Cycling tights for "cool" weather

I've got a pair of Cannondale tights to wear over bike shorts  that are basically the same thing as running tights.  

Living in FL, I only need  to wear them a few times a year.  

Mark  

I wrote a whole thing about wearing running tights over your shorts and calling it a day.  I think this is still a viable option, you could certainly try it, but the downside is that running pants have too low a waist to work well for cycling.

You can definitely find chamoisless fleece-lined or thicker cycling pants, which is what I would suggest.  I prefer to have a two-piece chamois/pant situation because the nicer bottoms are expensive and you could wear them more than once if you can remove and wash either your own trishorts underneath (or, useful and less expensive liner shorts).     I know guys like bibs for cycling, which also is an option.  

Real "winter" cycling pants can include windstopper fabric on the knees, which is critical when it's really cold. I find these to be harder to wear, less stretchy. I do NOT think you need that.

So yeah, I'd say wear your own tri-shorts/bike shorts and invest in a nicer pair of pants/bibs to layer over top.   

One option: http://www.rei.com/product/886234/novara-thermal-bike-tights-mens

^^THIS.  And good shoe covers and something for your ears.

~40 degrees and you should easily be comfortable with a standard tight over your bike shorts.

I'm riding regularly between 25 and 30 degrees with a base layer bike tights, a pair of running tights over that then a bike short.  It sounds like a lot but it's worked for me and hasn't been a problem. 

A way bigger issue for me at 25 degrees is my feet... I will get cold toes way before my legs/knees/groin area are a problem.  

Couple of winters ago I went out with a few rides when it was 41 & breezy, I think water freezes at 41 here in FL!  I went out with a trisuit with a total of 3 layers on the upper body.  A cold weather beanie under the helmet that also covered my ears, gloves and toe-covers.  Most important for me are a warm head, hands and toes.  Next the body must be able to be regulated with several layers.  The legs didn't matter to me being exposed.

I mostly use bib cycling tights. I sometimes use shorts + leg warmers, but I find that I am significantly colder than with bib tights. My skin is definitely pink after a short + leg warmer ride and I never notice that with the bib tights.

My fingers and toes get to get colder that my legs.

I ride a lot in the winter. It rarely gets less than 0C here, but in 5C rain (frequent), I get colder than -5.

I was thinking about this thread last night. I rode to the velodrome in 3C and pouring rain wearing my bib tights. Then I changed at the velodrome and rode home in the same conditions. I didn't put anything wet back on, so I wore my bib shorts and leg warmers home. I don't think I was that much colder on the way home. Or rather I was just really cold in both ways.

Let me put in a plug for Pearl Izumi Amfib tights.

I've had two pairs since 2002; the first lasted ten years and the second is going strong. They are great in 30-45 degree weather, rain or no rain. Here in Seattle the Amfib tights are what make winter riding possible for me. I have the unpadded tights version so I can use them for multiple sports. I wear them over compression shorts for running (down to 15 degrees) and as in inner layer in snow sports (over Underarmour underwear, under the outer skin).

Amfibs are great protection from wind and rain and are insulated enough to stay warm without overheating.

You can buy cheaper, but for me spending $110 for ten years of multi-sport use make Amfibs a great value.

I have a few pairs of tights that pull over the regular bib shorts.  One pair is a Nike, the other two are from Nashbar (Mansfield 2).  I like either style, and I especially like the leg zipper on the Nashbar tights which makes pulling them on pretty easy.  I've ridden in them from the upper 30's (F) to about 50.  Above 50 degrees F, I prefer just going out in the bib shorts with no tights.  Arm warmers are good to about 60 degrees F.  Below 50 I prefer a base layer under the jersey, and a sweat band that covers the ears.  For under 40 degrees F, I have a pair of extra warm gloves, and usually wear a cycling jacket and toe covers.