Winter Cycling - riding below 40F, without tights

I am trying to convince my friend it's not a good idea to ride without tights on cold days. It was 35F, and she arrives at my house bundled up from the waist up, but only riding shorts, socks, and shoes from the waist down. Not even shoe covers. I told her that wasn't good for her legs or knees, but she told me her legs were fine, only her fingers were cold. So we went back to her house so she could get warmer gloves. I couldn't convince her to put on tights. Am I wrong for being concerned? She won't take my word for it I need some facts to back me up. Can anyone help?

Some people can tolerate it more than others. I know people that ride below 40F in shorts with no problems. A little higher percentage of body fat in the lower portion of her body may be the reason. Somehow I don't think I would tell her that though.

Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

If she's not shaving her legs in the winter then she has nothing to worry about.
Ahh..the power of fur...
Enjoy

I saw three folks this morning with shorts, no tights. One guy was in shorts and a t-shirt, no gloves. It was 30-degrees. Their legs were very red.

I saw three folks this morning with shorts, no tights. One guy was in shorts and a t-shirt, no gloves. It was 30-degrees. Their legs were very red.

I rode for years with a Orthopeadic Surgeon. He always kept his knees covered below 40 degrees so I did too and still do. I asked my current Orthopeadic about it. He agreed that keeping your knees warm will liklely aid in maintaining knee health.

Below 60 I like to wear knickers--really just regular pants with the cuffs pegged and rolled up above my calves. It provides a nice loose fit that doesn't interfere with my pedaling and keeps my joints warm. I definitely notice it when my knees get cold, but then I've sort of let myself in for some premature knee problems I think.

Apart from that, my legs can go uncovered down to about 25F or 20F.

Anyhow, if she's not mashing and she's comfortable at that temperature, I think your friend should be fine.

The rule of thumb is that we should cover our knees for all temps below 65F ... it helps keep them healthy.

Velogirl, I've been seing quite a few people riding around the metropolitan DC area in shorts also. Is it a DC thing?

They started to appear as soon as the last snow melted. Maybe they think of the seasons as consisting of either "winter" or "summer." On the other hand, they are probably more comfortable than some of the wildly overdrassed people I see on cold winter days.

Paul

I would love to have temp. that high!

GEEK

Holy Weather Wussies !!

I regularly ride my 10 mile commute down into the teens with only cycling shorts. Then again, up here we consider any winter day which actually breaks above 0°F to be "warm".

No way in heck for me. My knees won't take the cold.

I guess knee warmers are they way to go, then. I'm not sure I buy it tho....

A lot depends on humidity. A high mountain desert winter can be much more tolerable then a cold damp maritine zone where the cold seeps into your bones very quickly.

IF i were going to be without any garment for the 30-40 F range, i would go without tights. The legs generate a lot of heat. I am not sure that i subscribe to all of this "cover up the knees" business. I definitely don't subscribe to covering them under 65 F. When it hits 60 F here, I am going to be celibritory and in my shorts.

I can hardly wait!!!! I always feel naked the first ride of the spring without tights. It feels just about as odd as it does to put them on in the Fall.

As long as you are active, your skin temperature remains warm. The mucsles and joints deep inside are fine. Wearing tights when the temperature is below 60 or 50 or 40 is one of the old tales of cycling...like Italian products are betetr and wool is the best insulator. Do what you are comfortable in.

Each person is different and must determine what level they need on each part of their body.

I always prefer to be too warm and shed layers if necessary. 60F and below, I wear tights.