Leg warmers insanity

[cyberknight]

3/4 length bibs are the longest I ever use, even when it's below zero.

Each to their own ,I'm on meds for reynauds and my feet were numb with cold yesterday watching football even though I had thick shoes and a coat on .

 

[matticus]

Why not just have long bibs if it’s very cold & 3/4 if not too cold. Make it make sense about leg warmers.

I don't need to own 3/4shrts if I have knee-warmers. It's cheaper/easier to buy 'wamers than shorts.

, how do they fit in small jersey pockets?

Knee-warmers fit a lot more easily.

(and here is my current moan ... KNEE-warmers are dying out! Much more useful than the longer LEG-warmers.
Sure, some love their LEGwarmers but what happened to consumer choice? Eh? eh!)

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I read an interview with Nicolas Roche some years back. He was bib shorts or tights, never knee warmers. I am the same, bib tights when below around 15 degrees and bib shorts above that temp.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I am the same, bib tights when below around 15 degrees and bib shorts above that temp.

As above, that's fine for short rides - less than four hours say - but around this time of year it can easily* be about 5C at 0800 and above 15C by mid-afternoon.
* Well, perhaps more like 'sometimes' in the north of England, but the point is that temperature can change during the day from 'pretty chilly' to 'too warm for bibtights'.

 

[T4tomo]

Been cycling donkeys years and never used a pair of leg warmers 15 years ago I chucked a pair. Been talked about on GCN I thought hang on if you peel them off as you warm up, how do they fit in small jersey pockets? Why not just have long bibs if it’s very cold & 3/4 if not too cold. Make it make sense about leg warmers.

maybe the insanity was chuck your pair away without trying them to appreciate the benefits / flexibility when cycling in varying temperatures.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

As above, that's fine for short rides - less than four hours say - but around this time of year it can easily* be about 5C at 0800 and above 15C by mid-afternoon.
* Well, perhaps more like 'sometimes' in the north of England, but the point is that temperature can change during the day from 'pretty chilly' to 'too warm for bibtights'.

Yes, it is definitely personal preference. I am fine in bibs even at 15/16 degrees so if it does warm up when I am out, I do not overheat. Appreciate that some people will though!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I am fine in bibs even at 15/16 degrees

Thats prime temps for shorts, did you mean somewhat colder such as 5/6C?

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

Thats prime temps for shorts, did you mean somewhat colder such as 5/6C?

No, I did mean 15/16. I am actually fine wearing bibtights in those temps so if I go out early in cold weather and it does get a fair bit warmer I am still okay wearing tights. I just find they suit me better than knee warmers.

 

[Ian H]

Been cycling donkeys years and never used a pair of leg warmers 15 years ago I chucked a pair. Been talked about on GCN I thought hang on if you peel them off as you warm up, how do they fit in small jersey pockets? Why not just have long bibs if it’s very cold & 3/4 if not too cold. Make it make sense about leg warmers.

You've answered your own question: you can remove them as you get warmer, or the weather gets warmer. I have longs, 3/4s, leg warmers and knee warmers. Each has a role.

And why stuff everything in jersey pockets*? Unless you're racing, fit a saddle-bag or something.

*the swollen arse look.

 

[lazybloke]

Thats prime temps for shorts, did you mean somewhat colder such as 5/6C?

Good God man, put some clothes on!

 

[Milzy]

You've answered your own question: you can remove them as you get warmer, or the weather gets warmer. I have longs, 3/4s, leg warmers and knee warmers. Each has a role.

And why stuff everything in jersey pockets*? Unless you're racing, fit a saddle-bag or something.

*the swollen arse look.

Yeah you’ve convinced me to buy knee warmers.
Which knee warmers next thread?

 

[Profpointy]

cant see the point in 3/4 myself, if its cold enough to cover my knees then my shins need it too , i carry one of those fake water bottles to bung stuff in when riding this time of year as i can manage with one water bottle which i would refill at a cafe if needed .

I found 3/4 lengths suited me well most of the year - leisure / commuting rather than going racer fast. Somehow my calves don't feel the cold but my knees do. Couldn't get on with longs as they seemed to squeeze my calves making them hurt a lot. Apparently "compression" is a feature rather than a fault

 

[the_mikey]

No, I did mean 15/16. I am actually fine wearing bibtights in those temps so if I go out early in cold weather and it does get a fair bit warmer I am still okay wearing tights. I just find they suit me better than knee warmers.

14/15 degrees is a difficult temperature for me, potentially too cold for shorts, too warm for bibs, I probably ought to keep a diary of weather & temperatures vs what I wear and how it felt, feeling cold before a ride is rarely indicative of how I'll feel on the ride!

 

[katiewlx]

dont you all find your lets call it the core area of the shorts top of the thighs, gets a bit chilled when its cold if you are just wearing the same kinds of shorts you do in summer ?

I mean for me knee warmers are great keep my creaking knees warm, I use them in that tricky crossover period when its still quite mild at times but might be chilly in bits early morning or late evening, so summer level shorts are fine.

Ive then got fleecy 3/4s, but theres literally only a couple of weeks per year in spring/autumn they work as an option, because it either rapidly becomes too cold and your lower calf and achilles start aching as a result, or its too warm and your back to knee warmers/shorts. again.

I do have a pair of leg warmers,but Ive only used them once or twice at most. if its cold enough for leg warmers, its cold enough for tights. which then also keep that core area warmer and free of wind chill effects, and Ive never been on a ride with that wide enough of a temperature range to bother changing that view.

 

[cyberknight]

currently using what is best described as thin lycra legwarmers, sold on ebay etc , they are very thin and i need to wear long socks to get full coverage of the leg as they could i suppose be classed as 3/4 length , but maybe i should have gone for the bigger size
Find them perfect for the time of year as they are warm enough to keep the chill off but not to thick that i am too hot leg wise when the temp rises.
something like this
https://www.amazon.co.uk/APLZGMG-Compression-Basketball-Cycling-Undersleeve/dp/B0DPQ75RJB?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GZPNxcevZH_0xvOX01_c0XoOmVA_iKPYLNZERy7IifW3zSilxGxvCVcHZ5vFLYiJS9xqJJOUpmQrMvh8oKf2fhl7_vhnqCr58Ucp3_j2NbwEYvuCwaiUFNiD-YuHx7ZbhfyrT_l6PXdEo0yon_7ArqGkJRcGnPPQCQuE4JTEbb1WWZVijQbbwL1K9wFEqsYaGAPvGvITnnY5F1iXNchy-gO2fS0iy_uOsXlRbyavHj0d9WvAUL8RSq6NPCIof9mQLIFJByYygfx4MEDvEEgirzjzY79Gg0C56SFXkB1i9CU.u3fEzRg7hjBUB8WEAHb6Y1nxrln5JEo0JsPq4r1a8rw&dib_tag=se&keywords=cycling+leg+warmers&qid=1762557994&sr=8-24&th=1