[Closed] Have we done this yet this winter? People who wear shorts whatever the weather

Yeah, my legs don't really get cold. My hands do so I like big thick gloves and keep my inner body core warm with a few layers.

I wear shorts for cycling all year round (baggies - none of this lycra nonsense!). I find trousers really uncomfortable on the bike. Never had a problem with getting cold so don't see the point in wearing something less comfortable.

I must say I used to wear shorts whatever the weather, and never really found it a problem. Then I started wearing tights, realised it was more comfortable and now think anyone wearing shorts is mental!

The one I couldn't quite believe yesterday was the rider in shorts and a sleeveless top at 8am in London. Not just the cold, but the potential for gravel rash when something went wrong...

Shorts all year here too. Hate the feeling of riding in trousers..and it's only a bit of cold 🙂

Any bloke who leaves the house wearing only lycra is a freak anyway. The balaclava would have been so that nobody recognised him. Understandable really

^^ this is a bit silly IMO ^^

I think you need to have a loooong hard look at yourself and others that you come into contact with in the Community and that with your Family, also please take into consideration the Image you are giving Cyclists everywhere on this little Planet of ours.

Cover up.

It's Cold.

It's VERY cold.

😆

Edit:
I don't really want to see your nipples poking out like Skandia Wheel Nuts nor your shrivelled up appendage.
🙄

Passed a MTBer yesterday (-4') wearing [s]clown shorts[/s] baggies.

Either he was nails, or didn't know he could get leg coverings.

My knees get really grumpy in the cold so bib knicks and/or legs as required.

Turning this on its head, I am amazed at how much stuff a lot of riders and (generally Lady) runners wear. Do they not sweat?

I do a few 10k XC (run) events each winter and standard kit is HH top plus shorts. And yet there are people in what looks like full arctic warfare stuff at the start line as well. And they wonder why they are so hot and knackered after 20mins???? All a bit odd.

Needs link to bob a job thread!!

I commute and ride trails year round in the normal lycra/baggy shorts combo.

Cold lower legs doesn't bother me. I quite like it in fact.

What I really don't like is cold head/face

I often see student types in shorts and even flip flops walking down the street in the winter. I don't remember being immune to the cold when I was a student?

Only baggies, here. I don't own any cycling gear that could be used to warm my legs...

I also wear only a base layer for most of the time; when it's really cold, and i'm going downhill for any length of time, i also wear a light windproof top layer. Perhaps i'm just an unusually warm person, but if i wore any more than that while Cycling, then i'd overheat.

I think a lot of it is down to your own personal central heating system (related to metabolism??). I don't really feel the cold at all (apart from my hands), but I really struggle in hot weather.

Good point ^. If it's really cold I wear an M&S long sleeved thermal under my windproof Berghaus jacket, plenty warm enough. My riding mates wear thermals/base layer/t-shirt + jacket...then wonder why they have to stop to remove a layer or 3..

Im a shorts-ist.

Wear a thermal, tshirt, coat with some nice gloves and my legs stay warm. Build up a nice sweat regardless of temperature really.

I suppose its because I have never felt colder than doing a winter season in a summer suit (surf photography). Nothing compares to that.

Students are either drunk or drugged up.. Standard attire when you've kipped on someone elses bed, uninvited..

I've only ever ridden in baggy shorts.

It was -4 over Cannock at the weekend and my mate and I were wearing shorts. After a good 10 mins of cycling I'm pretty toasty so the the thought of wearing trousers just doesn't appeal.

Base layer, long sleeved top and my Gore-Tex jacket and that's me sorted.

😀

On a ride tonight at GT and I'll be wearing my baggies cos its the fashion innit.

Even in the dark.

Waterproof shorts for me in the winter, didn't feel to bad in -12. I still get hot and after 20 minutes or so riding i start undoing jacket zips.

Students is easily explained, it's the beer coat init? I lost mine in my mid twenties, now I just layer up.

However, plus one for women. How do they not sweat to death (same on the bike / gym / running etc.)

I often see student types in shorts and even flip flops walking down the street in the winter. I don't remember being immune to the cold when I was a student?

this

I think modern kids in general are just a gazillion times harder and sturdier than their weak and ailing counterparts of yesteryear

On Wednesday night I rode in my usual winter baggies + knee pads + All-Marketing long socks and the only bit of exposed flesh apart from my face was a small gap between my socks and my knee pads. It was 'kin cold.

It's tights under the baggies for me from now on

#pfftwhatalightweight
#mtfu

Maybe there is something like the swimming [url= http://www.channelswimming.net/rulestext.htm#swimming ]Channel Rules[/url] for cyclists, and you just don't know it!

I am embracing Channel Rules for my weekly swims this year, so skimpy speedos, a swim hat and nowt else this morning for my bracing swim. -4 air temperature, 3 degrees water. I have to be honest, I did not warm up as I got going, had to drink 3 cups to tea to get back to normal afterwards.

Prefer baggy shorts all year; I have some longer DH shorts which have a nice lining that makes them too warm above double-figures. But I always put something on my knees to keep them warm: either 3/4 bibs underneath instead of normal liners, or just some soft knee-pads.

Baggy shorts all year! - wore them this morning on my 22 mile commute (Worcester to Redditch). As mentioned above - I protect the bits that get cold which doesnt include my legs

In order of priority.....

Hands - thick Seal skin gloves
Feet - thick sox - standard road shoes - neoprene overshoes
Family Jewels - A pair of long Johns cut to match my shorts in length
torso - thermal base layer + Endura Stealth Jacket
Head - Buff bandana thing
Knee warmers - A new addition - not really required but nice and cozy

I find im ok like this for the first 80 mins - then my feet are cold for the last 10 mins.

Considering some Specialised Defrosters

Baggy shorts all year. If it's below freezing I may switch to 3/4 length shorts to take the chill off the knees

Baggy shorts for me too... but with leg warmers. I'm not stupid.

Saw a teenager riding in his white school shirt with sleeves rolled up and no gloves yesterday. Big hit with the girls, I reckon.

Not bike related but I am aware of two blokes who wear shorts all year - they have some sort of skin condition which means fabric, of any type, chafes....

it's baggy shorts with lycra shorts underneath for me...
if its really cold i'll add a pair of tights...
i bought a pair of TLD Moto pants years ago but found them too restrictive so i stopped using them after 3 rides...
they're for sale if anyone is interested...they're in perfect condition, in grey, size small...

I wore shorts on the bike this morning. Just shorts. Bib shorts in fact. It was 3 degrees.

But be grateful I was in the garage using the turbo and the family were still asleep.

I used to, if it dropped below zero I'd add a pair of ronhills under the shorts.

These days I just put roubaix longs on as soon as it drops below 10, thick socks under 5, and baggy shorts and extra knee warmers below zero.

Not so much a change in attitude to the cold, but as a student I could only afford 1 set of riding gear, now I've got 2 sets of good baggies, 4 matching liners, 2 sets of cheep baggies and matching liners, 3 sets of really cheep baggies, 2 sets of longs, 3 bibs, winter boots, summer shoes, flat shoes, more jerseys than i can shake a stick at, base layers, soft shells, gillets in several colours, waterproofs, about 5 pairs of gloves.

So not so much that I can't deal with the cold, more that I can now afford not have to!

I've been wearing Roubaix leg warmers since September 😆 Can't understand shorts in this weather!

Roubaix bib tights under baggy shorts for me too. I can't bear the thought of exposing Sheffield to my laycra'd up arse...

Oh and I've read enough stories here of lycra offs resulting in a less than secure set of family jewels, I'd rather rip my shorts a little bit!

Endura Humvee 3/4 all year round for me (both mtbing and commuting in London). Can't be doing with all this trousers/tights nonsense.

I could be interested in sorting out some merino socks or something for feet purposes however...

riding in this morning, i wore

marmot power fleece tights
endura gridlock trousers
merino wool hiking socks
5/10 winter boots
northface base
northface summit series stretch jersey
northface apex softshell
wool sherpa style hat with earwarmers
extramities guide mountain gloves

i was comfy.......... 😀

Depends on the wind more than the temp for me. Could wear shorts all year round and not get cold legs, but find when its cold and windy on the road bike my core temperature suffers without leg coverings.

>Yeah, my legs don't really get cold. <

Yeah, 'course not...

But the conditions you bare legged, baggy wearing freaks are talking about are mostly flatland commutes and the like - pretty much zero consequence if things get too nippy. If we're talking a day spent in the mountains, temps around zero, horizontal sleat, water pouring down your legs and filling your shoes then I'll be wearing all the leg covering I can get thank you very much. Made that mistake just once going over Lochnagar - result hypothermia.

Ok not a riding thing but last night at the dreaded Tesco's I saw at least 5 different shoppers in shorts...two had freekin sandels or flip flops on and one was in shorts and a tee shirt....it was minus 3 or 4 at 10PM last night....whats all that about for gods sake?

I always wear my Endura trousers on the bike in really cold weather any way.

I only wear tights when the Wife is out.

theblackmount: no, not really - I ride all over the Grampians and NE Scotland during winter. I do take extra gear in my rucksack in case things go bad and I end up walking, but no need for them whilst riding.

I was reading the other night in the Team Sky '21 days of Glory'(great book BTW) that their riders are not allowed shorts in training unless temp is over 15 degress. All about knee health apparently.....

My baggies usually get bib longs underneath them from october to April 😆 but I do have a history of knee problems...

I wear shorts offroad, but with kneepads which keep things warm. Lower legs don't do that much heat radiating, and if your clothes waterlog that can end up chilling you more as well as being chafey and unpleasant.

Yeah, 'course not...

But the conditions you bare legged, baggy wearing freaks are talking about are mostly flatland commutes and the like - pretty much zero consequence if things get too nippy. If we're talking a day spent in the mountains, temps around zero, horizontal sleat, water pouring down your legs and filling your shoes then I'll be wearing all the leg covering I can get thank you very much. Made that mistake just once going over Lochnagar - result hypothermia.

I would love to wear trousers but cant find any that fit well and dont get caught up in the chain ring.

If i wear tights or knee pads my knees feel like there going to explode so, baggys it is for me. I wear thick socks, and lots of upper layers though.

When I was cycling to work in my Gap Yah, I somehow got into a bet with my manager that I couldn't commute all winter only wearing shorts. I managed it, and found it was ok so long as my hands and core were warm.

I've subsequently heard lots of things about the ill effects of cold weather on joints, so knees are now always covered below 15 degrees.

Have seen several dog walkers in shorts too this week

Mate who's a postie said they mostly prefer shorts all year round, as when they do get wet, they dry a lot quicker, and they don't get wet as often or as quickly in the first place, preferable to marching about wearing cold wet trousers that cling to the legs.

Yep, I run really hot as soon as I exercise, been boarding in a shirt and hat, wear shorts and single layer all year round, long sleeves if its really really cold.

But, my hands are frozen in the office at 20deg. Makes no sense to me. Just looking at my riding buddies in jackets and heated! Boots makes me feel hot.

I don't own any merino, soft shell, base layer etc etc, if I'm riding, I'm hot, even at night in the snow when my freewheel has frozen.

Bare knees & calves? They're the bits that actually get cold in winter. Along with my feet & hands. I try to keep them all nice and toasty especially as my age increases... Long big tights are the usual choice.

I've learned from many a year windsurfing and riding that once cold it's far far harder and much more effort to get your body back to a temp where everthing works as it should, any less than near optimal performance of joints and muscles and thought patterns could end up weeks in repair whilst your body recovers. I don't like time off anything I do, hence the cover up.

When I first started cycling 'properly' back in the late 80's I learnt the hard way about not covering your kidneys and lower back in cold weather.

Bib shorts/knicks/tights ever since

If your kidneys are in your legs I suggest you have other problems 🙂

Shorts wearer too.

I just don't get bothered by the cold on my legs. So not point in trying to avoid what isn't an issue.

I also wear shorts for work for at least 11.5 months of the year (I work outdoors every day)

Normally shorts all year round, my lower legs don't really get cold and my commute isn't that long. Now I'm at college though and can't have a hot shower upon arrival I've taken to wearing jeans 🙁

Just about to go for an xc ride in my downhill pyjamas, in an attempt to keep the epic cuts in my leg clean. I feel like a knob 🙁

>theblackmount: no, not really - I ride all over the Grampians and NE Scotland during winter.<

LOL, asked for that I guess. I bow to your superior badassness.

No lycra here but still in shorts at present, not cold enough for anything longer. Haven’t yet seen the blasted mud freeze. I did succumb to wearing a wind breaker last weekend though.

This mornings, toasty, commuter outfit(-8C when I set off) -
Baa Baa long sleeve under Convert softshell top
Altura lycra shorts with Thermolite knee warmers. Singletrack shorts on top.

Shorts here too. If its chilly, 3/4 length tights. So long as my feet are warm I'm good to go.

I am one of those berks who wears shorts all year round - just don't feel cold round my knees / legs

On saturday I went for a ride in bib shorts, merino t-shirt and gore soft shell jacket, a pair of gloves, buff, spds & shock horror no socks as I forgot to bring some - I was plenty toasty enough so I guess I must, like an old Rover v8 "run hot" like others have mentioned!

OP the rider in question could have been wearing "hot pants".

igmc

Shorts and knee warmers all year around regardless of the weather. Only time I wear long trousers is on really muddy DH days where you don't have to peddle much.
It's not that important to keep your lower legs warm, but warm knees are essential as it's all tendons and ligaments so unlike muscle they don't have the ability to warm themselves.

As for runners and people wearing tons of clothes they're obviously not running/riding hard enough to keep warm. What they need to do is MTFU and put some effort in.

Oh and skin s water proof and way more breathable than the best man made fabrics.

Tom KP

PS - my daily commute starts at 5am so this morning was a bit chilly, but with a windproof top and decent base/mid layers on my core you soon warm up.

Pah! I wear trousers when I'm going some place fancy!!

I could say that I run hot and have furry legs, both of which are true, but in reality, just want to show them off 🙂