Bib Tights - Chamois or not Chamois......

messed_up

that is the question (oh dear)

Looking to invest now while there are sales on these. What do people generally find better - bib tights with an insert or with padded shorts underneath? I'll only be using them for weekend rides come the winter, not for commuting, so no real hygiene issues to concern me.

Any advice on what to go for?

Raam

messed_up wrote: »

that is the question (oh dear)

Looking to invest now while there are sales on these. What do people generally find better - bib tights with an insert or with padded shorts underneath? I'll only be using them for weekend rides come the winter, not for commuting, so no real hygiene issues to concern me.

Any advice on what to go for?

Chamois all the way for me. I have a pair of full length Assos, and they are brilliant. Also have a heavy duty Gore pair, which are very warm.
You can also get leg warmers which you can wear with your normal shorts, very useful.

ollietrex

Yep Chamois all the way...

tunney

shorts underneath reasoning being:

1) Warmer
2) You don't have to wash the tights after every ride if you wear shorts underneath, handy for riding two days in a row in the dead of winter when you can only afford one pair of assos tights

blorg

I have always used ones with a built-in chamois but I can understand the reasoning behind shorts underneath. I don't find shorts underneath as comfortable but that could just be because the one pair of non-padded tights I have aren't really proper cycling wear, more for commuters (Ronhill Bikesters.)

E@gle.

I prefer the ones with the inbuilt shammy. The seem to be more comfortable than wearing a pair without and a pair of shorts

messed_up

Thanks for the input guys.

Would leg warmers be a good substitute for a pair of tights or are they really only useful for chilly days rather than downright cold?

Raam

messed_up wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys.

Would leg warmers be a good substitute for a pair of tights or are they really only useful for chilly days rather than downright cold?

Always handy to have both so you have the option. The good thing about warmers is that they allow you to get more use out of your shorts.

blorg

Warmers are good but not as warm as a thick pair of tights. They are ideal for when it is just starting to get cold or when the temperature is variable as you can take them off. They also aren't as comfortable as a pair of tights- more seams, etc. As Raam says they get more value out of your shorts.

I have warmers and both thick and thin tights so I am covered for every eventuality. The thick ones are a sort of furry fleece material on the inside while the thin ones are standard lycra that just does down over your knees (they are 3/4 length.) I used to cycle down to -2 C in just my shorts but tights are a hell of a lot more comfortable.

It's a bit surreal having this conversation on a sunny July day though I must say (well yesterday was sunny anyway.) messed_up- where are you looking for the sales (I do the same myself, buy all my winter clothes in the summer, and summer ones coming into the winter.)

Raam

Just to point out, on Saturdays cycle, I had arm warmers, light shoe covers, a base layer, my Boards jersey and a raincoat on. I would have brought my knee warmers and light gloves if I had thought of it. Blorg had his SPD sandals and Boards jersey and nothing else. Well, apart from shorts obviously.
The point is: some of us feel the cold more than others

Chips Lovell

I'm a big fan of arm warmers and knee warmers. If you're going out first thing in the morning, they keep you nice and warm and then you can take them off and shove them in your pockets as the day warms up.

Raam wrote: »

The point is: some of us feel the cold more than others

I think the people with zero body fat feel the cold more than most. Others have, ahem, better 'natural insulation'.

unionman

el tonto wrote: »

I think the people with zero body fat feel the cold more than most. Others have, ahem, better 'natural insulation'.

Ahem, yes, 'natural insulation'...that's me...

Gavin

el tonto wrote: »

I think the people with zero body fat feel the cold more than most. Others have, ahem, better 'natural insulation'.

He's callin you a fatty Blorg !

Chips Lovell

Verb wrote: »

He's callin you a fatty Blorg !

More like I'm calling Raam a skinnymalinks.

Raam

el tonto wrote: »

More like I'm calling Raam a skinnymalinks.

Them's fightin' words.

Chips Lovell

Raam wrote: »

Them's fightin' words.

Take it as a compliment. I'd gladly trade feeling cold all the time for your body fat ratio.

blorg

Verb wrote: »

He's callin you a fatty Blorg !

I would certainly have more ahem natural insulation than Raam

messed_up

Just looking at the usual on-line retailers:

Evans:

http://www.evanscycles.com/categories/sale/cycle-clothing/mens-clothing/tights/bib-tights?page=1

Wiggle:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/c/Cycle/7/Tights_-_Cycle/

JE James:

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/c1062p1.html

Gavin

Think this came up before, but would a good thick, opaque, pair o' female tights not do the job too ?

blorg

Verb wrote: »

Think this came up before, but would a good thick, opaque, pair o' female tights not do the job too ?

I think you're on your own there. Seriously though, no.