andychrist

Hey all,

Am riding a LWB and of course the chain gets way too close to my right leg when I shift to the outer chainring. During this cooler weather I've been wearing Specialized tights, which don't get caught in the drive train but are not exactly ideal for me (no pockets and a PITA to get on, they're like Velcro inside.)

Recently chanced upon a pair of skinny stretch jeans in my storage room that I must have purchased decades ago; they still fit okay, work fine for riding and have all the pockets I need but are on their last legs, so to speak. Been looking to replace them but all I have found locally were already distressed, thus no improvement over my old pair.

Online, the only items I could find in my waist size (32") were low waisted. It is also difficult to determine from a lot of the product descriptions whether the jeans actually do stretch or even have a tapered cut.

So do any of you guys wear standard rise stretch jeans on your bents and if so, could you please tell me where to get them?

Pretty please?

jccaclimber

1) You must have different jeans than I do, because I've never found a pair more comfortable than tights.
2) I wasn't aware the modern marketing machine of clothing made skinny/stretchy jeans for guys.
3) With (2) comes a low waist, and more importantly an utter lack of pockets.
4) You might try another brand of tights. I've had good with everything from Nashbar/PB to Road Runner Sports.
5) I find that a velcro strap around my lower pants leg works pretty well.
6) If you get any frays around the cuff of the skinny jeans, they too will get sucked into a chainring. My now fiancee managed to do that to both sides of a pair of not all that worn stretchy jeans on one ride on our tandem once.
7) I've heard (though not experienced) that most places selling cowboy boots and horse-riding related stuff tend to sell longer slimmer jeans, although those would likely be a real jeans (denim) opposed to whatever odd blue stretchy stuff skinny jeans are made from.

andychrist

Yeah, my stretch jeans are certainly not more comfortable than tights, just like I said easier to get on and have pockets. Plus they were a whole lot less expensive! The pair I saw at Kohl's that were distressed would otherwise have been perfect-- standard rise, pegged legs, reasonable price and available in both my waist and inseam. The Wrangler stretch jeans at Wallyworld had no stretch and appeared to be just regular denims cut for heavy-set guys.

Tandem bikes don't have the same issue as LWBs, where your entire calve runs in line with the chain. When I tried tying down the cuff of my loose fit riding pants, the rest of the pant leg puffed up and rubbed agaist the chain when in high gear. Really don't want to have to bind up the entire lower pant leg.

These are the jeans I found online that are exactly what I need, save for the fact they only have size 28 in stock, and it's been three decades since I was that slim. Wish I could find something just like them in my size somewhere.

AlexZ

Please...no pictures. What is seen cannot be unseen......

Jeff Wills

OK, fine- a link, however: https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/tights.htm

Aerotech makes good quality tights in lots of different sizes (including tall & skinny- they fit my 6-foot-4 frame really well) that aren't a bear to wear. I got the unpadded type so I can layer them with regular bike shorts.

Oh, go ahead and click the link. Just don't scroll down. OK, you did... don't say I didn't warn you!

BlazingPedals

Maybe you want riding breeches (apparel for riding horses?) The legs are made to go inside boots, and so are fairly close-fitting in the lower legs.

AlexZ

Ha,ha..Yes! Aerotech makes good stuff, and well priced as well.

jccaclimber

I've found on SWB lowracers that the only thing that saves me is black tights, because you're going to bump the chain no matter than you do. Sort of like making bike shorts black when you plan on using a leather seat. The LWB bikes I've ridden have never had chain rubbing issues. If you don't mind the drag, you might also consider a loose chain tube.

jccaclimber

Maybe looser tights+shorts with pockets?

charly17201

Weird since I saw this yesterday on TV, you want to search for Jeggings. Or find a shop that sells to the Emo crowd. No endorsement, just the first link I came to..... https://www.oldnavy.com%2Fproducts%2F...gs-for-men.jsp

andychrist

Thanks charly17201, those Jeggings look like they would work awesome for 'bent riding. Unfortunately it looks like they are not yet available commercially, even the Google link to Old Navy is just for their skinny straight leg jeans, no tapering. Guess I'll have to wait a bit until they actually hit the shelves.

Jeff Wills

My right calf rubs the chain on my Gold Rush. I just tell people I spray WD-40 on my leg- that's how I clean my chain.

gcottay

Am I secure enough in myself to wear these from Aero Tech? Maybe not.

cyclistbrian

Beyond keeping you from getting tangled in your chain, cycling clothing keeps you comfortable riding. It doesn't chafe, it wicks moisture away, it doesn't ride up or bunch up, and overall makes riding more enjoyable. In cold weather I use some cross country ski gear like a heavy pair of insulated tights intended for skiing that are slightly less form fitting but still do the trick with cycling shorts underneath. When I want to be inconspicuous I wear cargo shorts or cargo style pants over cycling shorts. These tend to be of light material and maybe fall under the category of high tech hiking wear. I don't ride 'bents any longer but I did the same thing when I did over several years and thousands of miles. The padding in cycling shorts helps with recumbent butt with the more upright bikes. I still used this arrangement with the laid back Volae I had because while I wasn't concerned with recumbent butt I still was concerned with sweat and other forms of discomfort.

@cottay - I rode the Tour De Cure century this year and there was a teenage kid I kept passing or being passed by over several miles wearing tights very much like those.. I couldn't rock that look for a million bucks (ok maybe a million)

AlexZ

Sometimes the look is secondary to function......
For many, many years I wore padded (shammy) bike shorts. Always had to tug at them because they tended to slide down at the waist ( I have no belly but they still slipped and rolled). So finally a few years ago in frustration I tried bibs !!!! I have worn nothing but those since! On DF or recumbent they are super comfortable. I even wear them when the bike is on the trainer in my living room! If the look is a problem to you for some reason, wear something over them but do yourself a favor and at least try them. Also Aerotech and others sell leggings (both lined and not) which work great in cold weather and give you the flexibility to easily pull off when you have warmed up beyond comfort. The combination works particularly well on recumbent where your feet are elevated.
Of course if you have a need, or hang up, for riding in those parachute shorts with your jock-strap in the breeze and the boys exposed to all on-comers......What can I say....

AlexZ

At my age I am pretty much secure for anything but I suspect my wife may see a problem with those.......

Jeff Wills

Don't say I didn't warn you... sheesh.

FWIW:

andychrist

Um...uh... Thanks, guys... But I already have a number of pairs of tights, bike shorts, etc. Am just looking for men's mid-rise, skinny jeans. Dunno if they exist, every place I've checked only has them in low-rise, which I don't find particularly comfortable. Tried some of those on and the only ones snug enough in the waist were just a size 30 and so of course felt too tight in the hips and thighs for me to go riding in.

Once more, for emphasis, I need pants pockets, dammit. Not everything fits into my jacket. Not to mention that tights make for a cat magnet-- the kitties just love to puncture spandex. Yeah, they'll mistake me for a scratching post when I'm wearing jeans, too, but even stretch denim does seem to stand up better to their pretty little claws.

banerjek

Wear a fanny pack and spin it around in front. That will work way better than having crap in your pockets that will cut into you and fall out.

There is no way I'd consider riding a bent in jeans. That's the only thing nuttier than riding a DF in jeans.

andychrist

Read my original post. I'm talking about stretch jeans, I have a pair and they are great for riding any bike. My problem is that after about twenty years they are kinda worn out and I can't find replacements, nowadays they are all low rise and too skimpy for my cyclist physique. My old stretch jeans fit perfectly and I could keep change in my front pockets-- convenient when biking to the laundromat. All the other stretchy althletic pants I can find just have side, slit pockets-- not very practical when riding in the recumbent position-- nor do they taper toward the ankle. Now one of the pockets in my poor old jeans is shot and I'm getting desperate to replace them before I have to go around carrying quarters in my mouth.

jccaclimber

You might try in SS/FG. Those guys have an affinity for skinny jeans, at least around here.

scrapser

I ride my recumbent AND my DF bikes in jeans (Levi's) whenever the weather calls for it; otherwise, I wear cargo pants.

BlazingPedals

If you're going to wear jeans, why not just get some pant leg straps?

Personally, I wouldn't want to wear jeans either. The seams along the inner thigh would kill me after a while, even if they stretched enough to matter. In fact, I did my first DALMAC in gym shorts and cutoff jeans shorts, and by the end of 4 days, I had open sores. Fat seams are your enemy. To my original suggestion of riding breeches, I'll add stirrup pants; although finding them with pockets might be tough.

andychrist

Sheesh, how many times do I have to repeat, I am riding in skinny stretch jeans right now and THEY ARE PERFECT for me, my ONLY PROBLEM iS THEY ARE GETTING WORN OUT and I AM TRYING TO FIND WHERE TO BUY NEW ONES.

I've never had any issues with chafing, I wear boxer briefs and sometimes compression shorts/tights underneath. Plus I am not riding just for pleasure or excersise, I'm doing around forty miles a day of errands and would appreciate not looking like more of a jerk than I already do when conducting business around town.

Oh and I tried riding in loose pants with ankle clips, but found it impossible to keep them in place. Guess the range of motion on my upright bent with 175mm cranks is too much. Even last winter when I tried tried wearing athletic pants tucked into my motorcycle boots, they would always manage to work themselves loose in like no time. And of course everything would fall out of the side pockets too.

Incidentally, when I bought my current pair of jeans two decades ago I didn't even realize they were made of stretch material, I was so skinny back then that they were actually a little loose on me. But since that time I've developed a bit more muscle in my lower body and really do appreciate the ability of what's left of the fabric to stretch as I pedal.

JanMM

Wearing the same pair of pants for twenty years might be some kind of record. Congrats!

Never mind!
"Recently chanced upon a pair of skinny stretch jeans in my storage room that I must have purchased decades ago"