Essential Winter Clothing

[PaulSB]

Can someone explain the difference between leg warmers and tights? I realise this is very basic and tights may just be tights! I have leg warmers which I find really uncomfortable to wear and do reduce my performance. The thing which really irritates is the seam behind the knee.

I was thinking of getting a full length bib (i.e. legs as opposed to shorts) and combining these with tights if this is appropriate.

 

[accountantpete]

Tights is used as a general term to mean any long-legged cycling trousers - these of course come in different materials and thickness of material.

Aldi are doing a sale on Thursday http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/offers_week38Thursday09.htm?WT.z_src=main

I currently have a pair of thin tights and then pop a base layer underneath for really cold weather but I will get a pair of the Winter Cycling Trousers and see how they go.

 

[GrasB]

Oh that reminds me, I wear 3/4 length shorts in winter then use leg warmers I never find my calves get to cold by my knees do without the double protection on colder mornings.

 

[PaulSB]

Tights is used as a general term to mean any long-legged cycling trousers - these of course come in different materials and thickness of material.

Aldi are doing a sale on Thursday http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/offers_week38Thursday09.htm?WT.z_src=main

thanks. I've worn thermals in the past and found them good but have been disappointed with leg warmers, very warm but uncomfortable.

 

[BalkanExpress]

To date I've used unpadded tights in winter over bibshorts, the advantage being that the tights don't need to be washed as often as those with a pad in.

 

[Tynan]

I only commute and long rides will be different but I find bib longs are a big step up in the warm stakes, overshoes, good gloves and a buff pretty much does it for me, a long sleeve top with perhaps a base layer, nightvision top when it's proper cold, sorted

 

[BearPear]

Don't judge me by my very first post - but there's the cycle stuff in Aldi today. It was a bit a a frenzy this morning with cyclists looking through the underwear & base-layers!
They have long length pants, with padding, with or without the attached bib. An over-shoe and skull-cap set, winter gloves and even winter cycling socks!
My first cycling purchase clothing-wise was a summer cycling jacket from Aldi this year and it has been great, totally windproof but lightweight and a good fit too.

 

[bicyclerubber]

Sealskinz Cycling stuff is pretty good imo.

Especially the windproof hat that fits under a helmet and the road cycling gloves - best gloves I've had

 

[pyeeater]

Don't judge me by my very first post - but there's the cycle stuff in Aldi today. It was a bit a a frenzy this morning with cyclists looking through the underwear & base-layers!
They have long length pants, with padding, with or without the attached bib. An over-shoe and skull-cap set, winter gloves and even winter cycling socks!
My first cycling purchase clothing-wise was a summer cycling jacket from Aldi this year and it has been great, totally windproof but lightweight and a good fit too.

Just got back with a couple of those long sleeve tops , tempted to go again and get a couple more

 

[martynrg]

Just got back with a couple of those long sleeve tops , tempted to go again and get a couple more

You must have gone to the same Aldi as me, at the Saddle?

I was there today and got some bib-longs, socks and a top base layer cheap as chips!

 

[GrasB]

I've just invested in a pair of Madison Windshell gloves in hi-viz to replace my old Altura lightly padded gloves, they seem well made & fit reasonably snugly to my hand but not so tight that you can't get them over two pairs of silk liner gloves. Hopefully these are all I'll need for the winter as they're much better for visibility than my thick gloves & seem much warmer with both liners underneath them.

 

[Ian H]

As the weather gets colder I move from shorts + leg warmers to shorts + tights, and eventually, overshoes. Above the waist - more layers, arm warmers or long sleeves, sometimes a windproof layer. Full gloves. sometimes over mitts, and a woolly hat might displace the normal cotton one.

And choose a hillier route.