Stirrups or no stirrups for tights?
10-05-08, 03:34 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 109
Bikes: Felt Z25 & Specialized Rockhopper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Stirrups or no stirrups for tights?
This will be my first year riding in colder weather where I want to get appropriate cycling gear. I've been doing a bunch of research on this board and I'm looking to get a set of bib tights. Still not sure if I'm going to go with padded tights or use non-padded tights with my padded bike shorts. My shorts are not bib shorts, so I'm wondering if using non-big shorts with bib tights will cause any issues.
As I look at these bib tights I'm finding a number of them come with stirrups. I'm sure it's a personall preference thing, but is there anything I should take into account when considering stirrups over non-stirrup tights?
Thanks for the help.
As I look at these bib tights I'm finding a number of them come with stirrups. I'm sure it's a personall preference thing, but is there anything I should take into account when considering stirrups over non-stirrup tights?
Thanks for the help.
10-05-08, 06:47 PM
#2
Plays in traffic
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Rochester, NY
Posts: 6,971
Bikes: 1996 Litespeed Classic, 2006 Trek Portland, 2013 Ribble Winter/Audax, 2016 Giant Talon 4
Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 76 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times
in
9 Posts
Go with unpadded tights. There's a wider selection of pads in shorts--easier to find comfort. Plus, "the boys" will really appreciate the extra layer.
No ideas regarding stirrup or not.
I'm trying to decide whether to go bib tights this year too. What I found was that layering elastic waistband tights over elastic waistband shorts meant two sets of elastic squeezing my middle. It became uncomfortable, especially in the weeks after the holidays.
Where I have a question is in making yellow snow. At my age, that's an important consideration. Anything over 20 miles and I'll be stopping, for sure. Are "quick-release" buckles in the straps worthwhile? I'm looking at two sets and that's the primary difference. I'm thinking they may make it easier to manage, especially with all the other extra layers. Anyone have any thoughts?
No ideas regarding stirrup or not.
I'm trying to decide whether to go bib tights this year too. What I found was that layering elastic waistband tights over elastic waistband shorts meant two sets of elastic squeezing my middle. It became uncomfortable, especially in the weeks after the holidays.
Where I have a question is in making yellow snow. At my age, that's an important consideration. Anything over 20 miles and I'll be stopping, for sure. Are "quick-release" buckles in the straps worthwhile? I'm looking at two sets and that's the primary difference. I'm thinking they may make it easier to manage, especially with all the other extra layers. Anyone have any thoughts?
10-06-08, 06:36 AM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 109
Bikes: Felt Z25 & Specialized Rockhopper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Go with unpadded tights. There's a wider selection of pads in shorts--easier to find comfort. Plus, "the boys" will really appreciate the extra layer.
No ideas regarding stirrup or not.
I'm trying to decide whether to go bib tights this year too. What I found was that layering elastic waistband tights over elastic waistband shorts meant two sets of elastic squeezing my middle. It became uncomfortable, especially in the weeks after the holidays.
Where I have a question is in making yellow snow. At my age, that's an important consideration. Anything over 20 miles and I'll be stopping, for sure. Are "quick-release" buckles in the straps worthwhile? I'm looking at two sets and that's the primary difference. I'm thinking they may make it easier to manage, especially with all the other extra layers. Anyone have any thoughts?
No ideas regarding stirrup or not.
I'm trying to decide whether to go bib tights this year too. What I found was that layering elastic waistband tights over elastic waistband shorts meant two sets of elastic squeezing my middle. It became uncomfortable, especially in the weeks after the holidays.
Where I have a question is in making yellow snow. At my age, that's an important consideration. Anything over 20 miles and I'll be stopping, for sure. Are "quick-release" buckles in the straps worthwhile? I'm looking at two sets and that's the primary difference. I'm thinking they may make it easier to manage, especially with all the other extra layers. Anyone have any thoughts?
The whole comfort factor is what I'm thinking about as well if I use non-bib shorts with bib tights. If the shorts start to ride down I'm going to have a hell of a time getting them backup. Most likely just be uncomfortable until I stop.
Hopefully some people give a recommendation the stirrups question as I'm be real interested to see if there is any down side to them.
10-06-08, 03:36 PM
#4
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,341
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6200 Post(s)
Liked 4,201 Times
in
2,357 Posts
The whole comfort factor is what I'm thinking about as well if I use non-bib shorts with bib tights. If the shorts start to ride down I'm going to have a hell of a time getting them backup. Most likely just be uncomfortable until I stop.
Hopefully some people give a recommendation the stirrups question as I'm be real interested to see if there is any down side to them.
Hopefully some people give a recommendation the stirrups question as I'm be real interested to see if there is any down side to them.
Stirrups are just one more thing to deal with. Zip leg bib tights are the way to go. Don't go with Pearl Izumi Amfib tights except for the coldest of riding. Damn things are just way to warm above about 40 F. Great for cold weather but, man, they are hot above freezing. PI Thermafleece is excellent for lots of temperature ranges, however.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
10-23-08, 03:03 PM
#5
Cycling since 1978
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Troy, Michigan
Posts: 118
Bikes: 1981 Custom Assenmacher, 27", full Campy Super Record. Canondale Tandem, 25.5"-21.5" , Giant Yukon MTN Bike 24", 2010 Trek 2.3 64cm
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No stirrups if you are tall. They pull them down and you are always pulling them up. If they are bibs I would think they would pull from top and bottom and be uncomfortable. I am 6" 5" so clothes are always a problem.
Dean
Dean
