The main thing I am worried about is keeping warm enough to not get sick, staying cool enough to not sweat a ton, and wicking moisture away to keep me dry. Will looser tights hinder any of these things? Did I miss any other benefits of having skin tight tights? Thanks!!
Potential contradictions here. Being cold doesn't make you sick, pathogens do. You want to be "warm" but also "not sweat a ton" ...? The trick is to be cold for the first 15 minutes, then you'll warm up as you ride and ideally you won't sweat. If you're warm when you leave the house you're screwed and will either be removing layers or sweaty as hell...or both.
If you don't work a sweat - you can wear anything in your closet - I do. Cotton is almost 100% of my cycling attire on a 30 mile daily commute. I hate synthetics -- they smell like horse crap after you ride in them, and they don't breathe - so you sweat more...and then they
have to wick sweat.
Will looser tights hinder any of these things?
Not to any perceptible amount for bike commuting, and
barely a thought for a lot of racers.....this (aerodynamics of tights) is a pointless, stupid thing to worry about.
Did I miss any other benefits of having skin tight tights? Thanks!!
Not really, other than the
Lord of the Flies effect of wearing strange clothing in a pack setting and getting more psychologically motivated to ride.
You could also look like batman.