Tights / Trousers Help

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
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Witterings
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Joined: 8 Jun 2018, 10:17am
Location: Chichester, West Sussex

Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Witterings »

I rode through last winter just with track suit trousers over padded cycling shorts ... one pair of track suit trousers has demised (through age not cycling) and a 2nd pair I caught in the chain so thought I may as well stick something more cycle specific on my Xmas list but the fact I got through a hard winter (for here) lat year don't need anything hardcore / expensive.

I was thinking about something like these
https://www.halfords.com/cycling/cyclin ... ghts-black

Where it says Qwick-Dri chamois pad ... is that the same as I'd have as padding in my cycling shorts so I wouldn't wear them underneath any more???
mattsccm
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by mattsccm »

You won't know what the lining/pad is like until you compare it . Your shorts could have one of many types of padding and we don't know. Sorry to be blunt but so often people mess about trying not to be rude and don't answer the question.
Are your shorts 15 quid jobs or £150? There will be a difference.
At that price those linked will be dead basic and, to many, barely adequate.At least the general fit is ok in that it won't snag in the chain or flap about and may wash and dry fairly quickly.
Each and everyone of us has different views. There are people here who can cycle hundreds of miles in M&S boxers and trousers and other who need £300 shorts to go to the pub. Both groups will advise you soon as will those who sit in the middle/ All views will be valid. Only you know what works for you.
Sorry not to be helpful but this is the question that only you can answer. You have got the general idea (the bit that we could advise on), shorts and close fitting trousers, and now you have reached the point where we all have. Try things on, experiment with fit etc and hope that it works. At the minimum try them on over and with out your shorts.
oh yeah. Expensive doesn't mean suitable for bad weather does it?
off to fail to answer some one elses question :D
eileithyia
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by eileithyia »

personally I wear decent quality padded shorts under unpadded cycling longs. Or at least wearing out on the lycra but pad still perfectly good shorts get down graded to 'winter' shorts, ie to be worn under longs. This way the longs do not necessarily need daily washing only the shorts.

https://www.evanscycles.com/clothing/ti ... ed-padding

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/bib-tights/
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PH
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by PH »

I also prefer unpadded longs, I have the choice then whether or not to wear padding under them and if I do it has the advantages eileithyia points out. I also often ride it none cycling trousers.
If you want a style between the tracki bottoms and full on tights, I've recently bought a pair of these, after they were recommended on this forum, happy with them so far.
https://www.polaris-bikewear.co.uk/Bike ... 1008-p.htm
Witterings
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Location: Chichester, West Sussex

Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Witterings »

Cheers for the replies .... the shorts I have are pretty mid range £45 ish so "reasonable".

I Take onboard what you're saying, might be best if I actually go and look at some rather than trying to choose online although not having to wash them every time if I'm wearing cycling shorts underneath is a very valid point so I may look for thinner or no padding as it's really just something to keep a cold wind off.
pwa
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by pwa »

eileithyia wrote:personally I wear decent quality padded shorts under unpadded cycling longs. Or at least wearing out on the lycra but pad still perfectly good shorts get down graded to 'winter' shorts, ie to be worn under longs. This way the longs do not necessarily need daily washing only the shorts.

https://www.evanscycles.com/clothing/ti ... ed-padding

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/cycle/bib-tights/

+1 to that.
pwa
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by pwa »

For a more trouser than tight look, these will be good.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/endura-hummvee-trousers-ii/

Fairly heavy duty, don't soak up water very much, so okay in showers. The ankles have adjustable straps to stop the hem getting caught. A bit too warm in hot weather but good in the cooler months.

You would wear either padded cycle shorts underneath, or "liner shorts". But if you go for the liner shorts it is harder to find ones with a proper pad.
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Sweep
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Sweep »

+1 to folk who have sugggested unpadded tights with a separate padded liner.

Can never understand the use of tights with built in pads for general purpose cycling - ie: not sportives etc.

Wash a pair of pants after every ride.

Perfectly good padded inners (for my bum at least) are available from Decathlon for not a lot. Also, now and again from Aldi for about a fiver.

Mountain Warehouse used to do perfectly decent tights, with good zips, for about £18 or £20 - in their regular "half price" sales. Not sure if they still do. I have sevaral pairs. They may have reduced the quality - best check - was in a branch a while ago and they didn't seem to be quite the same quality - may have been my imagination.
Sweep
tim-b
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by tim-b »

Hi
IME, cycling shorts under unpadded longs. You can wear padded longs over padded shorts, but it gets a bit restrictive
Thin tights are pointless IME, I prefer a heavier roubaix fabric with windproof panels covering the front of thighs to just below the knee and a relaxed rather than tights-fit so that I can fit LJs underneath if needed
Regards
Tim-b
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Patrickpioneer
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Patrickpioneer »

If you want to go the cheap way like I do then buy women's fleece leggings for about a fiver and wear them over your shorts, I wear them under my trousers like long johns but without the escape hatch! size 14 fits most men.
Pat
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Sweep
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Sweep »

tim-b wrote:Hi
IME, cycling shorts under unpadded longs. You can wear padded longs over padded shorts, but it gets a bit restrictive
Thin tights are pointless IME, I prefer a heavier roubaix fabric with windproof panels covering the front of thighs to just below the knee and a relaxed rather than tights-fit so that I can fit LJs underneath if needed
Regards
Tim-b


Thin tights have their uses. Being a meany, two of my mountain warehouse ones are the thinner variant - they were cheaper. Have proved very handy for inbetween season use, particularly when touring. Pack small. Good in rain.
Sweep
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Revolution
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Revolution »

I have been wearing Altura fleecy tights over my usual cycle shorts from November through to March for years. They have been brilliant and even protect against the rain unless it is really tipping down. They have now worn a big hole in the seem around the crotch and to my dismay, Altura don't seem to make anything like them anymore - I ordered a pair of 'Peloton Progel Waist Tights' and 'Nightvision Kinetic Tights' from them and after struggling for several minutes just to get my feet through the holes on both (and I'm far from large) I will be sending them back. I think I expended more energy getting into the kit than I do riding the 12 miles to work!!!!!
Padded shorts with a pair of long legs over the top have served me very well - you can always take the longs off mid journey if you find it too hot without being arrested :) I don't understand why its proving so difficult to replace my worn out pair. I'm guessing that I should look at non-cycling apparel to avoid the padding that comes with cycling leggings. I'm still a bit miffed that Altura don't do the (I think they were Cruiser tights) anymore :cry:
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Sweep
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Sweep »

Here if you are, or can eat your way to, XXL

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Altura-Cruiser ... gJFNvD_BwE
Sweep
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Revolution
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by Revolution »

Sweep wrote:Here if you are, or can eat your way to, XXL

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Altura-Cruiser ... gJFNvD_BwE

Yes - I have seen these - presumably the stock that was left that no body wants.
as a 30" waist and 5'6" tall (or short) I think XXL may be a bit too big, even after Christmas indulgence :)
gxaustin
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Re: Tights / Trousers Help

Post by gxaustin »

I've recently bought some Specialised roubaix type unpadded bib tights to wear over my shorts. I'm very pleased with them.
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