Winter tights

Posted on October 19, 2010 by .
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I didn’t carry my camera this morning so I can’t show you, but I saw an otherwise manly-looking dude riding a bike with baggy shorts over sheer patterned tights(something like the House of Holland tights pictured below) this morning.

In San Francisco I wouldn’t have thought much about this gent’s legwear, but things are a little different in San Jose. My guess: he thought he grabbed his cycling tightsbut fumbled in the morning darkness and got his wife’s instead, though I’d think they feel different. And men’s cycling tights don’t typically have feet.

Jonathan Aston Mock Suspender Tights, House of Holland Bandana Suspender Tights, ASOS Nude Heart Suspender Sheer Tights

In Colorado, I would wear long thermals underneath my pants to keep me warm. Here in California, winter means rain, which means rain pants over those same thermals. Otherwise, when it’s not raining, it’s rarely cold enough to wear anything special.

Men and women, what do you do when the temperature drops? Do you wear tights or leggings of some kind?



See also:

  1. Outlier for women: Daily Riding Pant
  2. Stuff I like: Bike clothing
  3. Winter race Leadville Colorado
  4. Winter Cycling Attire


  • Andy

    I wear very thin silk long underwear for around 40-50F, and the same pair for sun protection up to 90F on sunny centuries.
    For around 20-40 I wear regular long johns, which are able to be pulled above the knee while riding, which is handy for the hills.
    For <32F I usually wear cycling tights that are fairly windproof and fleece lined. It has to be below freezing to be comfortable in these though, since there's some big hills on the commute and pedaling uphill always warms me up pretty well.

    Once spring hits, I'm back to wearing just shorts when it's above 40F.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ultimatewinner Edwin Moore

    The best thing I have for winter riding is a Seirus masque. It’s made of fleece-lined neoprene which takes care of the wind bite without getting wet inside from my breath.

  • http://www.cyclelicio.us/ Cyclelicious

    I have a Seirus clava — fleece lined neoprene like yours. I love it for outdoor activities in extreme cold.

  • http://twitter.com/gussynichols Luke N

    Not when im riding around town, if it colder than -20c (-4F) i wear thermals. Thick gloves and a toque is all i generally need along with a winter jacket.

  • http://www.plush-apparel.com Guest

    I found the best pair of Fleece-lined tights at http://www.plush-apparel.com. They are perfect to wear as thermals, they are amazing! I also recently bought their “stitched leggings”, which are actual leggings that I wear when it’s even colder.

  • Anonymous

    It’s good to hear of a man secure in his masculinity.

    Myself, I wear sweats over tights. If too cold for that, I’ve acquired thermal underwear. Just basic black for me. Gray sweats.

  • http://www.cyclelicio.us/ Cyclelicious

    Hi,

    I love unsolicited product mentions like the kind you left as a
    comment at Cyclelicious. It’s how I find out about quality products,
    and Plush looks like good stuff that’s very apropos for cyclists.

    What I love a lot less are people who pretend not to have any
    affiliation with the product. My sincerest apologies if I’ve read you
    wrong, but if not: *please* disclose your affiliation in your
    comments and I’ll love you a lot more.

    All the best,

    Richard Masoner
    Santa Cruz, California USA
    http://www.cyclelicio.us/ is yummy!

  • http://www.cyclelicio.us/ Cyclelicious

    I lived (and biked) in Texas from 1984 to 1992 (commuted across DFW Airport and the Mid Cities) — I don’t believe I even *owned* long underwear or even cycling tights then!

  • bikinginla

    Maybe he was just getting in the mood for a Rocky Horror Halloween.

  • Anonymous

    Last winter, the coldest commute I made in NE Tarrant County was 15F with a headwind and an official wind chill of 9F. Not often, though.

    -Steve A

  • Doug

    I wear REI Novara Headwind pants. They are amazing. Lightweight with a paper thin laminate on the front side that blocks wind. Good down to 25 degrees by themselves. From 25F down to about 10F I layer leg warmers underneath them. They are slightly loose fitting so that you can easily layer. Below 10F I layer a pair of Col d’Lizard Icebike tights underneath them. I’ve taken these down to 28 below (not including wind chill). That was for 10 hours in a winter bike race. My legs never felt the cold. The Headwind pants are one of the best kept secrets out there for winter cycling. Last week I ordered two more pair during a REI sale.

  • http://www.cyclelicio.us/ Cyclelicious

    15F – ouch! Yeah, that’s cold. Lots of broken plumbing I’m sure!

  • http://www.cyclelicio.us/ Cyclelicious

    Thanks for that tip. I own a lot of REI gear, but those pants aren’t one of them.

  • Asdfa

    nylons are super cheap, super light and give reasonable warmth.

  • meligrosa

    oooh seksi!! :D