round-the-bend

... with or with out chamois? Which is best?

CastIron

Depends. I have both.

botto 

i prefer without.

round-the-bend

Depends on what? With the padless ones you have to wear bib shorts underneath, right?

jjiggajouncer

i have both. i like both.

jjiggajouncer

well, you don't have to, but it would be advisable.

El Pelon

Wish I could be of help . . . here in San Diego, my winter cycling gear consists of thicker socks and a pair of arm warmers that I break out about twice a year.

CastIron

The padded ones are great for cool weather and rain. You don't have a pile of stuff you don't need. The unpadded ones are great for when it's cold out and also commuting, oddly enough.

Like I said, depends on use. In my climate, both proved a sound investment.

botto 

good to know that there is at least one positive thing about living in san diego.

rail157

With the padless ones, you have the advantage of being able to wear your quality bibs year-round, as well as the bonus of not freezing to death.

ridethecliche

+1

SKYLAB

I'll be breaking out the tights any day now, we had our first frost this weekend. I prefer a pair with a thin felt lining, unpadded.

round-the-bend

Is it uncomfortable wearing two lots of bibs?

timmhaan

i like without... as i usually combine them with a pair of shorts.

botto 

no.

CastIron

It isn't. But understand you're wearing two (perhaps more if it's frigid) layers of elastic clothing. You won't move quite as freely.

caloso

I prefer without. That way you can use them for running and skiing too.

AnthonyG

If you know that you are going to be wearing the tights the whole time of the ride then I prefer to have the chamois in them and ONLY wear the tights. Without the chamois is good for when your wearing them only to warm up and then you will take them off such as in a race situation. Having both knicks AND tights with a chamois is definitely too much and I find that when I wear non-padded tights over knicks that the tights move around too much for my liking.

Regards, Anthony

Szczuldo

thats what leg warmers are for and some warming oil. Don't need tights to warm up. Just get quality tights with a good chamois and you're all set. Once you get going you'll be warm enough. The main parts to remember to keep warm are your chest, your hands and your feet, your legs can handle cold but if your feet and hands are cold you just don't feel comfortable at all. Long sleeve jersey with a long sleeve baselayer, bib tights with padding, warm gloves and booties should serve you well. Winter is the expensive part of cycling apparel.

mloywhite

I have both, but always go for the unpadded if both are clean. My padded ones are fine, but I would rather wear my favorite bib and just have the tights over them.

Hickeydog

I wear my shorts under my tights. I found some at Target for like, $10 a pair and I couldn't pass that up. They are one of those UnderArmour nockoffs that are just ass good and whole lot cheaper.

The tights. not the shorts.

bdcheung

I prefer with. In the winter, my Capo tights have a chamois and I love it.

Shimagnolo

If you get them w/o chamois, you can also pick up something like the "Andiamo Padded Cycling Brief" to wear under them for cycling. It is like super-thin sheer underwear with chamois. Performance Bike carries them.

Szczuldo

that sort of defeats the purpose of buying it without padding. And to all of you saying you want to wear your favorite bibs in winter, i'm fairly positive the company that makes your bibs will also make bib tights with the same chamois...The only time when it can be a justifiable purchase is if you also do running or another sport in the winter, but frankly all I do is cycle so I'll opt for the padded, and they aren't that much more expensive either.

tumbler

I prefer without because I combine them with padded shorts (I have more pairs of these) and don't have to wash the tights after each ride.