Calling Winter Commuters:

[CorsairMac]

Ok ya'll who commute all year - got a question for you.............


Just curious which method most of you seem to prefer to keep your hinneys warm during these mid-40 to low-50s mornings:

Lined Tights

or

Second pair of shorts?


I've heard both suggestions. I have plenty of shorts but the thought of 2 pairs of shorts just sounds bunchy and uncomfortable to me....I don't want to be halfway through my morning commute and miserable. Before I commit to purchasing lined tights, I'm just curious which method works better for everyone.

[mimitabby]

lined tights. A second pair of short would be kind of useless, your legs would still freeze.

[lph]

I go from: shorts to
thin pair of tights plus shorts to
shorts plus windbreaker pants to
thin pair of tights plus shorts plus windbreaker pants.

And I have all the alternatives, upper body, hands and feet too, listed according to temperature in a little matrix stuck on the fridge...

[CorsairMac]

lined tights. A second pair of short would be kind of useless, your legs would still freeze.

It wasn't my legs that was the problem (lined leg warmers).........

[Dianyla]

Here's the range of bottoms that I'll progress through as temperature decreases:

shorts
knickers
shorts + unlined PI thermafleece tights
shorts + unlined PI amfib tights
shorts + tights + rainpants (even if not raining)

I actually don't own any tights with chamois pads. I've tried, but never managed to find some that I like. There aren't very many makes/model of tights on the market every season, so it gets even harder to find a good tight+chamois combination. It's hard enough to find a compatible pair of shorts with a chamois that I love, and there are tons of shorts on the market at any given time.

Also, I use my thermafleece tights quite often in winter for non-bike activities such as skiing/hiking/camping etc, that's another reason to have unlined tights.

[nuthatch]

Ugg, the dreaded winter season booty chill. Corsair, girl, what you need is some sort of spoiler attached to your jersey pockets on the back! Just channel that cold air right on by!

Barring that, if it's cool enough for a jacket, maybe you could find one with an extra long tail. That's what I've wished for on the fall commute, especially a softshell with a long tail and maybe pit zips. I'm not sure why softshells don't come with pit zips - maybe it would make them look too weird.

But that backside does get so chilly even while the front is a sweaty mess!

[newfsmith]

My sequence is pretty much like Dianyla's, knickers usually take me through the 40's if it is dry. Being rather blubber covered, I don't usually have problems with a cold tush until it is in the teens. I do like the Performance triflex tights for very cold weather, they have a wind & water resistent seat panel.

[nuthatch]

I just wanted to weigh in on those Pearl Izumi Microsensor Thermal Shorts that Susan was talking about way back last fall. I thought they'd be weird, but they're not!!

I'm using a pair in this unusually chilly spring, under a pair of tights and they are very effective in reducing the chill on the backside -- I've ridden in them from the mid-20s to the 40s. The chamois is on the thin side (3D Pro) but I prefer that for commuting because you're just not on the bike that many miles.

The only thing I'd change about them (and lots of other PI chamois) is the edge of the chamois. I really like a graduated edge on a chamois instead of a sharp drop off and stitched edge. Other than that, I'd highly recommend them for cool/cold riding, with leg warmers or tights.

[run it, ride it]

Wait... mid-40s? That's BALMY!

I bust out the half-tights from 25-35, then 35 and up is definitely SHORTS TIME!

Anything above 53 is shorts and t-shirt all the way.

Wind and rain are different stories... it's a balmy 41 out right now, but the gusts are hitting 50km/h so I'm definitely sticking to half-tights and tossing on a jacket!

Come live in Canada for a while, then tell me 40 is anything but tropical!

...and everyone up here insists I get cold too easily...

[Aint Doody]

I've always heard to keep those knees covered under 60. Guess you're not as old as I am! Gotta protect the old lady knees...........

[run it, ride it]

Hmm.. this may explain why I ALREADY have old lady knees...

[Dianyla]

Hmm.. this may explain why I ALREADY have old lady knees...

Also, remember there is a gluten connection to joint problems...

[veloputt]

Enjoying the thread--getting back to commuting from a winter rest...

What I've not seen mentioned is the answer to cold toes. Booties or toe caps.
They do wonders! No need for thick socks w/ windproof booties--or just toe caps are amazing. Thermals are great for 40 and lower... And if it's wet out, too, nice to keep the footsies as dry as possible. Advantage of covering the shoe is they're dry when you have to put them back one to head home.

And knees. Glad to see others mention cranky (old lady) knees. Thus I LOVE knickers for keeping my knees warm. I'd love a thermal sensor knicker--if I need it for my thighs, I want it for my knees. The calves do OK uncovered. And also I like how knickers look on--no need for any extra bulging or seams across the thighs, thank you!