Winter Cycling - who makes a good pair of male knickers?

So Alabama does not get that cold during the winter months, so I am looking into getting a pair of knickers (for my b-day in 6 weeks or so), but my FBS did not have their winter catalogs in yet, and they did not have last years any more, so they asked me to find what is out there and then they will get them for me (at a great rate).

So my questions is who makes a good pair of male knickers? Can you get them with and without padding? I was thinking about getting some without and wearing my short underneath, is that a bad idea?

thanks

You might want to check out WWW.worldcycling.com the are located in my city and they carry nice stuff. They use to have some.

I think I asked around the BF last Winter about this and a couple of folks suggested Defeet Kneeckers. I bought a pair and they are just about right for our Winters. If you aren't too tall you can adjust them from knee warmers to almost full leg warmers.

[edit]: I see you are asking for knickers not knee warmers. My bad. Still, if you want knee warmers Defeet Kneeckers are pretty nice.

I don't think you can get knickers without a chamois (padding). You can find tights without it, though.

The easiest solution to your dilemma is to go buy some knee warmers from one of the many manufacturers: Voler (http://www.velowear.com), pearl izumi, Assos, De Feet, Castelli etc, all can be found online, try Colorado Cyclist (http://www.coloradocyclist.com) for a good variety and prices. That way you start your ride with them on, if it becomes to warm, PRESTO! no more knee warmers and that allows you to continue to wear your favorite pair of shorts. Buy full leg warmers if you think that will be necessary and unzip them to cool down a bit.

I bought a pair of knickers from Voler (http://www.velowear.com) and really like them for the price. If you need warmer, go for some with the Roubaix fabric, it's like a micro fleece on the inside of the knickers that will give more warmth than the regular lycra knicker. Assos is supposedly "the best" but also the most expensive. Good luck.

is there any real advantage to knickers vs shorts + knee warmers or rolled up tights? Just wondering as i'm trying to figure out what cool/cold weather clothes i need.

is there any real advantage to knickers vs shorts + knee warmers or rolled up tights? Just wondering as i'm trying to figure out what cool/cold weather clothes i need.

In the spring and fall the shorts leg/knee warmers have an advantage. Here in MN August has been cold. Ride to work might be 42 and the ride home 75 so the ability to remove the leg warmers is nice. Rolling up the knickers can feel like you just put a rubber band on your leg.

Here in MN I start with the arm and leg warmers then if the temp really drops I put Gore-Tex bib tights over that.

Not sure where you live but arm and leg warmers would be my first buy. They are even great on cold summer rain days. A medical bike site was talking that below 65 a cyclist should keep their knees covered.

Cheers

The reason that I was looking for something like knickers is that all of my shorts are very light weight, and thus not very good and keeping my upper legs and waist area warm, so my thought was that if I got some knickers they would be of a heavier weight, and thus keep my warmer that way
Alabama falls/springs are really not that bad, last year we were in the 80's the first week of Nov. so what I am looking for is something that can carry me through Dec. Feb. and March. where our highs are in the 50s-60s area (Jan. highs are usually in the mid 40's)
That and the fact that knee warmers are cheap compared the knickers, so I would rather buy the knee warmers myself and get knickers for my bday

I have yet to buy a pair of knickers...Maybe , just I do not like the word!!
But I see the functionality of them..Especially here, when even in winter the early AM can be quite chilly but before Noon, it can be warm.
Part of the reason I have not..Knee warmers..I like them if you can get them to stay up...These seem to be a better replacement of knickers? Don't knee warmers do the same thing? Plus they give you more options..If you have great knee warmers, would you still see a need for knickers?

The reason that I was looking for something like knickers is that all of my shorts are very light weight, and thus not very good and keeping my upper legs and waist area warm, so my thought was that if I got some knickers they would be of a heavier weight, and thus keep my warmer that way
Alabama falls/springs are really not that bad, last year we were in the 80's the first week of Nov. so what I am looking for is something that can carry me through Dec. Feb. and March. where our highs are in the 50s-60s area (Jan. highs are usually in the mid 40's)
That and the fact that knee warmers are cheap compared the knickers, so I would rather buy the knee warmers myself and get knickers for my bday

Most knickers are the same weight as shorts. If you looked at the Voler (http://www.velowear.com) site, they have two types of knickers, like most manufacturers. The first is the "normal" weight, 8 oz. knicker, equals their typical short fabric; and then there is the 9.5 oz weight "dryline" or something like that. They are a heavier and warmer fabric... Most companies, such as Assos, have the lycra knicker, and the Roubaix fabric knicker. It sounds to me as though you are more interested in this, the Roubaix, style. Most knee, leg, and arm warmers are made from this material, so expect to be warm. Just for a temp comparison check out World Cycling Production's (http://www.worldcycling.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=Bibs&ti=Bibs&tn=1) break down of bibs, click the one you are interested in and it'll give you a temp range for that short. Here's another from ChicagoBike (http://www.cbike.com/assoswinter.htm).

Like I said before, there are many different companies who make these types of shorts, the key is the one that fits you the best and is most comfortable.

chef- those two website are great, i like the temperature reference

so everyone is saying that the knee warmers are the way to go, so my question is... are they the way to go b/c they are cheaper or b/c they can be lowered when it becames warm? Do knee warmers come in the lighter weight and the roubaix weight?

thanks for all the input, I still do not have a clue what I need, but all the information has been great

maybe in a cooler climate than here..My point about knee warmers...I like the ability of taking them off and putting them in your jersey pocket when it hits 70 degrees. I have two sets of knee warmers..My black pair by PI is thicker than my green pair by Voler.
If it gets below 43 degrees and does not significantly warm up later, I would think thick tights would be in order and not knickers. ?