[Closed] Why tights and shorts?

Baggies and leg warmers FTW.

You can just peel 'em off and discard them with all the clag attached at the end and fire them into the linen basket.

Just remember to wear them on the inside of your liner/bib short or you'll end up looking like Nora Batty from the knees down.

Mike - belittling others was not my intent at all.

France is representative of 'other countries'?

Some of the veteran French MTBers on the Passportes de Soliel are a convincing argument for compulsory baggies.

chakaping - Member
Tights on road bike. Shorts and kneepads on MTB.

This is my stance also.

tjagain - Member
I saw loads of MTBers in France this year. Not one pair of baggies. Why are baggies not worn in other countries?

Different things are considered normal and fashionable elsewhere?

I can see the practicalities of baggies over tights for our climate.
I'm not keen on a lot of MTB specific shorts, find them a bit overdone, but I've no issue with the concept and there are plenty of non MTB alternatives.

It's the modern version of riding breetches and long socks, I suppose.

One good reason:

[img] [/img]

tjagain - Member
Why are baggies not worn in other countries?

https://www.cube.eu/wear/variants/hosen/

France is representative of 'other countries'?

Forren, innit.

Nobody but my missus deserves to see the outline of my bouls and dagger

Cos it's warmer than wearing shorts on their own
Trousers get caught in the chain

I don't wear bib tights though, just long leggings with no pad

Baggy shorts and knee pads here all year round. Nobody I ride with wears tights. Shins don't seem to get too cold.

The real explanation is "the pilgrim fathers". Merkans get a bit funny about seeing the outline of a gent's meat and two veg - hence no "Speedos" or exposed lycra. Xtreme innit.

tjagain - Member
Mike - belittling others was not my intent at all.

I think he was quoting me, but I was talking about myself, so I don't know why he thought I was belittling others.

Jekkyl:-[img] [/img]

It makes you stand out from the crowd.

Oh, and sometimes its practical too.

Regarding clothing function vs fashion, I wear MTB gloves, knee pads, shoes and shorts. All the rest is non-MTB specific outdoor gear like Helly Hansen and Brynje base layers, Paramo windproof/fleece, Mountain Equipment softshell, etc. Obviously I don't wear stuff that looks bad (Brynje excepted) but the clothing is chosen because it works best. And I really can't fault my two pairs of Endura Singletrack baggies that I've worn for the last 5 years!

Incidentally, the Paramo Enduro fleece (it's a climbing/mountaineering softshell-esque fleece, despite the name!) is a blood brilliant winter MTBing jersey. Incredible piece of kit.

However some of my mates' riding kit is colour coordinated with their bikes - and it doesn't get in the way of them having fun and looks better on the sick edits. 😉

Everyone cares what they look like to some extent.

I care what I look like. I also think I look good in lycra and although almost 50 am in very good shape (not really surprising, I cycle a lot!)

However, I am very much an XC rider and lycra suits the style, i.e. I wouldn't wear lycra if riding a BMX as it would look stupid.

Anyone mentioned MASSIVE POCKETS as an argument for shorts yet?

When I exit the garage I have my backpack on, and my last act is to chuck the keys in my capacious shorts pockets as I leave. I use the pre-ride faff time to transfer the keys to my backpack 🙂

I'll also take fashion as a valid answer. There's nothing wrong with wanting to look good in what you wear. It usually translates into more confidence.

i.e. I wouldn't wear lycra if riding a BMX as it would look stupid.

Au contraire. Very much.

[img] [/img]

Lycra all round nowadays. Can't be bothered to keep two lots of kit.

Also baggies just seem uncomfortable and unnecessary now I'm used to lycra.

Lots of different reasons it seems.

Fashion: Nothing wrong with wanting to look the part or wanting to fit in.
Modesty: Not everybody has legs like Chris Hoy, especially if you take the uplift...
Pockets: Seems like a pretty good reason to wear shorts over tights to me.
Shorts are harder wearing: Dont buy this one, my Endura MTB unpadded, fleecy inner bib tights must be at least 10 years old, possibly older and have been crashed multiple times off and on road and are still going strong.
Warmth/rain: The above mentioned bib shorts are warm and comfy even in the rain without shorts, and with them over the tops of my sealskinz socks my feet stay dry as well. No pockets though...

Of all of the above only the pockets has made me think about wearing shorts over my bib tights, might give it a try this weekend.

(disclaimer: I don't actually wear tights)

I think you mean you don't wear cycling tights! We all know the truth.

Guilty. I find it a very practical arrangement - my apologies if it offends the fashion police*

I wear tough 'baggy' shorts most of the year but I don't think the clip-in liners are very good, so I wear padded cycling shorts underneath for comfort.

It means I get pockets (for phone, key, maps, money), some protection against brambles, gorse and nettles, a comfy, easily washed chamois (and no soggy arse if I wear waterproof baggies) and I don't have to wash my baggies after every ride - just chip the mud off, and they're good to go again 😉

When the weather gets cold (freezing), I'll swap the cycling shorts for longs (tights) to keep my legs warm. I occasionally wear long trousers over cycling shorts as an alternative, but they are a pain to keep out of your chain (unless you also use cycling clips, or tuck them into your socks) and I find the crotch (of the trousers) is more likely to get caught up on the seat when moving around on the bike.

*nah, not really - f*** 'em!

Cos no one wants to see a middle aged man in a seventies spandex costume.

I see it like this - The default legwear for mountain biking is a pair of baggy shorts. Then when the weather turns icy a pair of tights is used as underwear to cover your bare legs. To ride around in tights only, is akin to riding around in your underpants.
Roadies have a longstanding culture of wearing 'lycra only' which makes it acceptable, sometimes, on some people, as long as they're not with me.

Lycra as it keeps the chamois in the right place.

Baggies as they look better, keep the weather away, add a layer of branch and nettle reflection fabric and have some where to put stuff.

Practical and inoffensive solution for really cold days..

Not resorted to longs yet this year though

Roadies or xc'ers I recon. If anyone of my mates turned up in tights (ladies underwear) they would be riding on their own.

Only real men have their nob on display.

You pussies and your shorts hiding your tiny c*cks.

I saw loads of MTBers in France this year. Not one pair of baggies. Why are baggies not worn in other countries?

Fashion ?

tjagain - Member
Mike - belittling others was not my intent at all.