I wear tights under my baggies more often now than I used to. Don't know if that's an age thing but I'm certainly not getting any skinnier. That said if its cold but dry I'll generally be happy with ¾'s on, when its slightly warmer but wet I'll wear tights as I find when my shins are exposed and wet the heat fair gets sucked out.
Tights/legwarmers for me under the shorts from pretty much the end of September til the beginning of May, and then often in between. I remember doing a road sportive in June a few years back in full winter kit.
I wouldn't wear tights if my life depended on it
Normally just shorts and knee pads plus my longish winter seal skinz. It's only if it's really cold (-5 or lower) that'll I wear my 3/4 thermal bibs under my shorts when on the mtb.
On the road bike I've stopped going out when it gets down to 5 degrees as the wind chill is just too much as even with decent thermal layers on plus overshoes my hands and feet are usually numb to the point I can't feel them by the time I'm 45 mins in to a ride.
Depends on how cold. The last few months I've had the tights on under my baggies for commuting and off ride they've been there too the last few rides as it's been bloody freezing. I like cosy.
Has to be snow on the ground to get me to cover up. Even then I may still be in shorts even in snow. Sealskinz socks combined with knee pads keeps much of the legs warm anyway, but to be honest I don't feel the cold in the legs.
Plus, despite born & bred in Devon, I have northern ancestry 😉
And I don't do tights or bibs. Might do ski thermals under the shorts if it's really that bad, but that's it.
The leggings only come out when the temp approachs zero,
Even then they're worn with shorts.
Knee pads and socks the rest of the year.
My legs don't work well when cold, and if knees are not covered I get pain after
Having had proper hypothermia once in my life, I would never risk suffering it again.....only takes an innocuous off or break down miles from anywhere. For that reason I dress accordingly for the riding conditions forecast. 😉
One of biking's greatest feeling is getting the legs out / shorts on for that first spring ride. Sunglasses essential to block the white knee-glare.
EDIT: must admit to having just bought 'emergency' Ron Hill bikesters for the Puffer. They repel water you know...
Many years ago a former national MTB champion told me "look after your knees below 15 degrees", that's good enough for me.
I was walking the dog on the Quantocks Sunday morning and some lads were just going out on a ride, it was blimmin freezing.
I broke my ankle on a solo ride on a summer's evening and it was scary how quickly shock set in, it could have been life threatening if the same thing had happened in the winter and I'd been wet and cold.
I struggle going outside to reach the car on my way to work in winter, shorts don't exist to me even on the hottest days of the year.
Unless at that moment I'm playing tennis outside.
But trousers on all the time for cycling.
Normally yeah though I have bought some bib longs. More for keeping my lumbar warm
Get too hot in tights, bib tights are a definite no go. I do wear just below the knee thermal shorts under my baggies. Even on top on a cold day it will be a baselayer, and winter jersey on top, a pair of gloves in my pocket for any stops.
As posted elsewhere, it's not a "i'm hard" thing, once im going, i'm warm, i just try not to stop for too long.
It's my cold sweat that i only ever really get cold from too, so try to limit in the first place.
Me and a mate have been struggling since september why lots you see about are in full tights, winter boots, thick gloves and several jackets, decided it was too much standing around faffing.
Realised in the depths of winter if i can play football and t-shirt and shorts and be comfortable, i should really be on the bike too.
Summer and the milder bits of spring / autumn = bib shorts
Coldest bits of autumn / spring = bib 3/4s or knee warmers
Winter = generally bib 3/4s though when it gets really cold not many times, probably has to be -5 or colder), full bib tighs.
Always with baggies over
I was asked on Sunday why I was wearing shorts. I said I didn't want to go out in just my pants
No, Not even during summer. 3/4 baggies on warm days (30+Celcius) but any other times pants on the mtb and Bib tights on the road bike.
Only wear shorts on holiday round the pool otherwise 3/4.
When I used to play football, my socks went up to my knee and only my patella was exposed.
Naturally tanned anyway so no need show them to the sun.
Not embarrassed by my legs, I just can't stand being cold.
I have longs for if it gets proper cold, but I'm in Devon so it doesn't very often
As long as I'm moving/turning my legs, I can generate enough heat to stay hot in anything over about 2 degrees so will always wear Lycra shorts/ 3/4s under a pair of shorts.
If it's proper chilly I'll wear full length.
I've accidentally grabbed full length leggings when aiming for the shorts, and it actually slows me down, getting too hot..
DrP
I can't imagine riding in anything but shorts? I'm also uncomfortable wearing anything with long sleeves as well. Back in the UK I was to be seen with my waterproofs rolled up to my elbows as standard. I think I run really warm though and don't really feel the cold. Though has to be said a few years living in Australia has softened me up a treat so who knows now.
I always found it amusing that all the bramble cuts and scrapes would not bleed until I got home or to a cafe/pub and the blood resurfaced. Like a mountain biking stigmatic.
Normally wear Endura over trousers (saves depositing huge amounts of mud around the house) but yesterday was pretty warm so shorts came out.
Deposited huge amounts of mud around the house instead.....
I dress to be comfortable. Got a variety of shorts 3/4 baggies 3/ bibs, trousers and tights depending on the weather.
My legs don't get cold but my get do.
Hardly ever wear shorts, only summer I guess. Whilst my legs don't 'feel' cold they are, well I assume the cold makes my legs cold.
The last week has been very mild - I've just been wearing shorts for the commute. There's no bravado, no aversion to Lycra but it's just not cold enough at the moment to need tights IMO. I'm still wearing long bibs on the MTB though.
I wear 3/4 length shorts with high cuff merino socks usually in all but the coldest of rides (then the trousers come out).
As soon as I'm moving I'm generally too hot. Even in the depths of winter night ride I get funny looks for wearing shorts and short sleeve jersey.
I've been out in t shirts and shorts and others have been faffing with boot heaters. 😆
Bet I die on the road bike now.. 😳
Pretty much always, but only on the MTB. Knees are always covered though. I almost always have pads on, or knee-warmers for when I don't, and long socks too so it's not that different to when I wear tights. Tights tend to come out when it drops below -5ish, or when riding the CX from about +5 down.
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From this morning. Had to sit in the snow for a bit as I was too hot
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That's cos you is a chubber innit.
Sleety hailstorm, oh such a good time.. The school run has never been so much fun 😕
My 3/4s are at least waterproof although that was of little comfort this morning
usually wear baggies with my padded shorts underneath. but if its really cold i'll stick the leggings on.
problem i have though is that my leggings dont have a pad pitted so i still have to wear my padded ones underneath (i really should get some that are) and then i wear my baggies on top so i can stuff my keys etc in the pockets. wearing 3 layers isnt too bad but but on some days movement feels a bit restrictive. since i've been back at work after crimbo i've not needed them yet even though it feels a lot colder.
I did used to wear shorts year round, and never really suffered, but looking back I'm not sure how/why I did it frankly, more pleasant to not have blue legs at the end of a ride!
These days <15 or so degrees I wear knee warmers/leg warmers/tights as appropriate. Except for racing, race in shorts >5 degrees or so, knee warmers below.
My legs are bloody gorgeous and I feel morally bound to share them with the world as often and as fully as possible. If I must suffer then so be it.
