Full Length Summer Cycling Tights

[tawc]

I would like any advise or recommendations on the best available men's and women's full length summer cycling tights both with and without pads; also any infomation relating to personal experience of using items such as the follwing would be very much appreciated: Mavic Espoir, Bontrager Sports, Specialised Rotation, Pear Izumi Select, dhb earnley and dhb Pace. Thank you.

[PT1029]

I use Lusso - not as comfortable as other longs I use (I think its the cut) but quite OK with braces. I have not made extensive searches, but they are the only ones I can find/try that do not have a (thin) fleecy inner lining - these linings are far to hot for summer.
The Lusso ones (made in UK by the way) start to run out of umph nearing frost temperatures. Lusso also do thin fleecy lined ( loop stitching) warmer winter ones - as I find the summer ones not so comfortable as other makes, I use the other makes for winter. I use the above without seat padding (wear padded skin shorts undernearth). I think lusso may do padded options and bib options, but in summer, its nice to have the option to take the longs off if it warms up.
Could always try shorts plus leg warmers?

[cycleruk]

Lidl are doing some 3/4 length tights on the 5th July.
I have some Ron Hill Tracksters but I need braces to keep them up. These can be too warm on a summers day but as I wear cycling shorts underneath I can take them of and put them in the seat pack. They dry out very quickly if they get wet and are even warm enough for mild winters.

[Vorpal]

How about running tights? If you want some padding, wear cycling shorts or padded pants under.

I still wear shorts when most people have put on their winter tights, so I don't have personal experience and won't be much help with comparisons.

[Starfire]

I use Altura Summer Cruisers with padded undershorts underneath. Comfortable, quick drying and reasonably priced.

[JohnW]

.............I still wear shorts when most people have put on their winter tights..........

In years to come, your knees may very well make their presence felt, all the time. Keep your knees warm!!!!! You may regret being macho sooner than you think. Take it from someone who didn't heedthe advice in earlier years, and now wishes that he had.

I have a couple of items of Corrinne Dennis clothing, and they're the best of their type that I've ever had. They no longer cater exclusively for women, and their Mens' Touring Shorts are really worth their money.

[Vorpal]

.............I still wear shorts when most people have put on their winter tights..........

In years to come, your knees may very well make their presence felt, all the time. Keep your knees warm!!!!! You may regret being macho sooner than you think. Take it from someone who didn't heedthe advice in earlier years, and now wishes that he had.

I have a couple of items of Corrinne Dennis clothing, and they're the best of their type that I've ever had. They no longer cater exclusively for women, and their Mens' Touring Shorts are really worth their money.

I'm hardly macho. I just dress for what's comfortable to me. I think that I just don't feel cold as much as most people. It's not just shorts, but also that I'm in short sleeves and sandals.

[JohnW]

..............
I'm hardly macho............I just dress for what's comfortable to me. I think that I just don't feel cold as much as most people. It's not just shorts, but also that I'm in short sleeves and sandals.

I'm not macho, either, and I think I'm probably like you except that, mainly for safety reasons, I don't wear sandals on the bike. I don't feel the cold as much as many of my cycling colleagues - I get comments for riding short sleeved in weather when the others are warmer clad - but feel the cold or not, the cold still can do the damage. I tend to be over-careful for my knees.

I don't think it's a matter of feeling the cold.

However, we all make our own judgements, and some are luckier than others. My very best wishes to your knees. No illustration is necessary!

[JohnW]

...............Could always try shorts plus leg warmers?

That's what I do in spring/autumn when it's a bit chilly before 07.00hrs and after about 20.00hrs - on a decent run. You can put leg /knee warmers on/off without taking your shorts off, and they take up very little space in the saddlebag.

This method also maintains ventilation to the parts that need ventilation.

The main caution is the gripper tops - can't do with them rolling down every few miles !!!! I've found that I need to wash them after every use, and they perform without problem. I think that skin oils/scales and perhaps talcum powder can become deposited on the silicon gripper band, and reduce its efficacy.

[Vorpal]

..............
I'm hardly macho............I just dress for what's comfortable to me. I think that I just don't feel cold as much as most people. It's not just shorts, but also that I'm in short sleeves and sandals.

I'm not macho, either, and I think I'm probably like you except that, mainly for safety reasons, I don't wear sandals on the bike. I don't feel the cold as much as many of my cycling colleagues - I get comments for riding short sleeved in weather when the others are warmer clad - but feel the cold or not, the cold still can do the damage. I tend to be over-careful for my knees.

I don't think it's a matter of feeling the cold.

However, we all make our own judgements, and some are luckier than others. My very best wishes to your knees. No illustration is necessary!

Sorry to derail this thread, but I am curious about a couple of things...

1) I've heard/read other people say they don't wear sandals cycling, 'for safety reasons'. What are those reasons? What's wrong with sandals and cycling?

2) What harm can the cold do long term that it doesn't do short term?

[JohnW]

..............I am curious about a couple of things...

1) I've heard/read other people say they don't wear sandals cycling, 'for safety reasons'. What are those reasons? What's wrong with sandals and cycling?

2) What harm can the cold do long term that it doesn't do short term?

1). Read this in the light of my use of clips and straps, not SPD. You can get sandals with SPD soles and cleats, and as far as I know, they're safe. Sandals with clips and straps - well, there's too many straps and buckles to get trapped around straps and buckles, and in an emergency, it could prove difficult to take the foot out of the clips. And if you just use flat pedals, there's always the possibility that the front of the sandal can turn under as you put your foot down - but to be fair it may also depend upon the type of sandal.

2). If you don't look after your knees, you'll find out the long term effects of not doing so soon enough.

They're your knees, it's up to you. But please - no pictures.

[Vorpal]

Well, I understand not wanting to wear sandals with clips and straps. I use the sort of half clips (strapless toe clips) and not all sandals can be worn comfortably with them.

I don't think, though, that I understand why wearing shorts in cooler weather is going to cause problems with my knees. And when is 'soon enough'? I'm not trying to be difficult. I would like to know if there is evidence that suggests I am increasing the likelihood of future knee problems. I'd like to think I look after my knees. I have fewer problems than most of the women in my family, and I've thought that it is due to my cycling.

[eileithyia]

...............Could always try shorts plus leg warmers?

That's what I do in spring/autumn when it's a bit chilly before 07.00hrs and after about 20.00hrs - on a decent run. You can put leg /knee warmers on/off without taking your shorts off, and they take up very little space in the saddlebag.

This method also maintains ventilation to the parts that need ventilation.

The main caution is the gripper tops - can't do with them rolling down every few miles !!!! I've found that I need to wash them after every use, and they perform without problem. I think that skin oils/scales and perhaps talcum powder can become deposited on the silicon gripper band, and reduce its efficacy.

Some of my leg warmers the gripper is not as firm as the gripper in my shorts.... wear the top of the leg warmer tucked under the lower edge of the shorts... stops them turning to Nora Batty's

[Swallow]

What about Ron Hill Bikesters http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ronhill-Mens-Bi ... 811&sr=8-2

[JohnW]

Well, I understand not wanting to wear sandals with clips and straps. I use the sort of half clips (strapless toe clips) and not all sandals can be worn comfortably with them.

I don't think, though, that I understand why wearing shorts in cooler weather is going to cause problems with my knees. And when is 'soon enough'? I'm not trying to be difficult. I would like to know if there is evidence that suggests I am increasing the likelihood of future knee problems. I'd like to think I look after my knees. I have fewer problems than most of the women in my family, and I've thought that it is due to my cycling.

I hadn't realised that I was conversing with a lady, and if there's one thing that a gentleman doesn't do, it's discuss a lady's knees in the public arena.

I'm not a physiotherapist, nor any kind of a medical man, nor do I have any accademic knowledge of these matters - I only know what I've seen - and to a certain extent experienced - down the years.

I detect what I interpret to be an antipathy to being contradicted, and will unsubscribe this topic.