Spring Pant recommendations - No tights!
 

What do you guys wear when it's too warm for rain pants, but too cool for shorts? I wear REI Taku pants through the winter, and plain old Champion mesh shorts in the summer, but I don't have a good solution for the spring.

What do you guys wear when its above 40 but below 60? I would like something light and packable. My morning commute is usually 20 degrees cooler than the afternoon, so I will be carrying whatever I wear in the morning back home in the afternoon.

Some wind and rain resistance would be nice, but breathability is a top priority. I live in Portland OR, so the ability to stay comfortable if I get caught in a sprinkle would be nice. Does not have to be bike-specific.

-Steven

Are you totally adverse to bike shorts? Because to me those conditions call for bibs and knee warmers.

I wear baseball/softball pants- slightly tapered legs, elastic cuffs, road slop washes off easily, fairly inexpensive and don't look out of place in the grocery store etc.

I have looked for a reasonable pair of capris. I am student so there is no need to meet some sort of dress code, but it seems that no one makes capri pants for men.

If you refer to them as knickers, Google is your friend
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en...ed=0CBsQrQQwAA

To the OP:

If you are not into knickers, try the Borah Freedom Pant for the temperature range you mentioned.

For days when it's cooler in the morning but warm enough for shorts in the afternoon, I like my J&G Patrol Pants

I have a coupla pairs of cutoff khakis from the thrift store. But for true style I picked up a pair of Cutter knickers and a pair of Jett Raptor shorts from Chainlove or Bonktown.

I like the baseball pant idea. I do have bike shorts, but with a 12 mile roundtrip commute and a Brooks saddle, I never wear them. Definitely not bibs.

Keep them coming if you guys have more suggestions.

Jeans.

I'm happy with knickers, since my wife thinks they look good on me. I have two pairs from Swrve: a pair of winter softshell (whenever the temp's below 50 or so, all the way down to the single digits) and a pair of lightweight water/wind-repellent (at all other times, including the dog days of summer). They're the most comfortable non-chamois-endowed cycling pants I own, by a long shot. They do block the wind, and if they get wet, they dry out fast. (Though I'm lucky to have a private office in which I can lay them out.) If you want to do things on the cheap, avoid them: $100 a pop. But I've had both my pairs for three years and they look as good as new.

I wear my regular work pants rolled up to my shins.

An old pair of Adidas workout pants with a rubberband around the ankle, and bike shorts underneath. Works like a charm.

I like knee length MTB shorts(baggy with a liner) and knee high Smartwool ski socks. I keep a pair of kneehighs in my bag in case of rain too.

smartwool long underwear under jogging shorts. I know, does not meet your prime style directive, but it does work really well.

+1

The chain guard helps. Otherwise, if I ride the bike with no chain guard, I shove the pant leg into my sock.

Those are really nice! I'm thinking I might order a pair. If you don't mind my asking, how are they in the rain? What temperature range would you recommend wearing them? Are they easily washable? Do the ankle cuffs rub on your chain, or are they tapered enough to not rub?

Shorts.

I wear board shorts a.k.a swim suits a lot. Many are slightly longer than workout type shorts, all dry quickly. As long as I'm moving, my legs stay warm... it's just the getting started part :D
If it's even colder, I have one pair of Old Navy pants with legs that have zippers to remove them. They are my favorite, cause even if it gets a little warm during commute I can open up a "knee vent" by unzipping them part way.

I only wear jeans if I'm not gonna be pushing hard and getting hot, but for Jeans and the Old Navy pants I have a strap of velcro (extra from my light mount) that keeps it out of the chain. I don't trust just rolling up since i ride Fixed gear most often.

Do you ride naked when the temp hits 60°?

I wear Mountain Hardware's Basin 3/4 pants. Love them as they work for biking, hiking, fly fishing and so on

No, but I'm pretty much drenched in sweat by the time I arrive at my destination. I would die in places like Phoenix or NOLA in the summer.

I use the Rivendell Bike knickers. They are long enough to go almost to my ankles when pulled down, socks cover the remaining exposed shin. Then in the afternoon they get pulled up knicker style, pretty good that way even in warmer weather. I put fleece long johns under them for colder riding.

I absolutely love my new Seawall Pants from Lululemon Athletica. they are a great wind barrier but very light weight and seem to be cool enough when it gets warm and I imagine they allow some evaporation. other features include a comfy wide elastic waistband; ankles with gathers that can be pulled up into knickers and they look good too! I have them in black.

http://shop.lululemon.com/pd/p/1915.html

You can find this retail store at malls. They don't carry other brands - they sell all their own stuff. They started as a place for women to get good yoga pants and are now growing their men's line.

Bike shorts under non-bike-specific microfiber "baggies" from Kohl's clearance rack. Same thing I wear all summer on the commute. If your legs really get uncomfortably cold in the morning, maybe convertible non-cotton hiker pants so you can zip off the legs for the afternoon.

For training rides, just the bike shorts.

Of course I don't get near the rain you do.

They are wind and water resistant...they're ok for a light rain, but will soak in a soaker. They dry fast tho.

I wear them down to 40 or so without anything under them, colder with poly/wool longies or tights. Above 60 I zip off the legs for instant shorts.

I wash em in cold water and hang dry about once a week or so or as needed. My current pair is like 5 years old and still going strong. Make sure that you secure the reflective velcro ankle straps before washing or put the pants in a mesh bag to prevent them from sticking to other stuff you might be washing too.

The ankles have reflective velcro straps that let you fold & cinch em up tight against your legs...no rub.

I wear stretch running pants over bike shorts. They're designed for movement and moisture wicking so they work well for cycling without being as form fitting as tights. They fit close enough around the ankles and calves that you don't need to worry about getting them caught in your chain.

For the ride home I throw them in my messenger bag and just wear the shorts. For anything more than a light sprinkle they aren't going to work too well. If it's cool and may rain I bring along my packable rain pants.