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We had a debate on this last week. around 2/3 of the group had baggies over longs, rest, self included were in "bare lycra". so what do the stw style gouru's reckon ?
and if baggies, do i use my singletracks or attacks or buy some winter specifics ?
i don't see the point in baggies at the best of times, the only exception is waterproof shorts.
I hate mudguards, hate baggies, it is just hate a soggy chammy more than i hate baggy shorts.
Personally I wear baggies over lycra when it's proper cold, if it's a bit warmer - as in not snowing just knee warmers
Baggy waterproof shorts (gore alp x) over lycra (3/4's or longs)
Can't see why you'd want soggy baggy shorts over damp lycra - yuck!
Baggies over lycra = no problem. It's not a fashion show.
I tend to go a lot longer before succumbing to tights now that I wear knee pads most rides though. They keep a lot of warmth in.
Baggies stop you from ruining your lycra longs with gritty mud. They also help you to avoid the 'I'm a Mountain biker and I dress the same way that they do in the mags, so why am I jeffing freezing while wearing shorts when it's 2 degrees?' silliness...
TBH, I think the whole "baggy" thing really is just fashion driven. As mrmo says, there might be a good excuse to use waterproof shorts, but otherwise there's little point. Something like the Endura MT500 tights/bibtights are ideal as they already have a second layer of fabric on the most likely abrasion points (should a fall occur).
Who cares. It'll be freezing and muddy and you worry about what clothes to wear? Everyone looks daft on a bike most of time anyway whatever the clothes.
Just me with Lycra over baggies then?
If it's too cold, wet and shitty for shorts either lycra or baggies, then it's just roubaix longs for me. Still a month off yet I think. As long as I'm comfortable I couldn't give two hoots what others think.
Druidh - with you on this one but keen to see opinions. dhb bib longs did me great last winter 😀
I think it's a good idea sometimes, especially for long, muddy rides from home. It's warmer, you've got pockets to keep stuff in, the shorts keeps the crud off you and apart from anything else it makes things a lot easier when you get home as you can ditch the muddy baggies at the door and head to the shower with some semblance of decency without treading god knows what into the carpet.
TBH, I think the whole "baggy" thing really is just fashion driven.
you see, i think the opposite - why on earth would i want to dress in spandex just to tide my bike?? not going fast enough for aero benefits, and if i crash there's a good chance it'll vanish - sweet!
Baggies over lycra here too. I'm not under any illusion that it looks good, but it's handy to take the muddy, wet baggies off when driving home. Plus they help to keep me warmer, add extra padding and of course prevent the budgie smuggler look. 😯
TBH, I think the whole "baggy" thing really is just fashion driven.
and ?
are you saying that you're impervious to fashion in every other aspect of your life ?
prevent the budgie smuggler look
ah yes [i]that[/i] look 🙄
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Hummvees over lycra here too
The look of horror on some poor ladies face in Ambleside years ago, was enough to persuade me in the way of the baggy short over the tights.. 😳
Maybe i need to try the baggies....
Im interested to know, as a lot of riders use knee pads, using the Lycra route, do the pads sit well over the Lycra longs. Or for the warmth on the legs is it best to go for long baggies with the pads underneath?
baggies over keeps the mud from soaking through.
when it's properly cold (cold and dry) then lycra is fine.
i think lycra is just fashion really - middle aged men want to look like world cup racers.
[i]i think lycra is just fashion really - middle aged men want to look like world cup racers.[/i]
I don't quite see how lycra can be seen as pure fashion. Fit for purpose would sum it up better IME.
chalkntrees - Member
..... prevent the budgie smuggler look.
If it's cold enough for full longs then there's not much budgie to smuggle 😳
Surely Legends photo' ends the debate, us blokes just look ridiculous in Lycra. On the road I can see the reason for it (baggies flappin' in the wind). Baggies over Lycra all the way on the mtb.
I'd say it depends where you ride non?
Me, long forest singletrack with bramble lined smalltrack and mix of hard/squelch trails..
Baggies over lycra keeps brambles and other vines tagging my lycra also keeps me warm. If it's really cold and gloopy then I'll happily don long legs/baggies combo.
Are you trying to impress someone by wear torn lycra?
If I'm just wearing shorts then baggies over is fine - I might wear them or not.
Baggies over lycra tights looks even worse than just lycra tights IMO. Although I'd wear waterproof shorts over tights if needed. As said above, most people on a bike look faintly ridiculous to non-cyclists so it doesn't really matter much!
generally mixed singletrack 2-3 hr rides, often mixed company 😳 I usually wear padded shorts and then lycra tights/bibs without liner. Sometimes if it's really hosing I will stick on my Altutra Attack's but feels a bit bulky with effectively 3 'pairs of trousers'
being 40 plus and style unconscious I also use mudguards, so the whole grit protection thing doesn't factor in
Like anyone would give a flying ferret what you lot think. Wear what you like, like what you wear and give everyone else a break... 😕
Baggies is a massive British "thing", in Colorado last summer they were all in lycra.lots of people racing in lycra at oktoberfest and lots of them shouldn't not pleasant sites. I wear baggies as i don't want to subject people to me in tight lucrative of which I don't find it comfortable.
Tight lucrative?
How much do you ask them to pay?
Are internet fora the death knell of certain people's ability to make decisions themselves?
[i]Are internet fora the death knell of certain people's ability to make decisions themselves? [/i]
yes.
err, no.
no, yes.
*achieves an agony of indecision*
Waterproof shorts over lycra on the mtb in the worst of winter. Baggies over lycra on my road commute to work as i work with loads of totty, it's purely a vanity thing. I did give them a choice by catwalking my athletic* figure around work in full lycra, and they chose baggies.
*some may say scrawny.
If it's cold and dry then normal baggies, if it's cold and wet then waterproof baggies, no longs here you bunch of gheyers 😀 worked ok last winter and the winter before when temps hit -10 (and this was in the midlands so I'm not even a rock 'ard northerner!!!!). Coupled with gore phantom n2s top this was plenty warm enough once you get pedalling.
done it a few times with only lycra - didnt enjoy it as ended up with soggy botty....
used to wear endura singletrack shorts over the top, but didnt like to wash them that much as i love the shorts...
so gone to lycra with gorebikewear alp x waterproof shorts over the top...
perfect combo, super light soft shell, keeps wind off legs, any mud after the ride generally brushes off easily with towel, and whats more you can bung them in the washer with no special proofers/cleaners etc etc and as they are that light they dry super super super quick....
if its absolutly lashing it it down, i go for my dhb event waterproof trousers....again a big pain to wash and reproof though
After years of ronhills over bibs or under bagies, I discovere roubaix longs last year. Won't be wearing anything else on my legs this year!
Ohh and compression fit tops rock, sleveless under a long jersy at the moment, long sleved probably next month.
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As a roadie moving over to the muddy side, this discussion is pretty amusing... like the 'is wearing team kit wrong?' on a road bike forum 😉
Lycra is the pure comfort element (there is no debate to be had here!) and the baggies add practicality - with the likelihood of having a spill infinitely higher than on the road, and the presence of vegetation to pull/snag clothing, why would you risk ruining your tights?
I can see some exceptions though; top one being endurance events - comfort again and also at race pace nothing beats skint tight stuff for temperature control/wicking properties etc.
oh, and from a 'style' point of view. I'm over thirty so my give a shit'o'meter is moving gradually towards zero with every birthday... I love having no shame.
I have worn baggies over lycra for years and found it to be by far and away the comfiest and most practical option for all weathers, ranging from mid 30s in Spain to below freezing and soaking wet in this country.
If I went out in just lycra the boys would all keel over in shock at what an incredible arse I have. They would find it too much of a distraction and start crashing into trees and rocks.
Best to keep the baggies on for the sake of not having to ship people off to hospital all the time.
its also has to be in context too, lets say you are a brad wiggins esque build racing snake - lycra will generally look great on you....
lets say your a 15stone lard ass (like most mtbers 😉 ) and wearing lycra on its own will look truly awful, especially on a mtb....
i think some people can carry it off, and some people it just looks better to cover it up..
Sue_W - Member
Baggy waterproof shorts (gore alp x) over lycra (3/4's or longs)Can't see why you'd want soggy baggy shorts over damp lycra - yuck!
Can`t afford Gore gear, simples 🙄 Lidl and Aldi for me this year 💡
+1 and more for tops & bwd posts 😆
As I approach 60 then this is probably quite appropriate 😉
Oscillate Wildly - Member
its also has to be in context too, lets say you are a brad wiggins esque build racing snake - lycra will generally look great on you....lets say your a 15stone lard ass (like most mtbers ) and wearing lycra on its own will look truly awful, especially on a mtb....
i think some people can carry it off, and some people it just looks better to cover it up..
Without wanting to get embroiled in this debate, it is 100% personal after all! I can't let this slide...
It's warmer, you've got pockets to keep stuff in, the shorts keeps the crud off you and apart from anything else it makes things a lot easier when you get home as you can ditch the muddy baggies at the door and head to the shower with some semblance of decency without treading god knows what into the carpet.
Warmer? No, unless you've got waterproof baggies on (such as the Alp X ones, which are not at all baggy!) an extra layer of sodden material flapping around your thighs is not warmer.
Pockets? If you don't mind things bouncing around constantly, otherwise jersey/jacket/bag is more sensible, you're less likely to land on them too!
Crud off? Well it puts it on a different layer of fabric, not much else
Treading crap into the carpet? How do you figure? Your thighs/arse may be slightly cleaner, as they will be if you take your tights off and have lycra shorts underneath. Seeing as my lower legs tend to be as muddy if not muddier I fail to see any advantage there!
I used to use Alp X shorts, they wore through after 3 winters, last year I didn't bother and didn't really notice a massive difference frankly. I probably don't use the MTB that much when it's stupidly muddy though.
****ing power rangers everywhere on bikes.....put it away!