General Cycling Discussion - tights

I have had one complaint about all the tights that I have purchased. Believe it or not, they aren't tight enough. The crotch hangs down and gets stuck on the seat which sometimes can be very dangerous. Any suggestions? I recently received a catalogue from Nashbar that speaks of a form-fitting tight. I'm thinking about ordering one. Is this a good solution?. Or am I going to experience the same thing all over again.

have u tried smaller sizes???

It’s one out of two:
1) You think they are tights but they really aren’t
2) The size is too big. Not sure what size you need, go to LBS and try some on.

I don' t think it's a size issue. I think I have purchased the right size, at least for the waist.

I don' t think it's a size issue. I think I have purchased the right size, at least for the waist.

well, try just pulling them up higher. bicycle clothing often has a longer rise because it is designed to be pulled up to just below your belly button. the idea being that when you bend over on the bike, and your jersey rides up, your a$$ doesn't stick out.

I have the same problem with every pair of tight I own (Pearl Izumi and Sugoi)... they start out ok but a few times on and off the bike and they slide down pretty bad. Its disasterous in CX races where you're dismounting and jumping hurdles and then trying to remount quickly.

My tights are the same. I just wear my shorts over them rather than under them.

You might consider gender specific clothing. A lot of tights are unisex and seem to have a higher rise. I have several pairs of heavyweight tights and the ones that are gender specific (men's) seem to have a lower rise and don't bag at the crotch. Just a suggestion.

'bent Brian

well, try just pulling them up higher. bicycle clothing often has a longer rise because it is designed to be pulled up to just below your belly button. the idea being that when you bend over on the bike, and your jersey rides up, your a$$ doesn't stick out.

I have to pull some of my shorts up past my bellybutton.

My tights are the same. I just wear my shorts over them rather than under them.

I thought about that but it seems it would somewhat defeat the purpose of a chamois in the shorts since you are no longer making contact with the chamois, but rather you are sitting on the seam of your tights.

get bib tights

Pull them up like your old high school government teacher did his! Some shorts have to be pulled up to your navel or higher. Bib shorts will fix the problem. You'll wear a jersery over the top of your shorts anyway.

get bib tights
I was about to say that :D . With all that clothes under and on top of your tights they will slide down no matter what. When it got cooler, I started wearing my summer shorts over bib tights and they slide down because they don't have any shoulder straps. GET bibs. Don’t just go by the waist size. If it was that, I could wear XXL, but my true size is medium. All cycling tights/shorts are very elastic and stretch. Most importantly, you have to look at how they sit on your legs, then your waist

get bib tights


Seconded.




Er..... thirded

In the olden days folks could buy plain old white elastic suspenders at the bike shop. Now days you men have an incredible selection of bib tights, bib shorts, bib knickers . . . no excuses for droopy drawers.

Get Bibs.

Don't know why I did it..But I bought a pair of Performance Triflex Tights w/o a chamois..Regret that now..So I guess I have to wear my regular cycling shorts on the inside..My lighter tights have a chamois, but not my wamest...A mistake...
Don't guess a pair of regular shorts under a unchamoised pair of tights adds to chafing.