Seattle Forrest

If you're in America, you might know them as knickers, but if you're in the UK, knickers are something entirely different.

I was never a fan of pants that came down to halfway between the knee and the foot, but my girlfriend got me a pair of fancy hiking ones. I've been using them on the bike. Being so short, they don't get caught in the chain and torn to shreds. They're a bit drafty, which is like air conditioning. I'm starting to like them, rode to work in mine, and they're just long enough not to raise any eyebrows.

Now I'm thinking about cutting the last couple of inches off another pair of pants I ride in ... I've already torn the right ankle to shreds in the chain ring.

Anybody else commuting in pants like these? I've seen retrogrouches in wool ones from time to time.



( That's not me. )

AlmostGreenGuy

Yep. I regularly wear Endura Humvee 3/4 knickers. They rock. I never bothered with the included chamois liner, as it is much thicker than I'd ever dream of using, but the knickers themselves are awesome. Lots of handy pockets, and they stretch in all the right places.

canyoneagle

No.

I do, however, commute in somewhat slim-fitting (but not tight) knee-length climbing/yoga shorts. They're more of a 2/3 length - just below the kneecap.

For colder days, I sometimes wear my running pants (not tights), but the cuff flares enough to catch my bottle cage and chainring if not restrained.

Otherwise, gimme tights. I wear running tights (no chamois) 80% of the time when the temps are below 50F.

truman

I've got a few pairs. One particular pair from Cloudveil has a nasty habit of getting the cuff hooked on a waterbottle or the bottle cage when I'm standing to climb, so the pairs that nip in at the cuff get preference.

jdgesus 

yup, most days.
cooler mornings, i just use knee high socks. then fold em down for the ride home

edit: i have 1 pair swrve knickers and 2 pair O.R. knickers

Leisesturm

I'm partial to knickers that button or velcro or drawstring or otherwise cinch down at the knee (or wherever they stop). There are some way cooler knickers out there than what I have seen so far in this thread. The Endura example being the only exception. Being partial to doesn't mean I actually have any right now. The last knickers I owned were bib knickers for cross-country skiing. I don't ski. They were perfect for on the bike fun. Haven't seen anything like them in decades. If I were to get knickered again it would be in something classic styled, maybe a nice tweed. Perhaps a subtle Glen Plaid. Pleats and cuffs of course. Absolutely smashing for a sedate cruise to work on the Schwinn World Tourist with the North Road style handlebars.

H

Andy_K 

I've been using tights through the winter, but I've seriously considered switching to knickers. I'd like to get a few pair in the $30 and under range if anyone has some suggestions.

2wheelcommute

I have a pair of Novara knickers from REI that look more or less like that. They're my most comfortable thing to commute in.

Chris_in_Miami

I picked up a few pair of non-cycling specific knickers recently and I really like them, though they have just enough slack at the cuff to get caught on my down tube shifters.

I also knicker-ized a pair of black military BDU pants and took in the legs at the inside seam to make them more form fitting. They look very similar to the Endura pants, but they don't exactly breathe well...

threecarjam

Wearing a pair of Rivendell MUSA-branded knickers right now - I like 'em. I own a few other brands as well (Chrome, OR Cyclewear, something else) that I've picked up on eBay on the cheap. The Rivs I like best, they dry fast if you ride in the rain, and have sewn-in reflective tape (may or may not actually be useful, but I feel better having it), and velcro cuffs so you can cinch them at the knee or wherever. Plus, at $60, they're the cheapest USA-made knickers I've found. And that's a big deal to me.

wolfchild

I love knickers I use them everyday all year round.

no1mad 

So do I.

Ember

I've taken to wearing capris since I got my new bike that doesn't have a chain guard like my other bikes did. The cuff is right around my widest part of my calf so it doesn't get caught on my bottle cages or the like. The fabric in the crotch is wearing from the saddle though, which is bizarre because none of my jeans have ever done this, and I wore basically one pair of jeans through all of the winter (I washed them frequently of course). I dunno *shrug*

Mardmakarm

Yes, all the time with sport shorts.Because its easy to clean and super fast dry.If go for a longer ride i'll put cycling shorts inside it.

monsterkidz

All I rock is 3/4 pants. I get them cheap at H&M or Old Navy. They serve there purpose well.

cyclokitty 

I do! Terry's knickers I bought for 50% at Team Estragen several years ago. They are made from lightweight stretchy nylon, have a built in chamois liner (but I wear bike shorts because the chamois is a bit uncomfortable), and have wonderfully deep, zippered pockets that means I don't lose my keys or money. I wear them when the temp is below 20ºC but greater than 5ºC (but can wear tights under 5ºC). Very comfy and I don't have to worry about the hems getting chewed in the crank.

blakcloud

I take some of my older khakis and cut them to length just below the knee and then sew it up. In the winter I wear tights underneath for extra warmth. It is a great way to get lots of use of a pair of pants.

____asdfghjkl

I would like knickers. I like the bicyclefixation ones but they are spensy for me right now. They just end up looking like regular pants on me hah.
I might jsut end up making my own when I have free time.

bored117 

Winter time, I would be on bike specific clothes. Come spring time, etc... I am on my ... well sort o knickers. Kuhl Titan long shorts and Prana Blink knicker is what I am using for time being. Been eyeing on few more... This way, I don't have to carry extra clothes, and it works just fine for 30 miles round trip... (with proper seat... in my case B-17)

rykard

cut off track suit bottoms, keep the knees warm and the shorts respectable

smasha

all i wear (on bikes) are 3/4 baggy "shorts".

endura "zyme" and "humvees" and fox "mutant". i've also got one pair of "gridlock" waterproof-breathable full-length pants, but those are only for rain + cold.

most of those purchases were made primarily based on price after not being sure what i wanted and finding good deals online. i'm happy with all of them.

my pants size would be a 32" waist. the endura shorts are snug in a medium, but the zyme shorts are a bit loose.

hairlessbill

I wear my Endura Humvee shorts year round. The pockets are just about perfect and so handy. I also skip snapping in the liner shorts that came with them. I wear cycling shorts underneath them if I plan on riding during lunch or just boxer briefs if I am not. Add some tights for the winter.

chipcom 

I've got a couple of pairs of Endura Zyme knickers I wear from time to time when the temps are in the 50-65 range.

late

I burnt the heck out of my knees a couple summers ago. Started buying knickers and
I prefer them.

Regrettably I have some fairly expensive shorts and I feel I ought to use them up.

EKW in DC

I have some old khakis I've thought about cutting to be something knicker-like for when it gets cold again. I normally wear some type of knee length baggy shots over base layer tights in the winter, but I think repurposing some of my old pants for this would be good.