Notices
Fifty Plus (50+) Share the victories, challenges, successes and special concerns of bicyclists 50 and older. Especially useful for those entering or reentering bicycling.

Tights

Old 09-01-19, 07:50 AM
  #26  
bruce19
Senior Member
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
I'm tempted by knickers with long socks. I have tights that I wear over Assos bib shorts. My problem is that nothing fits me like Assos. I actually had to give away some PI tights because of fit. With the price of Assos tights or knickers with chamois the chance of me ever having a pair is virtually non-existent.

Here's a question...Has anyone who has worn Assos tights/knickers ever found another brand that fits similarly?

Last edited by bruce19; 09-01-19 at 07:55 AM.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 09-01-19, 01:55 PM
  #27  
woodcraft
Senior Member
 
woodcraft's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 923 Times in 569 Posts
Originally Posted by bruce19
I'm tempted by knickers with long socks. I have tights that I wear over Assos bib shorts. My problem is that nothing fits me like Assos. I actually had to give away some PI tights because of fit. With the price of Assos tights or knickers with chamois the chance of me ever having a pair is virtually non-existent.

Here's a question...Has anyone who has worn Assos tights/knickers ever found another brand that fits similarly?


No Assos, but I wear knickers a lot in fall/winter.

Ibex wool, thermal Nalini bibs, and a couple of others. Paired with wool ski socks on the colder end- work great

and gets rid of that "drooping leg warmer" thing.
woodcraft is offline  
Old 09-01-19, 04:35 PM
  #28  
bobwysiwyg
Senior Member
 
bobwysiwyg's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344

Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS

Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 941 Post(s)
Liked 319 Times in 189 Posts
Originally Posted by trailangel
Get the pink ones
I would recommend a more inclusive pattern/design.

P.S. Not intended as a joke of any sort.
bobwysiwyg is offline  
Old 09-01-19, 05:53 PM
  #29  
bruce19
Senior Member
 
bruce19's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,456

Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel

Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1722 Post(s)
Liked 1,272 Times in 734 Posts
Originally Posted by woodcraft
No Assos, but I wear knickers a lot in fall/winter.

Ibex wool, thermal Nalini bibs, and a couple of others. Paired with wool ski socks on the colder end- work great

and gets rid of that "drooping leg warmer" thing.
It's the fit that keeps me with Assos....if I can afford it.
bruce19 is offline  
Old 09-01-19, 08:36 PM
  #30  
Pridedog
Gone Biking!
 
Pridedog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Indiana
Posts: 150

Bikes: Orbea Gain, Lynskey, Redline Conquest Disc, Bike Friday, Cannnondale T2 Tandem.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 50 Times in 28 Posts
Originally Posted by terrymorse
  • knee warmers if it's below 60ºf
  • leg warmers if it's below 50ºf
  • thermal bib tights if it's below 40ºf
+1
Pridedog is offline  
Old 09-01-19, 09:14 PM
  #31  
Carbonfiberboy 
just another gosling
 
Carbonfiberboy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,501

Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004

Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3872 Post(s)
Liked 1,920 Times in 1,369 Posts
I tried padded tights but I'm very particular about my pad and use different grades of pads for different types of rides. So I quit doing that and now only use unpadded tights over padded shorts. That's warmer and less expensive as the tights last a long time. No visible butt crack, ever. Also, no fit issues. Any brand works, though I usually use PI.

The downside of knickers and knee socks is that there's no way to keep rain water out of your shoes - it wicks down the socks. With tights, one puts dry-suit leg seals above one's booties, right on the bare ankle, then zip the tights over the leg seals. Dry feet.
__________________
Results matter
Carbonfiberboy is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 01:21 PM
  #32  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
Originally Posted by Ogsarg
In this area we can have wild temp swings . Leave home in low to mid 50's and get home in mid 70's or worse.
Heck, that's normal for me. I just finished DALMAC, and typical lows were in the lower 50s and highs were just shy of 80F. My rule for tights is that I'll wear either tights or leg warmers if the temp is NOT predicted to go over 60F during the ride.

Tights go over shorts, that way you can strip the tights when it warms up and you don't lose the pad when you do it. You can also go with knickers for keeping your knees warm in cool weather.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 03:37 PM
  #33  
JanMM
rebmeM roineS
 
JanMM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,217

Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer

Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times in 225 Posts
For quite a while I've been wearing running pants by Sporthill (https://www.sporthill.com/mens-triplex-slim-pant/) while riding recumbent bikes.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
JanMM is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 06:56 PM
  #34  
MNebiker
Full Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: MN
Posts: 236
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 83 Post(s)
Liked 152 Times in 83 Posts
I have a good mirror that I look in before I leave the house - so I don't wear tights or spandex. Nobody wants to see a chubby old dude in spandex. I just wish a lot of other people would buy themselves a mirror! (Ever look at the WalMart customer pix on YouTube?)

I use insulated base layer top & bottom under a jersey, cycling windbreaker & lined sports pants. If it gets colder I may add a sweatshirt. Don't have a lot of hair so I wear a helmet liner under the vented helmet. I try and ride as long as the trails are clear, but about 35 degrees is my cutoff point.
MNebiker is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 07:47 PM
  #35  
Lightning Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of Madiganistan (formerly known as Illinois)
Posts: 113

Bikes: Lightning P-38

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by zarbog
Cool weather is here in the mornings already, it is 57 right now. I did manage to get comfortable with wearing cycling shorts while cruising around town and am pondering the resulting look of a 69 year old riding around in tights.

What do you folks wear on your legs in fall, and the few pairs of tights I have seen do not have padded liners. I am a bit confused on that. Leg warmers with shorts ?
Leggings or tights.

Why are you worried about appearances? A 69 year old cyclist in cold weather is impressive, period.
Lightning Pilot is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 07:56 PM
  #36  
KraneXL
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: La-la Land, CA
Posts: 3,623

Bikes: Cannondale Quick SL1 Bike - 2014

Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3405 Post(s)
Liked 240 Times in 185 Posts
Originally Posted by MNebiker
I have a good mirror that I look in before I leave the house - so I don't wear tights or spandex. Nobody wants to see a chubby old dude in spandex. I just wish a lot of other people would buy themselves a mirror! (Ever look at the WalMart customer pix on YouTube?)

I use insulated base layer top & bottom under a jersey, cycling windbreaker & lined sports pants. If it gets colder I may add a sweatshirt. Don't have a lot of hair so I wear a helmet liner under the vented helmet. I try and ride as long as the trails are clear, but about 35 degrees is my cutoff point.
Well its not the most attractive thing, but as long as there's no bare skin you won't get any verbal objection from me. Also, its not about your age but your condition and the shape you're in. There are plenty of people that are taught in their middle years and even more saggy millennials.
KraneXL is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 08:47 PM
  #37  
Lightning Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of Madiganistan (formerly known as Illinois)
Posts: 113

Bikes: Lightning P-38

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by MNebiker
I have a good mirror that I look in before I leave the house - so I don't wear tights or spandex. Nobody wants to see a chubby old dude in spandex. I just wish a lot of other people would buy themselves a mirror! (Ever look at the WalMart customer pix on YouTube?)

I use insulated base layer top & bottom under a jersey, cycling windbreaker & lined sports pants. If it gets colder I may add a sweatshirt. Don't have a lot of hair so I wear a helmet liner under the vented helmet. I try and ride as long as the trails are clear, but about 35 degrees is my cutoff point.
Originally Posted by KraneXL
Well its not the most attractive thing, but as long as there's no bare skin you won't get any verbal objection from me. Also, its not about your age but your condition and the shape you're in. There are plenty of people that are taught in their middle years and even more saggy millennials.
When I encounter a "zaftig," or just plain overweight/obese older person on the road or trail, I give them a and think (or sometimes even say) "Sierra Hotel!" (Look it up if you don't know.) Why? Because I know from a lot of experience just how hard it can be, and that it gets harder every year, after a certain age. I don't give a !#@$% %&*@! what you are wearing or how you look (unless you look like you are having serious difficulties!) You are golden in my eyes.
Lightning Pilot is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 10:10 PM
  #38  
KraneXL
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: La-la Land, CA
Posts: 3,623

Bikes: Cannondale Quick SL1 Bike - 2014

Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3405 Post(s)
Liked 240 Times in 185 Posts
Originally Posted by Lightning Pilot
When I encounter a "zaftig," or just plain overweight/obese older person on the road or trail, I give them a and think (or sometimes even say) "Sierra Hotel!" (Look it up if you don't know.) Why? Because I know from a lot of experience just how hard it can be, and that it gets harder every year, after a certain age. I don't give a !#@$% %&*@! what you are wearing or how you look (unless you look like you are having serious difficulties!) You are golden in my eyes.
There's a thread that heralds the advantages of ageing. One of them is knowing the difference between someone generally trying to change their lives and someone just going through the motions. Sure, the first step is getting out there (and for some that can be a huge first step), but one step won't get you're going if you have a long road ahead. There needs to be a second step, and one after that, and one after that.

I've went out of my way on many occasion through the years to help others that were trying to change the way they look and every single one of them have given up soon after starting. Many of which fall back on the old excuse of age. Fortunately, I've lived long enough to know that's rarely an excuse. I feel the same things they feel.

Some days I feel I can barely move and have to literally drag myself up to go exercise, but that's the path that I have chosen. Most cyclist I've seen have a pretty good focus on keeping in shape. But when it comes to anaerobic training, its just the opposite.

People of all ages would regularly come up to me to ask me questions about training (I could give you pages of examples of why I no longer bother -- my time is valuable too), but suffice it to say that anyone who carries a cell phone to the gym isn't serious about training. The moment I see that, I politely say, "Rule #1 , leave the cell phone at home," and walk away.
KraneXL is offline  
Old 09-05-19, 11:38 PM
  #39  
TimothyH
- Soli Deo Gloria -
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 14,782

Bikes: 2018 Rodriguez Custom Fixed Gear, 2017 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2015 Bianchi Pista, 2002 Fuji Robaix

Mentioned: 235 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6844 Post(s)
Liked 736 Times in 469 Posts
Castelli Nanoflex knee warmers and normal bib shorts below 65°f

Castelli Nanoflex bib knickers below 55°f

Castelli Sorpasso Wind bib tights below 40°f
TimothyH is offline  
Old 09-06-19, 02:46 AM
  #40  
alloo
Full Member
 
alloo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 490

Bikes: 2022 Priority Coast, 2022 Priority Current

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 175 Post(s)
Liked 137 Times in 99 Posts
What about fleeced lined jeans?
alloo is offline  
Old 09-06-19, 06:06 AM
  #41  
rustystrings61 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Greenwood SC USA
Posts: 2,340

Bikes: 2002 Mercian Vincitore, 1982 Mercian Colorado, 1976 Puch Royal X, 1973 Raleigh Competition, 1971 Gitane Tour de France and others

Mentioned: 55 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,387 Times in 690 Posts
Ancient wool Sergal leg warmers on the road, tucked up under the leg bands of padded shorts. Off-road, they don't stay up so well, so I wear tights over my shorts. It works.
rustystrings61 is offline  
Old 09-06-19, 06:54 AM
  #42  
zarbog
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
zarbog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Golden Horseshoe
Posts: 147

Bikes: Giant SLR GX1 Toughroad

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 65 Post(s)
Liked 22 Times in 16 Posts
Lot's of great advice and encouragement, thanks. I picked up a pair of running pants that have zippered ankles that are snug, so they should be fine for now, and MEC has some tights on sale that I have to have a looksee at.

What about gloves, apparently I have something called shaking hand syndrone, from my 35 years working in industry and using power tools. Anyhow, one of the symptons is a very low tolerence to cold. Even making hamburgers has me sticking my hands under the tap with warm water running, every minute. Last fall I used leather driving gloves but they were useless really.

And ear muffs or balaclava's for the face. Might as well get all the cold weather gear that riders use and are happy with out here for all to see.
zarbog is offline  
Old 09-06-19, 09:43 AM
  #43  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
cycling specific pants are great & my go-to combo is thin lined trishorts under snug (not tight) Novara Headwind Pants. not available anymore. but they fit just right for my 60 yr old body. I'm sure there are other pants around these days that have a similar fit







they're also good for snow shoeing!

rumrunn6 is offline  
Old 09-06-19, 09:50 AM
  #44  
rumrunn6
Senior Member
 
rumrunn6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528

Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0

Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times in 2,331 Posts
Originally Posted by zarbog
winter gloves
I have some Pearl Izumi fingered gloves & also a pair of their lobster gloves. you're right, cycling specific winter gloves are the way to go. but I like bar mitts w/ glove liners or other cheap light gloves



bar mitts are great for wet weather to & make a good dry place to stash them during pit stops



these are the PI with my road bike bar mitts



Last edited by rumrunn6; 09-06-19 at 09:54 AM.
rumrunn6 is offline  
Likes For rumrunn6:
Old 09-06-19, 11:09 AM
  #45  
Lightning Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Peoples Democratic Socialist Republic of Madiganistan (formerly known as Illinois)
Posts: 113

Bikes: Lightning P-38

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 48 Post(s)
Liked 32 Times in 26 Posts
Originally Posted by zarbog
What about gloves, apparently I have something called shaking hand syndrone, from my 35 years working in industry and using power tools. Anyhow, one of the symptons is a very low tolerence to cold. Even making hamburgers has me sticking my hands under the tap with warm water running, every minute. Last fall I used leather driving gloves but they were useless really.

And ear muffs or balaclava's for the face. Might as well get all the cold weather gear that riders use and are happy with out here for all to see.
Look at Youngstown Gloves. They make cold weather Mil-spec gloves that might suit, keep your hands warm while preserving dexterity.

Underarmor makes (or made) a nice double layer, wicking balaclava. You don't want ear muffs or anything that might interfere with hearing.
Lightning Pilot is offline  
Likes For Lightning Pilot:
Old 09-06-19, 11:27 AM
  #46  
rutan74
Full Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 218

Bikes: Felt ZR3, Specialized Sectur

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 100 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 52 Times in 37 Posts
Originally Posted by zarbog
Cool weather is here in the mornings already, it is 57 right now. I did manage to get comfortable with wearing cycling shorts while cruising around town and am pondering the resulting look of a 69 year old riding around in tights.

What do you folks wear on your legs in fall, and the few pairs of tights I have seen do not have padded liners. I am a bit confused on that. Leg warmers with shorts ?
I've yet to don the long johns. I've managed to stay in shorts for the whole winter and managed 37 degrees in shorts. It is not my legs that are the problem in the cold but my groin. When I ran cross country many years ago, our coach always said your temp sensors were your armpits and groin area. In the cold, keep those two areas warm and you can survive.

If it is cold and it usually doesn't get that cold here in the south but when it goes below 55 I just rub some Atomic Balm on my legs and I'm good to go. Good ole Atomic Balm from 40 years ago. Still being made and it keeps the legs warm. Just use rubber gloves to put it on. If you get it anywhere you don't want it, you will regret it. Since it has properties like Vaseline, it does not wash off easily so if it is cool and rainy, it will keep the legs warm even if they get wet.

I do have limits though as I get older. Fewer rides under 50 degrees now. It just isn't worth it. I'll just head indoors now and go to a spin class.

john
rutan74 is offline  
Old 09-06-19, 11:44 AM
  #47  
BlazingPedals
Senior Member
 
BlazingPedals's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Middle of da Mitten
Posts: 12,474

Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Catrike Speed

Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1511 Post(s)
Liked 733 Times in 454 Posts
Originally Posted by MNebiker
I have a good mirror that I look in before I leave the house - so I don't wear tights or spandex. Nobody wants to see a chubby old dude in spandex. I just wish a lot of other people would buy themselves a mirror! (Ever look at the WalMart customer pix on YouTube?)
What was the line? "I may be fat, but I can always lose weight. You, on the other hand, will always be ugly."

Feel free to wear what you're comfortable in. That's what we are doing, whether we look good in it or not. It's a functionality issue, not a beauty contest.
BlazingPedals is offline  
Likes For BlazingPedals:
Old 09-06-19, 09:00 PM
  #48  
KraneXL
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: La-la Land, CA
Posts: 3,623

Bikes: Cannondale Quick SL1 Bike - 2014

Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3405 Post(s)
Liked 240 Times in 185 Posts
Originally Posted by BlazingPedals
What was the line? "I may be fat, but I can always lose weight. You, on the other hand, will always be ugly."

Feel free to wear what you're comfortable in. That's what we are doing, whether we look good in it or not. It's a functionality issue, not a beauty contest.
No.
KraneXL is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
hexron
Road Cycling
20
03-23-18 02:07 PM
Baldy1953
General Cycling Discussion
7
01-10-16 08:06 AM
bigguyonbike
Road Cycling
21
10-24-14 04:01 PM
ColinL
Winter Cycling
3
10-21-11 12:06 PM
bjaspud
Fifty Plus (50+)
52
09-12-11 01:58 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.