Northern Californians: Knee or Leg Warmers?
 

I'm looking to do my annual EP order with Capo pretty soon and am mostly loading up on socks as I go through them like nobody's business.

I'm also going to get a second pair of arm warmers, as my performance this Sunday showing up to an early-morning charity ride with a single arm warmer was quite amusing (what's even more amusing was my taped shoe after an unfortunate SIDI buckle mishap...).

But the real nagging question for me ride now is - leg warmers or knee warmers? I've had a pair of leg warmers, which have been thoroughly shredded...they never felt inadequate, and have at times seemed more than adequate, although not overbearingly so. I'm just trying to figure out what most people wear - I adhere to keeping my knees covered in anything under 70 degrees, but don't ever really get bothered by cold legs during the winter.

I typically race without warmers, and just do embro.

Anyway, incoherent babbling and over-informing aside, please let me know your opinions.

Full leg coverage for me, would it be lack of etiquette to simply unzip and roll up your leg warmers to make them knee warmers?

Interesting thought.

I'm good with shorts and knee warmers down to the high 40s. Below that, and I go with tights over shorts. I also have one very well-worn pair of roubaix knickers that can bridge both temperature ranges. Are knickers available in this order? They tend to be expensive, but from your description I have a feeling you may like them.

I never wear my leg warmers. There's no window of conditions, or range of conditions during a ride, that isn't adequately managed by either tights or knee warmers.

I winter ago I wore leg warmers, all last winter I got away with knee warmers. I saw a bunch of people with leg warmers. I think it's an individual thing.

I go with either full leg warmers (especially if there is a chance it willget warm enough later to take 'em off and stuff 'em into a pocket) or my 25+ year old wool tights (especially if it is clear that it is never going to get warm that day).

I think leg warmers give you more bang for the buck than knee warmers do. Of course, this opinion is worth exactly what you are paying for it.

For me, knee warmers is good enough unless it gets into the 20's. For most winter days, knee warmers is sufficient. Plus, it doesn't take as much room to stuff in your jersey pockets when the sun does come out.

Knee-high socks. Duh.

Anything above 60 degrees and I opt for short sleeves and my bib shorts.

That being said, i probably wear knee warmers here more than full length leg warmers. I would say 90% of the time my knee warmers with a long sleeved jersey and gloves is more than adequate.

Knee warmers.

Unless you plan to ride at 5am/6am in the dead of winter where it may drop to mid 30's, you don't need full tights.

If the weather calls for leg warmers then I go for a run.

I do it all. Generally knee warmers. I like the option of taking them off, and they aren't too big. But I have leg warmers, knickers, fleece knickers, tights with chamois and tights without to wear over bibs for when it hits 30.
I commute by bike and temps can really change from morning darkness to afternoon sunlight.

But usually, on "real" rides, knickers if I don't think the weather will change, or knee warmers if it will.

Bib Shorts and knee warmers
 

I commute to and from work leave the house early so knee warmers I wear everyday and coming home in the afternoon I just pull the off and cycle home in my shorts. Same for weekend rides in Marin we leave early ride along the coast and turn inland and around 10 o'clock it warms up enough to take off the knee warmers. So I am all for knee warmers. I have several pair, going from light weight to full thermal.

Knee warmers - they pair well with bib shorts down to the low 40's per caloso's post. When it's colder than that, I start wanting more warmth further above the knees before worrying about the bottom part of my legs....

Well, thank you all for the input - knee warmers it is. Here I come, Capo Padrones!

I picked up my first pair of knee warmers tonight. I was thinking they would be much more packable than leg warmers, but at least in Pearl Izumi's case, they're not that much shorter than full leg warmers.

Knee warmers, mostly, but I just got some bib knickers which I'm looking forward to using. I have leg warmers but never use them; if it's cold enough for full leg warmers, it's probably time for tights.