Winter Tights
 

Need to beef up for 30F and below. Can't decide if I want to go with a heavyweight tight or stay with a medium and go with a merino wool baselayer. Anyone use a baselayer out there? I guess my worry is chaffing. I have never used a baselayer with tights. Come to think of it, as far as that goes until 1 week ago I have never had a pair of tights on in my life! LOL The things we do for the sport! I also posted this in Fifty plus.

Thanks
Bill

Hard to go wrong with Pearl Izumi AmFib tights. I've worn mine down to 10°F or so.

Part of my winter clothing strategy is based on shot winters and the ability to reuse layers in sprint and fall. Also how often you ride in the winter. Given that I live in wimpy winter land, I prefer two layers so that I can use the outer pants in warmer temps. The Pearl Izumi AmFib tights do get a lot of callouts here.

I have a pair of Asic running tights and Novara Headwinds pants. That keeps me OK down to 37.

I use Sport Hill XC pants. Originally a winter cross-country ski pant. I use these with no base layer down to 25f/-3c. Below that I wear either workpants as baselayer or cycling tights. windproof and coldproof. expensive but will last years. I have had mine going on eight years now, and still going strong. below 20f/-6c I will add leg warmers for extra warmth. That works down to -5f/-20c.

Amen on the Pearls. I've been all winter (both day and night) wearing only my Pearl Bibs and bike sort underneath. No need for base layer. The bib legs are windproof which makes a huge difference.

I don't care for PI Amfibs. They are ok in a specific range but they get clammy in the front under the wind barrier as they don't breathe well. You cant comfortably layer under them (other than bib shorts) so they are limited in overall range. I wore them for a few years, but IMHO they are not worth the money.

OTOH Sporthill XC pants. They rule. They cover the same general temp range alone as the amfibs but they never get clammy because they breath so well. And you can layer under them so their range is huge. I've haven't worn my amfibs since.

Sporthill XC pants FTW, it's not even close.

- edit: My opinions are based on the winter conditions here in Minnesota, if you are in a place with less angry winters then YMMV.

I think PI Amfibs are great, and they've kept my legs very comfortable in temps down to the teens. They are one of the few articles of cycling gear that I would replace without even comparing other products if they wore out. I used to think they were too warm in temperatures warmer than the 30s F. However, I've found that they are comfortable for me up through the 50s if I just moderate my level of exertion. If you are hammering it, you will probably sweat lot in warmer temps tho. I bike commute year-round, and one of the issues commuters face is cold temps in the mornings and much milder temps in the afternoons. So I wear my Amfibs a lot in winter with morning temps are in the 10s-30s, with afternoon temps in the 40s-50s. My legs get burned out if I ride hard every day commuting, so the Amfibs are very comfortable in the 40s and 50s at the pace I'm usually riding in afternoons.

I think the responses have all been the same, and I'm only going to add to the PI parade.

I got the AmFIB tights last year on close-out at the local REI. I have LOVED them. I ride daily through Minneapolis winters, I wear the AmFIB tights, with liner shorts, SmartWool knee-high socks, and Chrome knickers down to 0F (after that I add a wind-blocking layer over the top). Worth every penny. When I need new ones, I will not shy away from paying full price.

If your tights already have chamois, layering under is not that great, especially when you wear bike shorts that also have chamois. PI has a new bib without chamois. This should be good for layering. Regarding shaffing merino usually stretch a lot so it shouldn't be a problem.
I wore bibs before now i'm into the MEC sandbagger, my favorite pants. Behave like bibs (10% spandex) but looks like casual pants.

PI AmFibs
I wait till temps drop below 30f, or else I burn up wearing them.

Another data point: Smart Wool tights, Novara padded boxers, and Headwinds pants work to ~-5 F for me. Icebike Polartec instead of smart wool below that.

-10F and windy today...I wore a wool/poly blend off the shelf (Champion brand at Target) compression tight under a loose fitting poly warmup pants. This keeps my legs toasty. Chamois go under the tights.

I don't know brand names or materials, but I have a pair of synthetic "heayweight" outer tights, and light-, mid-, and heavyweight inner tights, all without chamois. I was recently chatting with a runner acquaintance and we both remarked that we carefully chose individual tights, or certain combinations of inner and outer tights according to the ambient temperature, and/or wind. I also wear my cycling shorts, with chamois, over the long-legged tights.

Riding in wet weather is a special circumstance for me, because then I choose the tights in consideration of the outer plastic and somewhat stiff rainpants. Last week I overestimated my ride in the blizzard and cold temp (~ 19 F) by wearing two pairs of tights and the rainpants, and had some difficulty swinging my leg over the seat. I was pedalling slowly on the slippery road surfaces, so those restrictions were not too bad when I got underway.

I like pearl izumi tights, and have there different weights. Mt bike shorts over them and sometimes a nylon wind pant to top it off. Layers are your friend.

Thanks for the info folks! I got a pair of C-dale tights without chamois. I wear shorts under. I got a light weight ,a med and a heavy weight set of smart wool base layer that I wear under the pants and it is working great. Also got some med and heavy jerseys w/ wool base layer. Picked up a Santini Gor-tex jacket to wear over top. Had to vent in 17f so all is good now. The wool is BA!Need to get a better pair of gloves or a heavier liner. Did a double liner and it worked ok, just a bit tight. Got 1 set of Nashbar bibs and they are working well for the 35-45 days but I don't like to layer as they have a chamois in them. Got 3 jerseys,2 tights,4 wool socks, Gloves, full face wool blend hat, 1 wool blend skull cap. Gor-tex jacket, wool glove liners, and base layers, 1 nice pair of ridding glasses from Nashbar for $415. Life is GOOD!
If you have any preference for gloves for the teens feel free to tell me!LOL


Bill

I tried something new for my -33 degree commute this morning. I normally wear P.I. micro fleece lined no pad tights with regular 3 season cycling shorts but because of the very cold conditions I also wore leg warmers under the tights. Worked really well without bunching behind the knee. Stayed warm.
The warmest gloves I have found are Motion Heat 12 volt electric glove liners inside waterproof motorcycle gloves. Good for -30 C. and you can still operate the controls without issue.

Bill.

For those below 10*F days here in Boston I've taken to wearing AmFibs with an Ibex wool layer underneath. Fantastic, though they're a pain to get on just right.

Wore two pairs of wool tights under 'em today just to brave the T as I couldn't bike in to work, worked like a charm.