killerasp

One word: Tights. Second word: Fairy.

There has to be a better way to dress in this demanding winter weather.

velocipedio

Killer...

I challenge you to walk up to Udo Bolts or Ludo Dierkxsens when they're out in their cold weather gear and call them "fairies."

The advantage of tights is that they don't flap in the breeze and, being tight, they trap a relatively small amount of air between layers so the air doesn't cool off as quickly.

If you're still insecure about wearing tights after talking with Udo and Ludo, you could consider getting nylon rain pants like these and wear them over long johns, or whatever, or wind pants like this. If you shop around, you can also find insulated, semi-baggy Gore-Tex pants, often with insulation that look like this .

And if you need to keep really warm, you can wear tights underneath so no one will know you're a fairy.

Hope that helps.

killerasp

Udo who? Ludo whaT?

mrfix

Hey killer, I wear tights, they don't flap, they trap warmth, they are warm, they don't get hung up on bike parts, they don't restrict movement. I'm not a fairy, I don't ride in cold freezing wet weather to impress others, I don't care what others think, If I give others something to talk about at dinner, good for me. I ride a bike, everywhere, I wear lycra shorts too and tight jerseys, I'm fit and healthy, oh yes, did I tell you I'm old too and I've been doing this a long time.
Dress warm, ride the bike it'll help ya live longer, and if people talk about you because of what you wear, they will talk about you even if you dress differently so don't worry about it and ride the bike.

H20.1

The guy does have a point though, tights look ridiculous regardless of whos wearing them. My roomate (also an avid cyclist) seems to have this warped idea in his head that people actually think biking gear in general looks GREAT and that other people (women in particular) will think he looks extra cool when sporting lycra on his bike. I sometimes dont have the heart to bring him down from his cloud to inform him that most people snicker at cyclists sporting lycra.

Cycling gear looks silly, and downright dorky for the most part... unfortunately its a silliness that must be endured for one of lifes great pleasures.

mike

I wear tights in the winter too. Nobody ever looked at my thighs and called me a fairy.

They are warm and cause a lot less wind drag than wool or any other material.

Anybody with the gusto to bike in the winter gets the respect deserved to wear whatever the hell they want.

WaltH

I have to side with Killer. I don't care who you are, tights look gay. Certainly doesn't stop me from wearing them because they are the best defense for bikers against cold. But there's nothing "cool" about them.

RegularGuy

Go ahead and wear tights. You'll get used to the odd looks and disapproving glances of strangers. The rude remarks of friends will lose their sting after a time.

Just don't wear shoes like George Hincapie's!

killerasp

Should i get tights that have fleece on the inside? I know they will feel better, but are they warmer? Any particular brand or model you can recommend?

Arsbars

One things about tights, they do make chicks with nice bodies look even better And yes I'm female, and yes I will say that

NIBYAK

Buy the tights. The insults just make you ride harder. I was verbally accosted twice while wearing my tights. One time by an unclean drifter sort of fellow who wasn't worth the effort and once by a man on roller skates (a grown man on roller skates!!) again, not worth the effort. Neither of them used the word fairy though.

P.S.
Don't forget your feet. Those super ventilated shoes don't do a thing to keep your toes warm in the winter.

lotek 

Personally I don't give a rats a$s what anyone thinks about
how I look when I'm riding. I'm too old to care anymore
and besides my circle of friends are all (well mostly all) cyclists
who look just as dorky in lycra.
Hey, I happen to think that way baggy pants with
the crotch halfway to one's knees is dorky, doesn't mean
sh*t to shinola.

Go for the fleece if it gets really cold where you are,
I'd suggest not getting chamois tights, just wear em over
your bike shorts.

Marty

killerasp

If only all the hot chicks here at syracuse university rode a bike and at the same time wore tights.....if only.

killerasp

whats chamois?

mrfix

Hey ARSBARS, What do you think of men wearing tight lycra tights with large clearly defined muscles in the thigh and calves while spinning up a steep grade? I know when I watch a fit musclular women climb in front of me it really does the job. I never try to pass, I'm quite happy with the view from the back.

MichaelW

Chamois is a small deer found in the Alpes and Pyrenees.
Cyclists used to use their skin for the padding in bike shorts.
Modern bike shorts use synthetic polyester "chamois" inserts, which are a whole lot better and easier to use.
Some leggings are designed for use over padded shorts, others have their own padding. Padding has to be washed after every ride, so its easier to use leggings over shorts.

Make sure you get leggings with some degree of windproofing. At cycling speeds, wind is the biggest heat suck. The colder it is, the more windproofing you need. For me, below 8C I need total wind blocking, but above that, total blocking can get a bit warm.

Check out icebike.com for winter biking advice.

Michel Gagnon

I like to dress in "civilian clothes", i.e. in clothes that are good for day to day life once I'm off the bike. So that usually means dress trousers and either a nice sweater or a suit, except in summer when I often wear a short-sleeve shirt.

From late fall to early spring, I usually wear long underwear under my trousers. Very effective, as thermal underwear usually keeps me warm down to -10 C to -25 C, depending on wind and length of the ride. At -10 C, I can ride all day. At -25 C, I'm OK for 1 hour; if the ride is longer, I also wear my rain trousers, which are good at cutting the wind.

Regards,

CycleMON

I'd rather be warm than "cool". I could care what people say about my tights. They are just jealous they don't have legs like mine.

MeHT

I'd wear tights, but being a teenager and having teenage friends I'm afraid I wouldn't endure the political impact of my actions.

OldDog

I have several pairs of bib tights, and the best of the lot, in my opinion, are the Sugoi MidZeros - fleece liner - wind proof panel in only the right places - and (for my 6'2" 190 lb frame) a better fit than the PI, performance (both too baggy by the time you get to the right length) or Giordana (too tight - must be designed for the really skinny arsed pro-roadie crowd). So far, only road tested them at no colder than 30 - but I was still plenty comfortable once I got warmed up, so I'm guessing I could go colder.

And anybody who calls you a fairy is insecure in their own self image - so ignore 'em.

killerasp

DUH

killerasp

i dont think girls find guys wearing tights attractive. on top of that, my tights squish my package...

velocipedio

I rode by some of my female students this morning. I was wearing tights. This afternoon, I ran into them again at school. "Of all the faculty, you have the cutest ass," one said. "Whay don't you wear your tights to teach?" Asked another.

Hey, what can I say... It's flattering to have twenty-something girls say my thrirty-something butt is cute...

MeHT

Did you run a sarcasm check?
J/k.

meltable

Wear what works.