[Closed] Are shorts in cold weather really bad for your knees??

Mum's tights, long johns, dodgy old tracksuit bottoms, and waterproof over trousers. Then, you should be ok.

Shorts? In January? Are you completely mad?

Or SimonFBarnes, from pics I've seen.

Mind, same thing, some would say...

I where shorts all year round... I like cold legs 🙂

I used to wear shorts all year round, then I put some of my wifes thermal legging things on. They're ace.

I arrived a work a while back with a crust of snow on the front of by bare legs, no problem really, I always wear shorts and my knees still work most of the time

you'll get "easter knee"

Aldi have cheap thermal compression tights at the moment...

I found it OK until about 2 years ago, as soon as I hit 30 I had to be warm

Yeah cold doesn't bother me at all - just thinking it may not be kind on my knees.

igm - how much are they, do you know if they are in all aldi stores as can't find them on their website?

If you think shorts in winter are bad for knees maybe you should try a homoeopathic remedy?

ride naked? might scare the wildlife

pedal faster

joe1983 - the aldi tights were about £8 came out last Sunday and the sizes are opptimistic (or I've gotten even fatter) Still had loads in in Castleford during the week.

MTFU !!!! Last Sunday at the Marin Trail - 4 & legs like spam !!!

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My knees are fine while actually riding but if they do get cold then it's when I get off the bike that they protest. Whether or not it does any long term harm I've no idea but I choose to keep them warm as I'm pretty sure that won't cause any problems. I always ride with the idea that I might end up having to walk home so dress accordingly.

I wear knee warmers, they're great. I'm sure I read that at low temperatures the lubricating fluid in the knee (sinovial?) thickens, so isn't as lubing. May only be noticeable if you have dodgy knees anyway (like what I have), I certainly notice the difference.

I'm almost twice 30 and still riding in shorts (in fact I always wear shorts) and my knees work fine :o) Tights are for tarts!
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I wear shorts all year round, in the cold weather I put longs over the top.

I need 3/4 baggies to keep my knees warm through the winter otherwise I can hardly walk the next day, IMO some people have better joints than others - my father in law has been arthritic since his 40's. If you're a pansy like me then tights or 3/4 shorts (or both) are a good option. We can't all be godlike superheros like SFB.

[i]Shorts? In January? Are you completely mad?

Or SimonFBarnes, from pics I've seen.

Mind, same thing, some would say...[/i]

Yep. Proven right. Thank you, Simon.

Nutter... 😯

Yep think I'm in the minority that have a condition called 'gimp-knee'. Arthritis runs in the family and MTFU'ing might not seem such a great idea when I'm hobbling around later in life. Like thefallguy I'm fine out riding in shorts, it's the next day that my knees give up.

Had to laugh at the tags!

I've always been happy in shorts but I'm sure I read somewhere that on mainland europe they cover up their legs long before it gets to single figures, let alone negative ones. seems as a relust, they have fewer old cyclists with knackered knees.

Started feeling it in my knees for the first time on a sub-zero ride last weekend.

Aged 34, and possibly a sign of things to come.

Wore neoprene knee pads the next day - worked a treat.

less than 15C is supposed to be bad for the knees,
when i get my hands on my old sports teacher

I don't think it makes much difference after you've been going for a while.

I need 3/4 baggies to keep my knees warm through the winter otherwise I can hardly walk the next day, IMO some people have better joints than others - my father in law has been arthritic since his 40's. If you're a pansy like me then tights or 3/4 shorts (or both) are a good option. We can't all be godlike superheros like SFB.

i'm the same, if i didn't cover my knees and let them get cold they wouldn't work the next day. even if i have a hot bath afterward they would feel cold to the touch for several hours and would need deep heat and hot water bottles to stop them aching.
some people can ride in above the knee shorts all year round, I can't.

If your knees feel the cold, cover them; if they don't, then wear shorts if you want!

Football and rugby players seem to manage OK wearing shorts through the winter. Having said that, I know a lot of old football and rugby players with knackered knees.

Me, I'm nesh - I cover my knees when the temperature drops below about 12'C.

3/4 length bib longs. long enough to keep knees toasty, short enough so they don't wick from any puddle plodging.

>Having said that, I know a lot of old football and rugby players with knackered knees.

Probably a result of the high impacts their knee joints took rather than wearing shorts in the cold 😉

Tights as soon as it gets cold for me, I just can't wear shorts or 3/4's in really cold weather. I really suffer in the cold, especially with cold hands and if any part of me actually gets cold it just won't warm up again.

In fact even at the Tod CX race I was wearing 3/4's, a long sleeve base layer and SealSkinz socks, a lot of the racers were in shorts and short sleeves, some weren't even wearing gloves!

think there may be a bit of the old wives tales in covering your knees when it get cold as seam to remember that we ran around with only animal skins on for quite a long time with out to much problems and i think it might have been a little bit cold then 🙄

think there may be a bit of the old wives tales in covering your knees when it get cold as seam to remember that we ran around with only animal skins on for quite a long time with out to much problems and i think it might have been a little bit cold then [:roll:]

Yes but those guys died in the jaws of a sabertooth tiger before they got much past 30. You wait till your a shagged out old wreck like me and you'll be wearing thick wooly tights the same as me. If I went for a ride in this weather wearing shorts my knees would sound like the castle front door from a Hammer horror movie

I ware just a thong

I sometimes wear longs on night rides when it is very cold but pretty much at all other times wear shorts. I have to admit I do sometimes feel it a bit on particularly cold days but just put that down to hitting 40 last year

It depends whether you want to keep riding bikes / doing stuff when you are older. Rough tough mountaineers / walkers shunned trekking poles when they came out - they save your knees and are far more accepted. If you want your knees to work properly when you are old, keep em warm enough.

Anyone who is 'shorts are the only thing' has a very short-sighted view of their own body and it working for longer.

I'm pretty surprised by the ammount of you that wear shorts in winter.
I'm convinced my legs work better when I keep them warm.
Even when I've been well covered I've returned after hours on the road in absolute agony.....blue and white feet and frozen solid camelbaks I think are good pointers to cover up.
And call me old fashioned but I've always covered up in winter, just like the pros. And if I race early season in shorts I'll use a cycling leg balm.

It's a bit like smoking isn't it?

We all know it's probably bad for us, but some still do it and it never causes them any problems......

🙂

Shorts with knee warmers are all I ever need.

I wore shorts in china and it got down to -12 deg C however that was not by design (I didn't take any tights with me).

now back in the UK I have been using bib tights through December and January just through comfort. Bib tights do wind me up - how do you go for a leak without stripping off completely!

I am not sure there's any connections between cold knees and them not working?

I agree in part with the statement that you just pedal faster to keep warm however if you get stranded or need to fix a puncture you can get cold very quickly.

baggies with kyle strait knee pads -toasty warm and protected

If it's summer in your soul, you can wear shorts all year round...

Always ride in shorts, 661 kneepads keep the knees warm sometimes...

something to think about, flesh starts to freeze at -5 Celsius. This is when Frostbite begins to become an issue

[i]Bib tights do wind me up - how do you go for a leak without stripping off completely![/i]

I got Gore ones with a conveniently placed zip. Absolute genius.

I have to cover my knees or they complain like fury. I've got bib tights, 3/4 length shorts, knee warmers - the works. Think the Endura 3/4 MT500 tights I got are my favourite. Fit really well and can be used pretty much all year round.

When its cold I get my 3/4 bib tights out and then put some shorts over when mtb. When its really cold I put some windstopper tights and still put shorts over them. My knees need to be looked after so I keep them warm and take Glucosamine as well (dont know if it works but knee pain is not coming back so I guess it does work for me).

If You have any knee condition or need to look after them than tights/warmers or something like that need to be used.

Back home when it was colder than 12-15 all my club mates were starting to wear longs or 3/4, but again winter is colder than here. Last week was about -15 to -21. Try to wear shorts only when its that cold. 🙂

Scots look like they are cold resistant, never saw so many people wearing short sleeves or just a sweatshirt in winter 😉

ronhills under normal shorts here, works quite well on most days

then when its propper cold bring out some cheep £10 trackies from sportsking/socerWorld etc and wear bibs under them.

I've got crap knees though, and im only 22!

In cold weather as the body inevitably cools down, the blood circulation shrinks inwards to maintain core temperature, ie blood flow is reduced from the arms and legs. This can cause cramping in the legs.

I would have thought the effects of cold on blood flow to the knee joint would also be detrimental in some way.

Longs for me.

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Dead 'ard me. I do currently have a bad knee - pretty sure its not related though.

I'm also shocked at how many people wear shorts. Do any of you actually do it through choice? Ie have you bought some tights, worn them, got too hot and gone back to shorts? I've only ever spoken to people who've got tights and realised how much more comfy it is!

Tights or 3/4 below about 14-15 degrees, lots of embrocation if racing in lower temperatures.

Ie have you bought some tights, worn them, got too hot and gone back to shorts?

YES 🙂 Tights are for girls.

I think not wearing shorts in the cold is less potentially harmfull than wearing them,and you've only one body etc..

Shorts wearers are nuts. 🙂

shorts and knee warmers, best of both worlds!

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Rarely ride in anything other than shorts and T, unless its raining. I get too hot within about 10 minutes of setting off unless I go out like this. Have some tights, get hot and itchy in them. Have a jacket but get too hot and itchy in it so tend to either wear it open or take it off altogether. It was only -4 when this photo was taken so not too bad.

Maybe shorts wearers aren't nuts. It's weird you get so hot coffeeking.

think not wearing shorts in the cold is less potentially harmfull than wearing them,and you've only one body etc..

Shorts wearers are nuts.

did you mean [b]more[/b] harmful ?

It is weird, I agree 🙂 Suits me fine though. Still get cold standing around, its just under my own motion I seem to produce more heat than my body can deal with lol.

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was about -10 that evening. i had two(!) pairs of socks on....