Leg Warmers or just full length bib shorts?

[PorkRind]

So i currently don't cycle as much due to the coldness and need to get out more. To do that I need to increase my cold weather gear. I'm borderline needing fatladatheback products but can get into some xxl stuff in castelli's & campag's range and was wondering, should i go for some leg warmers or just get a full bib?

I guess i'm slightly concerned the leg warmers would fall down mid ride whereas the bib has the benefit of being strung up by the shoulders..

Some input on such products gratefully received.


Also, some winter gloves that i can actually move my hands in - castelli's winter jobbies were worse than my motorbike gloves for moving my hand around in :/...

[Magic919]

I use leg warmers more than my bib tights. Mine have never fallen down, but I've pulled them up a bit en route. Save the tights for when it's really nasty and no chance of warming up and/or drying out.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

I use leg warmers much more than tights too. Never had a problem with them falling down. In the depths of winter I have deep winter tights but they're too hot above about 2'c. Leg warmers also give more flexibility in spring and autumn, as they can be removed mid ride.

[PorkRind]

Magic919 said:

I use leg warmers more than my bib tights. Mine have never fallen down, but I've pulled them up a bit en route. Save the tights for when it's really nasty and no chance of warming up and/or drying out.

What, so you'll ride your shorts in 5 degree weather?! Wow, i must be a real pussy .

What winter gloves would you all recommend?

[GarryDK]

I use both leg warmer and tights, depends on whats clean at the time.

[CoolC]

Good timing on this thread. I'm the same, having very little cold weather gear and wanting to continue riding through winter.

My bib shorts are too thin for any cold weather (below ~5C) so should I be looking at Roubaix shorts/tights/jerseys?

Also, what's best for keeping hands and feet warm? My shoes are way too ventilated for this weather as my feet turn to ice at anything below about 10C.

[GarryDK]

I use Thick socks and toe warmers for my feet and skiing gloves for really cold mornings.

[Mr Will]

PorkRind said:

Magic919 said:

I use leg warmers more than my bib tights. Mine have never fallen down, but I've pulled them up a bit en route. Save the tights for when it's really nasty and no chance of warming up and/or drying out.

What, so you'll ride your shorts in 5 degree weather?! Wow, i must be a real pussy .

What winter gloves would you all recommend?

I'm similar. I stay very warm when riding, my legs in particular. I have leg warmers because there are only a handful of times per year I'll use them - not enough to justify buying a decent set of tights.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

PorkRind said:

What winter gloves would you all recommend?

I have lost count of the number of gloves I own. I would recommend Assos 851 Early Winter gloves down to about 6/7'c. Below that down to about -5'c Pearl Izumi lobster gloves do the trick.

[Kell]

I use bib tights and currently have two pairs.

One pair is just lycra material and one has windstopper inserts.

I've hardly worn the windstopper ones. Partly because they're not as stretchy as the others, but mostly as they're too warm.

The ones I wear have a lightly padded insert, so I wear cycling shorts underneath them. Though it has to be said, I've only worn them about twice this year when it got down to 2 degrees.

I've never tried leg warmers so I can't compare, but I have no problems recommending the tights to anyone.

For what it's worth, I'm also borderline Fat Lad at the Back and I like bib tights over trousers as I find the trousers do tend to slip down when I ride. Not only is it unpleasant for anyone being me to have to look at my crack, it means you get lots of icy wind on your kidneys.

Bib tights stop all that and keep you nice and snug.

[richardxjr]

Road bike tonight:

Padded shorts (bib or not bib) with unpadded bib tights over.

Woolie Boollie socks underneath a lesser second pair of socks underneath windproof shoe covers.

HH base layer top with Aldi winter softshell over (fantastic bit of kit I'm not kidding!. Gore one only for sub zero)

Cotton cycling cap under helmet. Skull cap only comes out sub zero.

DeFeet Dura gloves. Magical seemless knitted 3 season gloves from the makers of Woolie Boollies.

[PorkRind]

Kell said:

I use bib tights and currently have two pairs.

One pair is just lycra material and one has windstopper inserts.

I've hardly worn the windstopper ones. Partly because they're not as stretchy as the others, but mostly as they're too warm.

The ones I wear have a lightly padded insert, so I wear cycling shorts underneath them. Though it has to be said, I've only worn them about twice this year when it got down to 2 degrees.

I've never tried leg warmers so I can't compare, but I have no problems recommending the tights to anyone.

For what it's worth, I'm also borderline Fat Lad at the Back and I like bib tights over trousers as I find the trousers do tend to slip down when I ride. Not only is it unpleasant for anyone being me to have to look at my crack, it means you get lots of icy wind on your kidneys.

Bib tights stop all that and keep you nice and snug.

What brand bib tights do you have?

richardxjr said:

Road bike tonight:



HH base layer top with Aldi winter softshell over (fantastic bit of kit I'm not kidding!.

I've heard good things about these !!

[dontdobends]

Its to cold for leg warmers at the mo,but my Lusso repel bibtights are perfect for my potter to work!

[Kell]

PorkRind said:

Kell said:

I use bib tights and currently have two pairs.

One pair is just lycra material and one has windstopper inserts.

I've hardly worn the windstopper ones. Partly because they're not as stretchy as the others, but mostly as they're too warm.

The ones I wear have a lightly padded insert, so I wear cycling shorts underneath them. Though it has to be said, I've only worn them about twice this year when it got down to 2 degrees.

I've never tried leg warmers so I can't compare, but I have no problems recommending the tights to anyone.

For what it's worth, I'm also borderline Fat Lad at the Back and I like bib tights over trousers as I find the trousers do tend to slip down when I ride. Not only is it unpleasant for anyone being me to have to look at my crack, it means you get lots of icy wind on your kidneys.

Bib tights stop all that and keep you nice and snug.

What brand bib tights do you have?

The ones I wear most often must be about 10-12 years' old and are made by a now (unfortunately) obsolete company called Parrot.

They were great as they made really good cycling stuff at a very reasonable price and in bigger sizes.

[Nikolai]

I use Sportful NoRain leg warmers under baggy shorts, they're brilliant and never fall down. Also,I use Mavic Toe Warmers which are great in this weather if you have normal cycling shoes with mesh vents.

[Gruffy]

Castelli Nanoflex bib tights are my first choice, but they're the only pair of tights I own. I was trying to find a pair of wind-resistant (and ideally water-repellant) unpadded tights but haven't found anything, so I went for a pair of Nanoflex leg warmers instead. I'm keen to be able to use the bib shorts I already have and stop washing the Nanoflex bib tights 4 times a week so warmers seem like the best option until I can find some overtights to fit the bill.

[Matt_N]

Bib tights for me with roubaix lining, my knees groan in the cold otherwise.

[47p2]

Unpadded bib tights with padded shorts for me although my legs are the last thing to feel the cold. Couldn't be ar5ed with leg warmers

[Usget]

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-neoprene-glove/

Cheap, and I never have cold fingers. They act like a wetsuit.

[PorkRind]

Usget said:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-neoprene-glove/

Cheap, and I never have cold fingers. They act like a wetsuit.

They look good and warm, but similar to some castelli's i bought that were thick, stiff and not really as flexible/feelsome as id like..