Confused About Cycling Shorts-Tights-Knickers.

[nsandz]

I am relatively new to cycling and have decided that my bad cycling shorts from a local sporting goods store need to be upgraded. To give you an idea how bad they are, they only cost me 20 dollars.

So where do I begin? I have been overwhelmed by the choices! I live in Connecticut and the weather is getting slightly chilly (and I tend to be cold a lot) so I thought I may want Knickers. However, my boyfriend is suggesting I get a decent pair of shorts and some legwarmers. What would you suggest? Also, I have no idea the difference in padding and good or bad brands.

I have noticed that some cycling bottoms come with leg-grippers and others don't. I feel they would be nice to have on shorts, but what about knickers and tights?

Sorry that these may be dumb questions, but I really have no idea and am very confused. Thanks for your help.

[fatbottomedgurl]

I don't like leg warmers- they create "Michelin Man" lumps on my thighs. When it is cool I wear capris, when its cold I wear capris with knee sox. You can also start with a good pair of shorts (I am a Sugoi fan), and when it is cold wear a pair of tights over them- they don't have to be "cycling" tights.

I think most shorts have grippers, if you don't like the feel of them on your skin just roll them up.

[redrhodie]

Hi nsandz! I'm in New England, too. I wear knickers all fall and winter long, with tights or legwarmers over only if it's below freezing. I like them better than shorts, but that's just my personal preference.

I've been wearing Terry knickers for years, but I just decided to try a different brand this season. I got my first pair of the highly recommended Shebeest pedal pushers this week (thank you TE for the speedy service!). I wore them for a 35 mile ride the day before yesterday and loved them even more than my old knickers. They're a little sleeker and the chamois is a little thinner.

I recommend you try some on and see what feels comfortable. I know the fabric of both the Terry and Shebeest will be warm enough for our weather.

[nsandz]

Thanks! This helps a lot. I especially thankful that I was informed about the "Michelin Man" legs while wearing leg warmers. I would say I am a "full figured woman" so that would be a concern. I was looking at Shebeest and Terry as well this really helps me decide. Also am very excited about being able to wear long socks or leg warmers with knicker, never thought about that!

This is great, I am actually getting excited about new cycling bottoms instead of overwhelmed!!!

[redrhodie]

I admit to looking a little silly, but I wear knee high striped socks with my knickers so no skin is exposed once it's below 60º. Then, I add fleece socks over those in a contrasting color and pattern (I have harlequin print and polka dots) when it's a little colder. I look so much like I rode out of the circus tent that small children wave and smile, but I'm warm!

Guys who wear full kits would go with the leg warmers and shorts, but they all hibernate through the winter around here, so I don't worry about looking goofy to them. I'm sure when they drive by me, they're thinking I'm a brute to be out there.

I really aspire to be my avatar.

[OakLeaf]

Most shorts have grippers, but many don't also. I'm pretty sure Susan put up a list of the shorts TE offers without grippers, a couple of months ago - try searching either in the store or on the forums. Shorts without grippers are usually longer, so they don't ride up on your adductor muscles.

If they're not super-tight or super-short, a lot of people fold the hem of gripper shorts toward the outside, exposing the gripper and taking it off the leg. Some brands incorporate their logo into the grippers, upside-down, so that it's right ways up when you do that.

When the temperature will be cool all day, I prefer tights without a chamois worn over regular shorts. That way I can wear the tights several times before they need to be washed, and I also don't need different tights for running and cycling. Leg/knee/arm warmers are great for days when the temperature changes a lot during a ride.

[graceomalley]

I really aspire to be my avatar.

Oh, and I love your avatar! Always loved Pippi.

[Yelsel]

Quality: you want flatlock panels. 8 are the best, 6 intermediate, 4 not so great (probably your $20 cheapies). It is harder to find good deals on shorts than on jerseys, but rei-outlet.com and backcountryoutlet.com are two good places to try. You should be able to find $80-100 shorts for half off... more expensive shorts don't seem to go on sale. I have two pair of longer shorts with grippers (Sugoi) that are comfortable that I adore - $90 and I paid $40 at rei-outlet. If you want to try thinner padding, go with a triathlon short.

I prefer purchasing shorts that I like, and wearing non-chamois knickers or tights over them. This means that I am not tied to bike-specific warm overclothes, either - I also have tight-fitting soft-shell and breathable rain shells. Shorts are the cheapest, and you'll build up the largest collection of these.

I use knee warmers when I am starting out and the temp is below 50 degrees F; it is important to keep your knees warm, since both the sinovial fluid (lubrication in the joint) and tendons must be warm to work effectively and protect the cartilage from wear. Knees are a weak point genetically on both sides of my family, and I still have problems flare up occasionally with a decade-old IT band tendonitis, so I want to protect them as much as possible. I like arm warmers as well... but haven't found legwarmers to be useful for me. (Like many people, I prefer long wool socks to warm the lower leg.)

[nsandz]

This is great, I am glad I asked for advice before my purchase! I didn't realize that they made knickers without padding (I'm naive). Okay, so I think I will buy my first pair of GOOD shorts with 8 panels (can't wait to feel the difference!) and some non-padded knickers to go over them and then some knee high socks, either polka-dotted or stripes! I think however I will pass on the pigtails, for now...

[LoriO]

While they aren't originally inteded for bike riding, I have found that my english riding pants work great for riding my bike on colder day. If I am doing a short ride I am fine with them as is, if I am doing a longer ride I just wear a pair of padded underwear underneath. Riding breeches are great for biking because they fit nice and snug and are made with lots of give and stretch.

Riding breeches come in a lot of different styles from a regular pull-on with zipper type to riding tights which just pull on. I am looking into getting a couple pairs of the riding tights for me to use for this fall and winter.


Oh, nsandz not sure where in CT you are but I am in Berlin, if you ever want to get together for a ride let me know. I'm usually stuck riding by myself but it would be nice to have company once in a while!

[fatbottomedgurl]

I think I might be looking for some of those big thick bright colored knit leg-warmers and rock the 80's look!

[mrhughes]

You mention that you are "full figured". Not sure what that means to you, but I'm pretty heavy for a cyclist. Size 18 in street clothing. I've been road biking for 13 years, at an average of 2,500 miles per year, so I've been through a LOT of shorts. You're going to find they are as personal a decision as is a good saddle. There's a different short for every bottom! But the advice to always buy 8-panel construction is spot-on.

My favorite is the Pearl Izumi Short-Cut Short, size XL. They are VERY hard to find, so I've got a good supply on hand. I like my chamois substantial, and the leg length at no more than 7". Too short & my chubby thighs rub my saddle bag, too long & I look like a stuffed pork sausage. I, too, roll back the gripper on the bottom edge of the leg. Mostly I don't want a tanning line that is lower than my street shorts & skorts, so 7" crotch length is my limit.

I used to wear Sugoi's, but found the chamois wore out in just 2 years or so. I wash bike shorts in warm water/cold rinse and ALWAYS line dry them. Other brands have lasted much longer. I found Shebeest to be the thinnest, least serious shorts, made mostly for fashionable Spinning classes.

I always tell women who are reluctant to spend $$ on good shorts "honey, I don't know what your "specials" are worth, but I think mine are worth protecting!".

[OakLeaf]

I found Shebeest to be the thinnest, least serious shorts, made mostly for fashionable Spinning classes.

Not my experience at all. I've got probably 2000-2500 miles each on two of my five pairs of SSS shorts and they show no sign of wearing out. I don't like the leg grippers, they give me a rash, but I tolerate them (and usually roll them up) because I haven't found a more comfortable chamois in a multi-panel short. It's a little bit thicker than is comfortable, but I haven't found better. Except for the unpadded fleece in my ancient (vintage about 1992) four-panel Terry shorts.

Actually, if the legs weren't so short, most "spinning" shorts have a minimalist chamois that is SO much better for road cycling than most of the diapers they put out there. I so wanted a pair of expensive shorts this summer, I was willing to spend $200 and really loved the construction of at least one pair I tried on, but I couldn't find a pair with a chamois that even looked comfortable.

[Biciclista]

I wear knee high striped socks with my knickers so no skin is exposed once it's below 60º. Then, I add fleece socks over those in a contrasting color and pattern (I have harlequin print and polka dots) when it's a little colder. I look so much like I rode out of the circus tent that small children wave and smile, but I'm warm!

ME TOO! I love knickers and kneesocks just round it out. If it really gets hot, i can roll my socks down.

[featuretile]

I have found all my cycling clothes on Sierra Trading Post online. After you order once they send you emails with 20% to 30% off on that day above their already reduced prices, so I now wait for a coupon before I look in their cycling section. I got a $100 pair of Pearl Izumi shorts for about $30, and just got a really nice pair of Descente shorts that retails for $65 for $25. I've also gotten $60 jerseys for about $20.

Since I haven't been riding all that long (since Feb.), I cannot speak of how long they will last. I wash them in the machine with everything else and then line dry.

I bought a pair of Adidas knickers at Ross, and have a pair of black exercise tights that I bought many years ago for the gym, that I resurrected to wear over the shorts. It really doesn't have to be that expensive to buy the clothes. I do my bike purchasing at the LBS, but not the clothes.