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Old 09-30-08 | 09:29 AM
  #1  
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From: burtonsville, md
commuting pants

Hi everyone, first post here.

I am looking for some pants for commuting, i been commuting with shorts, but now its getting cold and id ont like wearing jeans to commute my 12 miles to work.

I did find these pants on treehugger.com

https://www.cordarounds.com/bike-to-work/

but are there any others.

I dont like the tights look. I want something a little bit more casual to walk around. I like jeans, but cycling int hem is rough! and i get pretty sweaty.

I looked at performancebike and nashbar but all they have is tights and raingear for pants.

Anyone use something else?
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Old 09-30-08 | 09:43 AM
  #2  
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I'm starting to wonder about this too. I've been riding in a pair of zip-off hiking shorts over the summer and have thought about zipping the legs back in; I've also considered a pair of warmup-style pants, should be able to get those about anywhere.

I'm with you on the tights look.
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Old 09-30-08 | 09:45 AM
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From: Olathe, KS

Bikes: Trek Soho S

My favorite pants for cycling are from Nau, gusseted crotch (aka no seam fold where it hurts), recycled synthetic materials (means they shed water really well and wick sweat). Look like dress pants. I've got lighter (wearever pants... they are awesome...) and medium weight (can't remember the name) and heavier (basically fleece pants that look like dress pants... they even have a faint striping... very snazzy) ones.

However, Nau is going through some reorganization, and won't have anything available until mid october. If you think synthetic pants that look like dress / business pants might be up your ally, you might check out some of the stuff from Patagonia... Specifically I think the following are promising:
  1. Sol
  2. Byway
  3. El Cap

Also, I've considered the MH Matterhorn Convertible as it's the only synthetic convertible I've seen that doesn't have gawd-aweful ugly cargo pockets.
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Old 09-30-08 | 10:36 AM
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J&G Patrol Pants...pricey but worth every penny. Mine are going into their 3rd winter of commuting.
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Old 09-30-08 | 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by chipcom
J&G Patrol Pants...pricey but worth every penny. Mine are going into their 3rd winter of commuting.
Ooh... nice...
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Old 09-30-08 | 11:23 AM
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When I wear tights I wear shorts over them. My winter tights are covered by my rain pants.
All my saddles are now anatomic. If the saddle doesn't have a gash,then I won't ride it.
Chafing problems are pretty low with regular seams. I couldn't wear knickers to work as the
guys would have a laugh for years to come. Yes, I wish there was a better market for commuter
pants.
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Old 09-30-08 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Bat22
All my saddles are now anatomic. If the saddle doesn't have a gash,then I won't ride it.
I have the same requirement for inflatable companions.
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Old 09-30-08 | 11:45 AM
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I had to troll that one out!
Sometimes the truth is stranger than friction,,er fiction.
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Old 09-30-08 | 01:09 PM
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From: West Bloomfield, MI

Bikes: '02 Trek 4900 '08 Specialized Crosstrail

How warm are you looking for them to be? Will you be wearing them while at work, or do you change when you get there?

I'm thinking about buying these

https://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=22-433
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Old 09-30-08 | 01:30 PM
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Bikes: Bianchi Campione d'Italia, Softride Qualifier, Ritchey Breakaway Cyclocross

I just wear my normal pants. Unless it's raining, I don't like to wear "cycling" clothing when commuting. I find them unnecessary and then I just have to haul more stuff and take time to change.
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Old 09-30-08 | 01:58 PM
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Originally Posted by scorch
Hi everyone, first post here.

I am looking for some pants for commuting, i been commuting with shorts, but now its getting cold and id ont like wearing jeans to commute my 12 miles to work.

I did find these pants on treehugger.com

https://www.cordarounds.com/bike-to-work/

but are there any others.

I dont like the tights look. I want something a little bit more casual to walk around. I like jeans, but cycling int hem is rough! and i get pretty sweaty.

I looked at performancebike and nashbar but all they have is tights and raingear for pants.

Anyone use something else?
I am not a big fan of tights-only either. My wife says I look good in them, but she also likes a good laugh at my expense sometimes. Regardless, I wear long, knee-length shorts over whatever. They have plenty of pockets, beltloops [for a belt - didn't see that one coming...], and breathe pretty well in warm weather. When it turns chilly, I can wear them with tights or legwarmers in the morning, then stuff the leggings in my pack for the ride home.
Pros: no chance of getting my pants caught in my chain; my wallet, passcard, keys, etc. are in the same pockets no matter what; I look like a messenger.
Cons: looks weird to be wearing shorts when there is snow on the ground; I look like a messenger.

I tried the zip-off pants, but I found the thigh area too restrictive. Also, the zips are at the knee when standing, but as soon as you sit and pedal - zwippp! They are at mid-thigh.
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Old 09-30-08 | 03:52 PM
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I wear Dickies style work pants.Loose fitting,dry fast,cheap,lightweight,breathable and come in my favorite color.
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Old 09-30-08 | 04:07 PM
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Chrome Shins, pricey, but worth every penny. Made in USA too.

Portland Cyclewear Messenger Pants. Decent price and seem pretty durable. Worn them several times a week for about a year and they're holding up very well.
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Old 09-30-08 | 04:36 PM
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From: vermont

Bikes: road bike, mountain bike, touring bike

So your issue seems to be the apearance of them...
Why not just get an elastic ankle band and nylon pants.
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Old 09-30-08 | 04:37 PM
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I wear jeans, but they tend to rip since I don't roll them up. Acceptable loss.
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Old 09-30-08 | 07:44 PM
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I ordered some pants from rei a while ago, and they arrived today. I totally forgot, but im going to try these out.

They are the novara headwing pant. black, and cost 75$.. THats very expensive for me, but im hoping they will last for a while!

I tried them on, and it looks good, they are tighter up in the butt, and nice and loose in the legs. I like that as i dont have huge calves. If i had a nice body i wouldnt mind wearing tights.. but until then


The reason i dont want to commute in jeans is because ill sweat like a pig in them. I want something that breaths as well as keep me a little warm.
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Old 10-01-08 | 07:22 AM
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Originally Posted by nick burns
Chrome Shins, pricey, but worth every penny. Made in USA too.
LOL - the commuter forum is a crack up sometimes. I just clicked over from a thread where a guy was talking about basically never putting an expensive part on a commuter bike (I ride every day to work - ~100 miles a week - why would I ride a clunker?) then here I see a $160 pair of pants!

Oh, absolutely not a "shot" Nick - a little rich for me but I'm sure they are worth the dough. It's just the contrast cracks me up. Not sure you'll find such a huge difference on any other bike forum. Oh, perhaps classic and vintage - tell somebody they spent WAY to much dropping $100 on a nice old frame, then tell them they should get a $500 paint job for the same bike........
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Old 10-01-08 | 07:25 AM
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The REI Headwind pants are probably the single best cycling clothing purchase I've ever made. I'm going on 4 winters on them (so maybe 3-400 days) and they show ZERO wear whatsoever. They are good by themselves down to about 35F. Below that and to about 20F (lowest I go), I add a pair of long underwear. They are not tight unless you buy the wrong size. They are not really very loose fitting either. Just right, including narrow legs so they don't get stuck in your chain/rings.
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Old 10-01-08 | 07:39 AM
  #19  
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i wore the REI headwind pants today, and they were pretty nice, it was rather hot, so they were not a good choice to use, but they look good and they don't look like a racer boy type of tight which i like.
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Old 10-01-08 | 07:44 AM
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Bikes: Trek 1200C, Specialized Rockhopper, Giant Yukon FX, Giant Acapulco

Since I'm in them so much anyway - it's lycra shorts for the nice weather --- and I just got out and wore my tights the last couple days. Have a feeling I will be moving into my heavier winter tights very soon. For deeper winter I'll wear the winter tights with a wind/rainproof pant over them.
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Old 10-01-08 | 07:50 AM
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Real men wear tights. <--not in reference to tude.
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Old 10-01-08 | 07:50 AM
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I wear nylon hiking pants. as it gets cooler i wear different thermal layers beneath them. i'm warm down to about 20°F wearing wool thermals and waterproof biking pants.
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Old 10-01-08 | 08:25 AM
  #23  
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I wore these all summer (leg zipped off) and now am wearing them full leg in the cooler weather...

Hiking Pants https://www.blair.com/webapp/wcs/stor...roductId=34273
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Old 10-01-08 | 08:25 AM
  #24  
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From: Olathe, KS

Bikes: Trek Soho S

Originally Posted by scorch
I ordered some pants from rei a while ago, and they arrived today. I totally forgot, but im going to try these out.

They are the novara headwing pant. black, and cost 75$.. THats very expensive for me, but im hoping they will last for a while!

I tried them on, and it looks good, they are tighter up in the butt, and nice and loose in the legs. I like that as i dont have huge calves. If i had a nice body i wouldnt mind wearing tights.. but until then


The reason i dont want to commute in jeans is because ill sweat like a pig in them. I want something that breaths as well as keep me a little warm.
Originally Posted by scorch
i wore the REI headwind pants today, and they were pretty nice, it was rather hot, so they were not a good choice to use, but they look good and they don't look like a racer boy type of tight which i like.
Sound like they fit a bit like my Nau wearevers (kind of like a slim fit straight leg jean... except much lighter / stretchier material)... but obviously from a thicker material. Nice.
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Old 10-01-08 | 09:11 AM
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one concern is how hard you ride and how much you sweat. i'd never wear something that was khaki like because i ride hard and sweat a lot. its important to me to wear all sweat wicking fabrics.
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