When do you break out the long pants?
#1
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From: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
When do you break out the long pants?
here in the US Northeast it's getting chilly. low 50s to high 40s tonight. still plan to wear shorts but do have extra stuff for up top incl long sleeves. just remembered an old rule of thumb to cover the knees at 50 or lower ... oops
#2
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From: Metro Detroit/AA
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
It rarely broke 50F when I was in Iceland, and was windy all the time, but I wore shorts every day with a long sleeve jersey. Never any worry about coldness on my bottom half.
#3
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From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
It was 48F when I left the house this morning. I wore bibs and knee warmers, a long sleeved jersey and wind vest, and unlined full-finger gloves.
#5
Morning ride into work I've been wearing bib shorts with leg warmers. Afternoon ride home...leg warmers too, come to think of it. Been this way for the last three weeks. Temps 40-50F range.
#6
Anything under 40, for sure. Around 45° I might wear shorts and bare legs for the short rides under an hour or commutes, but under 50 for a longer ride I want to keep my legs warm.
#7
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From: Sacramento, California, USA
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
There's not much meat to protect on the shins or ankles so I'm generally good with knee warmers down into the low 40s. Once it gets below 40F, I will usually just layer tights over bibs.
#8
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From: Colorado Springs, CO
Bikes: 2015 Charge Plug, 2007 Dahon Boardwalk, 1997 Specialized Rockhopper, 1984 Nishiki International, 2006 Felt F65, 1989 Dahon Getaway V
Around 40F, give or take depending on wind, moisture and how I'm feeling.
#9
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From: Thailand
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV disk, and rim brake
I wear leg warmers below 60 degrees. I'm currently in Florida, and believe it or not a few days ago the temperature at 7am was 51 degrees. They're easily removed as temps climb, and placed in my jersey pocket (including arm warmers).
#10
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From: South Carolina Upstate
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not yet and it's November 1, but I'm guessing soon. Also depends on if the temp is rising or falling
if it's 50 and temp rising, meaning early on a sunny day but getting warmer, then shorts
if it's 50 and the temp is falling, late afternoon heading into after dark, then yeah, long pants
if it's 50 and temp rising, meaning early on a sunny day but getting warmer, then shorts
if it's 50 and the temp is falling, late afternoon heading into after dark, then yeah, long pants
#12
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From: Tucson Az
Bikes: 2015 Ridley Fenix, 1983 Team Fuji, 2019 Marin Nail Trail 6
When I go to work.
I bought a pair of tights a couple of years ago, and my wife told me I was wasting money since I won't ride until it warms up to 60 degrees.
She was right.
I bought a pair of tights a couple of years ago, and my wife told me I was wasting money since I won't ride until it warms up to 60 degrees.
She was right.
#13
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Joined: May 2015
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From: Virginia
Bikes: 2017 Felt Verza Speed 10
Before this year, I had no experience riding below say 68 degrees. So this year I want to ride as late in the season as I can. It was 48 one morning and all I had on was shorts and a long sleeve/short sleeve. When the ride was over, It took me 3 hours to warm up!! Now it's tights and 3 shirts in the low 50's plus a skull cap and gloves!
#15
There are two numbers that I remember well.
16C and 61F. Mostly because its my reference point for comfortable temperature.
Usually wearing pants from now until May.
The ugly shoes get worn year round though.
16C and 61F. Mostly because its my reference point for comfortable temperature.
Usually wearing pants from now until May.
The ugly shoes get worn year round though.
#16
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From: Mountain View, CA USA and Golden, CO USA
Bikes: 97 Litespeed, 50-39-30x13-26 10 cogs, Campagnolo Ultrashift, retroreflective rims on SON28/PowerTap hubs
With sunrise getting earlier and winter a distant memory I started this week an hour before sunrise thinking "Hey, it's 50... that's not bad" and went out in shorts, short sleeve jersey, and wind shell. While I was fine riding, I was almost shivering after stopping even after ten minutes in my double headed shower (while the government says plumbing purveyors can't sell shower heads flowing more than 2.5 gallons per minute, the law is silent on using more than one at a time). I was still cold when I got to work two hours after my ride.
Today I wore thermal tights, thermal jersey, wind shell, and gloves today starting at 45 degrees 1:10 before sunrise and still felt like a human when I got home .
The chamois-free tights never slip and expose skin, making them preferable for any ride where I wouldn't want to stuff them into a pocket where they wouldn't fit.
#17
There's an Italian ex-pro I see out on the road from time to time. At 68 degrees and lower, he wears a wool hat, full-length Castelli tights (with a giant logo down the thigh), and long sleeves.
#20
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Any day now. When it's consistently 50 and lower in the mornings I start to transition to the winter gear. Changing the clocks this weekend so I mounted my helmet light.
Layering is key here in the Bay Area. It can be 48 in the morning and 75 on the way home so versatility is important. Rain's predicted for Friday so it looks like I'll be breaking out the rain gear too.
It might seem a little odd, but I kinda look forward to the change of seasons. Riding in the rain brings a certain solitude I enjoy. Not that there's too much bicycle traffic, but the winter weather weeds out the hot shot fair weather guys and leaves the lanes for me.
-Kedosto
Layering is key here in the Bay Area. It can be 48 in the morning and 75 on the way home so versatility is important. Rain's predicted for Friday so it looks like I'll be breaking out the rain gear too.
It might seem a little odd, but I kinda look forward to the change of seasons. Riding in the rain brings a certain solitude I enjoy. Not that there's too much bicycle traffic, but the winter weather weeds out the hot shot fair weather guys and leaves the lanes for me.
-Kedosto
#22
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From: Wisconsin
Bikes: 2012 Salsa Casseroll, 2009 Kona Blast
I bought a pair of these and they have been good for temps in the 40s and 50s.
https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/mens...iABEgIQhvD_BwE
The other day, the temps dropped into the 30s and I wore a pair of these on top of the Aerotech knickers.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...yABEgLBn_D_BwE
https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/mens...iABEgIQhvD_BwE
The other day, the temps dropped into the 30s and I wore a pair of these on top of the Aerotech knickers.
https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...yABEgLBn_D_BwE
#23
For me, the legs are fine in the 40s, the issue I run into is that they radiate out too much core heat and I have to compensate by wearing more up top. So, like many others here I have settled on a 50 degree cut off.
#24
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From: Metro Detroit/AA
Bikes: 2016 Novara Mazama
Lucky you. I won on guayabera shirts, but had to compromise with linen drawstring pants
#25
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From: northern Deep South
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
It depends on the individual, as should be evident from reading the responses so far. I'm not a fan of knee warmers; they always slide down and have to be re-adjusted once or twice, per leg, within the first two miles. But I'll put on warmers maybe below 55, definitely below 50F. Somewhere between 40-45F I prefer to go to tights, heavier tights for colder weather.







