e-rider
Banned member
- Location
- South West
wear your shorts and use leg warmers
Alternatives to Lycra?
- Thread starter JtB
- Start date
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potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
+2 for the Bikesters,especially the DXB's great bit of kit and fashionable too
Chutzpah
Über Member
- Location
- Somerset, UK
I've never done a winter before and have been wondering when the magical switch will happen and I'll suddenly realise my legs were cold.
I was considering using bib tights or leg warmers under my existing padded baggy shorts. Only time will tell though I'm sure....
I was considering using bib tights or leg warmers under my existing padded baggy shorts. Only time will tell though I'm sure....
It just suddenly hit's you on a commute. Fine one day, next morning or evening.. Bang... ffffrrreeeezing knees
Chutzpah
Über Member
- Location
- Somerset, UK
I've noticed that I'm in an annoying 'middle ground' with my hands at the moment. A little too cold for fingerless gloves in the morning, but full gloves are a bit extreme. Why doesn't someone sell heated grips that are powered by a dynamo?
Not sure if it's the hilly nature of my route, but at the moment I'm still finding things quite toastie once I'm up to speed, luckily.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
I've noticed that I'm in an annoying 'middle ground' with my hands at the moment. A little too cold for fingerless gloves in the morning, but full gloves are a bit extreme. Why doesn't someone sell heated grips that are powered by a dynamo?
Not sure if it's the hilly nature of my route, but at the moment I'm still finding things quite toastie once I'm up to speed, luckily.
I'm the same,having to take 2 pairs of gloves to work as the long finger ones are too much for the way home but lovely in the morning.
Got some Regatta ones waiting for when the temp really plummets though,think they're motorbike ones so might not be able to change gear or brake,but as long as I'm warm
Chutzpah
Über Member
- Location
- Somerset, UK
Just pretend you're on a fixed gear bike and you're sorted!
InspireTheEmpathic
Active Member
- Location
- Leeds
I'm new to lycra... i bought a pair of padded shorts 2 weeks ago and was wondering whether the bikesters leave a gap on your lower back that will get cold? and are they any different from the hips down than a bib pair of cycling longs too fit/material etc? I'm wanting to do a bit of winter cycling and im not sensitive to the cold but might aswell look after my lower back.
potsy
Rambler
- Location
- My Armchair
Bikesters are cut higher at the back than the Tracksters,not exactly a figure hugging fit but not too baggy either.
I just bought my 1st pair of Bib shorts and am really impressed,won't be getting any more waist shorts anyway,wear them under the Bikesters.
I just bought my 1st pair of Bib shorts and am really impressed,won't be getting any more waist shorts anyway,wear them under the Bikesters.
You Sir, are a very fortunate man. When I bought my full length Hummers, on my very first ride I managed to snare the material in between the chain. Turned out that I had to adjust the velcro at max tightness AND the velcro's also had a severe tendancy to come undone. Endura did replace the tabs with better velcro though - they'd admitted that they'd had trouble with the newer barbed material. Old school velcro is best!
I'm the same,having to take 2 pairs of gloves to work as the long finger ones are too much for the way home but lovely in the morning.
Got some Regatta ones waiting for when the temp really plummets though,think they're motorbike ones so might not be able to change gear or brake,but as long as I'm warm
Get something like these and wear with the fingerless gloves:
My link
First to come into use is a long sleeve full zip jersey. Then a long sleeve thermal vest. Then Thinsulate woolly gloves. Then a tee shirt under the thermal vest and L/S full zip jersey.
Then long trousers. Then double thickness socks. Then woolly hat. Then Thinsulate toe inserts. Then balaclava. Then breathing apparatus. Then cryo gloves. Then drysuit undersuit. Then car.
Then long trousers. Then double thickness socks. Then woolly hat. Then Thinsulate toe inserts. Then balaclava. Then breathing apparatus. Then cryo gloves. Then drysuit undersuit. Then car.
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
I've mooched around looking at a few options, quite fancy some trousers that have a cycling specific cut but look normal off the bike. The choices are limited, especially if you are of more rotund proportions like myself. The prices are pretty high as well, I've looked at things like Swrve, Portland, Rapha, etc, there's an article and reviews here on Bike Radar about some:-
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/trousers
Most of the ones I like seem to consider a 38 inch waist to be super duper XL, the ones that go bigger tend to look more bikey. As for £80 upwards for a pair of trousers, it does seem rather steep. I've taken to casually browsing walking/outdorr type sites as they seem to do similar products but at more reasonable prices. The concern is whether they avoid seams in the wrong places and have a cut, high back, articulated knee, that suits cycling. a velcro tab at the bottom would be nice but I can manage without. I would take the option of wearing padded shorts, or boxers, underneath, for anything but Winter I would prefer 3/4 anyway and that opens up a much greater choice.
If I ever manage to lose enough weight then I've promised myself some nice trousers and 3/4 from the likes of Rapha and Swrve...coz I'm worth it
In actual fact I could quite happily drop £4k on a mix of Rapha, Swrve, Shutt, Chocolate Fish, things like that....good quality, natural merino where possible and not too bikey a cut.
A bit cheaper are things like Musa, details on rivendellbikes, but they look worryingly like glorified jogging bottoms, not sure I want to take the risk on mail ordering something like that.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/trousers
Most of the ones I like seem to consider a 38 inch waist to be super duper XL, the ones that go bigger tend to look more bikey. As for £80 upwards for a pair of trousers, it does seem rather steep. I've taken to casually browsing walking/outdorr type sites as they seem to do similar products but at more reasonable prices. The concern is whether they avoid seams in the wrong places and have a cut, high back, articulated knee, that suits cycling. a velcro tab at the bottom would be nice but I can manage without. I would take the option of wearing padded shorts, or boxers, underneath, for anything but Winter I would prefer 3/4 anyway and that opens up a much greater choice.
If I ever manage to lose enough weight then I've promised myself some nice trousers and 3/4 from the likes of Rapha and Swrve...coz I'm worth it
In actual fact I could quite happily drop £4k on a mix of Rapha, Swrve, Shutt, Chocolate Fish, things like that....good quality, natural merino where possible and not too bikey a cut.A bit cheaper are things like Musa, details on rivendellbikes, but they look worryingly like glorified jogging bottoms, not sure I want to take the risk on mail ordering something like that.
