier jersey and a windbreaker vest.
socks and gloves and i'm off.

How can you get a gap with leg warmers?

If they fit, they should come up almost to the top of your leg. Put them on first, then put shorts on over the leg warmers. They should have good elastic to hold them up. Same for knee warmers.

I use both....I have bib tights that I put on over shorts for colder days and use leg warmers for days under 55 degrees, thigh wramers for days warmer than that, up to 60 degrees. Also depends on the wind...if I am riding 25 MPH, it's 50 degrees and I am riding into a 20 MPH wind, it's pretty freakin' cold.

I also switch off arm warmers with a regular jersay, add a vest, long sleeve jerseys, and a heavier "coat/jersey" with a tall collar to keep the wind off my neck. Under the coat, wear a ski type undershirt with a insulated chest area that is wonderful.

I just bought a pair of "Zoic" knickers from Performance Cycles. These things are badass! I'm very impressed with the quality. They have bike shorts built right into them. 90$ retail, got them for $40 on sale. Yee-haw.

Do any riders there feel that they are too tall for full bib tights. At 6'2'' I find that full bib tights feel too restrictive for the leg movement. As a result I use waist tights without a bib under shorts. I have though considered leg warmers though possibly in combination with bib knickers as oppossed to shorts.
Interested to hear opinions from anyother tall riders.

Do any riders there feel that they are too tall for full bib tights. At 6'2'' I find that full bib tights feel too restrictive for the leg movement. As a result I use waist tights without a bib under shorts. I have though considered leg warmers though possibly in combination with bib knickers as opposed to shorts.
Interested to hear opinions from other tall riders.

Keith - I'm 6'1" 72kg and wear size large Castelli full bib tights and find them to be plenty roomy. They're actually a little loose around the midsection compared to regular bibs. My cycling inseam is 35.25 so the legs actually run a tad bit short but with winter wool socks and shoe covers, there is still enough overlap to get by.