stringbreaker

I have been bike commuting for 4 years now and today was the first time I ever had a problem with wearing jeans and those lightly padded briefs from REI. Seems where the inside leg seams and the seams from the front and back of the jeans all meet caused a more than mild shall I say (*&^% painful hot spot. I now am on the lookout for a pair of pants that does not have that style of sewing and I'm thinking something like Grammici pants from REI or maybe since its getting cooler a pair of lightweight fleece anything with flat seams or whatever it will take to rid me of the agony I felt today. What would be a decent cool weather tight to wear over a pair of padded bike shorts?

MNBikeguy

As you've experienced, jeans had never worked for me.
I wear fleece over riding shorts on cool days. As it gets progressively colder, polypro long johns under fleece, then long johns under windpants. All combinations lack raised seams.

stringbreaker

I've ridden in jeans lots of times but I think its just the one pair I had on today since I rode Monday and Wednesday with no problems but I'm rethinking the whole jeans thing since they are so bulky if I need to put on rain gear. I have a pair of fleece pants so I think I'll give them a try over a pair of bike shorts next time. I hate it that I will need to change when I get to work since I work in a factory and fleece pants just won't work. Guess I'll have to put the other pannier on the bike and do the changing routine in the mens room.

dedhed

I wear these craft ski pants over bike shorts when it cools off. brushed fleece inside, wind proof nylon out side, full length zippers for ventilation. Not rain gear, but will work in most rain. Super comfy and the side zips let me adjust as I warm up.

https://www.craft-usa.com/cra_shop_zo...id=678&bcsex=m

stringbreaker

These are similiar to yours I think. I ordered a pair to see how they work. https://www.rei.com/product/786461

QuickityJacks

cycling shorts/chamois + cutoff clam-diggers made out of Old Navy cargo pants = great comfort totally worth occasionally pirouetting into the wall and conking my dome on the handicap rail while trying to change in a bathroom stall without taking off my shoes.

MNBikeguy

I've got those pants and really like them.
I see they're on sale for a lot less than I paid.

stringbreaker

Glad to know someone has experience with them

chipcom 

You might also want to check out Borah Freedom pants
https://www.universalcycles.com/shopp...2&category=238

stringbreaker

Look interesting and comfortable. What is the fabric? Is it like a nylon or more like cotton?. Are they good for cooler conditions without wearing a base layer? How do they fit over bike shorts? Sorry for all the questions but I would like to know your experience with them and how they perform for your conditions. I'm really looking for something that will be warm but not hot. Jeans are ok till about 40 degrees then they start to let in too much cold.

hairnet

A friend suggested these pants, but they're expensive
https://www.swrvecycling.com/knickersMensCotton.html

stringbreaker

Without a doubt. I wouldn't spend that kind of money on cotton pants

MNBiker

I, like MNBikerguy, also have the Novara (REI) Headwind bike pants and like them a lot. I have had them about two years.

They are not tremendously insulating, but are very good at blocking the wind from chafing your legs. The front side is made of a wind-blocking material and the back of the legs is made of a more breathable material so they let out moisture well, unlike some nylon windproof pants I have which get wet inside when I am biking with them.

They are not skin tight so I can wear a pair of synthetic long underwear or mountain bike shorts under them when it gets quite cold.

They also are narrow at the ankles so they don't get in the chain, and they have a zipper near the ankles so you don't have to take your shoes off to get them on and off.

chipcom 

I normally wear my J&G patrol pants with wool or polypro long johns when it gets under 32F or so. But the Patrol Pants are going on their 4th year and another pair would cost me about 100 bucks, so I got these Freedom pants to try out. They are warmer by themselves than the patrol pants are, and still have enough room to wear long johns under if I need to - but they don't stop the wind too well. So probably not good under 40 without an additional layer.

Another alternative I am looking at for colder temps are these
https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/tights.htm#thermalpants
though they are as pricey as my patrol pants, they look to be much warmer by themselves.

a1penguin

I went to REI today and I tried on and liked the Headwind pants. For $55, I don't think I'll be able to do any better. And they aren't tights, so I can wear leg warmers and a base layer under them. They'll be perfect for CA winter riding.

chipcom 

I ordered the Headwinds to give them a try...got them yesterday, wore them this morning, low-40s. They are definitely warmer than either the Borah or the J&G pants, because they block the wind better. I prolly should have got the XL instead of the XXL, but oh well, room for longjohns isn't a bad thing.

I still want to try those Aerotechs too, but at a 100 bucks, I am trying to remember that I really don't need them.