Cold Weather Pants + Shorts = tight on tummy?

[Nokomis]

I have a great pair of cold weather tights - they keep me warm enoug & are not too tight. But, I've found that when I wear them over my shorts - the combination gets to be too much on my stomach / lower abdomen, citting in making it hard to breathe deep. Neither shorts or tights are too tight on their own - it's the combo that gets annoying. *Is this common? I find myself pulling down the waist on the tights to reduce the restriction on my belly. Maybe if I had 6-pack abs it wouldn't be such an issue

I guess I could look into knee warmers instead? Any other suggestions?

TIA!!

[Fuji Girl]

Knee or leg warmers would be a good investment, I think. I have both, but I always just use the knee warmers. Leg warmers are just gathering dust in my closet.

If you ride a lot with tights, maybe you also want to invest in a pair or tights with a chamois? That might help eliminate the "girdle" effect.

[Grog]

Depending on the weather, leg warmers do not replace tights. Tights+shorts keep your butt warmer, which is important. Below 8 deg C I wear tights, leg warmers from 8 to 15, and only shorts beyond that.

Maybe you could try to find a pair of tights that fit better? Wear your shorts to go try them on? But for this coming season just knee or leg warmers could do the job?

G'luck!

[Dianyla]

I had a pair of Sugoi tights that always cut into my digestion something awful, I was always rolling down the waistband a few inches. The PI thermafleece tights don't do this for some reason. The PI AmFib tights have a nice scoop waistband in the front which is both flattering and comfy.

BTW, I'm always hovering between a Medium and a Large and I always make sure to buy tights in Large and I always try them on over bike shorts.

[Squirrel 2]

Warmers are not as warm as tights, when it is really cold, you will get "cold spots" in the areas the warmers don't cover. They are best for changeable weather conditions where you might be taking them off later. Several possible solutions: liners have only a thin waistband and consist of a meshy material & a chamois, so there is much less material to bother you. Downside is there are only a few of manufacturers, so if you don't like their chamois, you are out of luck. Another possibility is to pull tights on over bibs. Bibs don't have a waistband, so you've eliminiated one entirely. Best solution of all is to see if your favorite shorts manufacturer makes a cold-weather tight with a chamois. You eliminate a lot of bulk that way.

[Nanci]

My tights have a little bit of the same effect, but I just live with it. I have Performance tights that are fleece inside, windproof on the fronts, and water resistant. It I am wearing them, I need _everything_ to be covered. They are _so_ warm, though, I can't keep them on if I heat up, like I can with knickers.

Sometimes I think about buying a pair of plain tights, that aren't anything-proof, but then I think if it's warm enough for that, I'm probably happier in knickers.

Nanci