Cycling tights - confused!

[cylegoddess]

Believe it or not, it gets cold here in Canberra, Australia( I miss california!).
So ( being weak to cold);
padded shorts under
leg warmers( on warmer days with slightly cool mornings) . Mine are ok ones from netti . I have small thighs so they had some slippage so I wear the shorts that used to fit me before I got a bigger tummy. A nit of a squeeze but keeps warmers up.
tights( thin ones from netti) on days that are cooler but dont warm up
roubaix tights( lined)on really cold days

shorts, tights and lined tights on really cold days
and adding a outside layer of merino in winter when you freeze your buns off.

I have castelli lined ones. I have cheaper tights( as I still fall off now and then), but expensive shorts( nzo tarmac) which I find keeps chafing at bay.

As for sleek, I tend to have a cartoon dolphin sort of look, whilst bundled up in these!( as the guys wizz by in only tights and a jacket!)

[cylegoddess]

I also have knicks( lined, padded) for days I cant keep pulling up warmers( like group rides). Ive found, in a variable climate its good to have one of everything, as seasons, seems to require it( also, I used ot buy lots of clothes, now just cycle gear!)
None of my longs have liners.

A guy cyclist also told me that if your shorts get stretched from too many washings( although mine have gotten tighter), wear them under tights.

[OakLeaf]

On my legs, a single layer of ancient mid/heavy weight wool tights over regular shorts is plenty down to the high 30s F (and below that, I don't ride, sorry ). I don't know if anyone makes tights like that any more (they're PI circa 1987, and I know PI doesn't make them any more). Actually they had a natural leather chamois in them originally - when I returned to cycling three years ago I just took the chamois out and wear them over regular shorts now.

In warmer weather I'll either wear knee warmers or over-tights. I wear the same tights for either running or cycling. For me, the chamois stays in place better if the garment ends mid-thigh, so if I want more coverage on my legs I wear over-tights.

[Aggie_Ama]

I forgot- if I attempt a road ride in sub-45 degree weather I put my leg warmers on with padded shorts and then tights over all that. My leg warmers do not budget but do give an unpleasant sausage look. I have found that if it is below 50 I am much happier hiding in the trees on my mountain bike, I hate cold.

[beccaB]

I have a pair of wind pants that look more like tights, but not quite so tight, on order from REI. They were on sale! It looks like I could probably do my fitness walking in them and that they're not so form fitting. I would probably wear my padded full length bike tights under them . I never have liked being too hot, but I hate hives worse.

[cylegoddess]

I get a 'sausage( veggie one!)' look too with leg warmers. But its the flesh that keeps them up, I think!
I think that watching too many tour de france reruns has corrupted my idea of what my legs should look like. Next to those guys, my legs look like they havent finished growing and need more fertilizer!!