Wool Tights

[Pam Wright]

With my love of wool undershirts and warmers, I think I want a pair of wool tights.  One hope is they will be more forgiving in the knee area, since my PI tights make my knees ache after a while.  Anyone got a recommendation for wool cycling tights?  I figured I'd have plenty of choices, but apparently not!   Swobo (my favorite arm & knee warmers) have a new fabric that's 40% wool, but they're a new thing.   Smartwool (my favorite undershirt) doesn't appear to have an outer tight, just underlayers and I want them for outerwear.   Jones Wares has a 92% wool tight, but I don't know about them.   Anyone got a recommendation for where to look or a favorite pair that can still be bought somewhere?  And if you have a pair, are they fairly forgiving in the knee area?    Thanks! Pam Wright

[Rob Hawks]

I'd be interested in the replies, as I am thinking I'd want a pair of wool tights for the upcoming winter/rainy season too. BTW, what are PI tights?

Kucharik makes wool tights too. I've seen the Jones Wares advertised for some time but don't know much about them.

rob hawks
richmond, ca

[Steve Palincsar]

On Mon, 2009-10-26 at 14:01 -0700, Rob Hawks wrote:
> I'd be interested in the replies, as I am thinking I'd want a pair of
> wool tights for the upcoming winter/rainy season too. BTW, what are PI
> tights?

"PI" when used with bike clothing almost certainly means the brand Pearl
Izumi.

[Juan PLC Salazar]

> /Pam Wright/
>
>

I recently got some sweet deals from Ibex at their annual tent sale in
VT. I got the El Fito 3/4 bike knickers and I really like them so far.
If you use them with wool ski socks you'll get full coverage of your legs.

Juan

--
+---------------------------------------+
| Juan PLC Salazar ____ __o |
| www.cycloblogger.info ____ _`\<,_ |
| 607.253.9327 ____ (_) (_) |
+---------------------------------------+

[Donald Perley]

Giordana makes  tights in 30%wool/70%acrillic. Sierra Trading post has them, but only has xxs left.

One of the ratings on that site suggested Ibex.

[David Strong]

Jones is great. I have tried them all, jones has most durable
fabrics, great customer care, more years of experience than most, z
que cert for treatment of animals. Their tights are warm, comfy and
deb jones will work with you for fit if something does not fit right.
Leg, knee, arm warmers are great too, as well as shorts and
undershirts. Can't say enough good things. -david

--
Sent from my mobile device

[wrharper]

I have some of the Kucharik tights, and they've been effective for me
down into the 30's. I wear mine over wool shorts, also from
Kucharik. They are a teeny bit baggy, so definitely forgiving in the
knee area, at least for my physique.

They are too warm for my taste when the temperature is much above 45.
Over 50, forget it. The only downside I've experienced is that they
are quite heavy when they get soaking wet, but that is probably
inevitable with wool

Russ Harper

Seattle,WA

[Bill Gobie]

I can recommend Ibex leg warmers, tho I don't know where you can find
some.

One caution about Ibex shorts, and possibly knickers. The men's
shorts I have are cut for skinny legs -- the waist fits but the legs
are too tight. Don't know if the women's have the same problem.

Bill

[Rob Hawks]

Pam in her original posting mentioned knee issues with a set of tights
she had. Is this a common
thing? One reason I am considering the wool tights is particularly for
the rainy season (not as much
for the cold). I have used a set of RainLegs and the problem I have
with them is that I swear my knees
get irritated by covering at the knee. What happens to me is that the
elastic strapped section just above
the knee begins to twist around my knees and then pops loose only to
wind up again. I was hoping I
could handle most rain by just keeping warm with the wool tights and
somewhat drier with a rain jacket
for the upper portions.

I tend to wear tights or knee warmers longer into a warming day than
most other riders.

rob hawks

[The Wolff Den]

Pam - my vote is for Ibex, you won't be sorry.

Really! MW / KJ4LFY (not all of my rides are in Florida....)

Jacksonville, Fla / Team Diurnal
PBP - 2007, 2003
Cascade - 2005
BMB - 2000, 2002

If you don't wish you were somewhere else at least once, it's not an adventure


>
>Wrom: NKMBIPBARHDMNNSKVFVWRKJVZCMHVIBGDADRZFSQHY
>To: randon <ran...@googlegroups.com>; Lone * Star * Randonneurs <Talk...@googlegroups.com>; Ultra Cycling Group <ultrac...@googlegroups.com>
>Sent: Mon, October 26, 2009 4:51:33 PM
>Subject: [Randon] Wool Tights

[Bill Gobie]

It depends how the tights are cut and the material's stretchiness vs
the size of your knees. Some tights cause me problems, others don't.

Are you using RainLegs over bare skin? My RainLegs don't wind up, but
I only wear them over tights. And I don't pull the elastic very tight.

Bill

[papa...@comcast.net]

I do love my ibex bib knickers.  They hold their shape well and are so good to ride in.  I also have a jersey and it also is very very nice.  I think all of their gear is high quality (if not superior). 

John

[oldmangabe]

I like the Ibex leg warmers. I haven't yet tried the full tights/
knickers. The legwarmers have kept me warm in light rain. If it was
a more sustained rain I would probably combine them with the rainlegs,
or use wool knee warmers and rainlegs. I also have some wool tights
(full tights not just leg warmers) that I got from Riv. They a bit
baggy in the leg. They keep me warm when dry, but when they get wet
they sag and get cold for some reason. I special ordered my Ibex
stuff through my LBS.
Gabe

[Glenn Ammons]

On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 5:57 PM, David Strong <djst...@fwcm.com> wrote:
>
> Jones  is great. I have tried them all, jones has most durable
> fabrics, great customer care, more years of experience than most, z
> que cert for treatment of animals. Their tights are warm, comfy and
> deb jones will work with you for fit if something does not fit right.
> Leg, knee, arm warmers are great too, as well as shorts and
> undershirts. Can't say enough good things. -david

I'll cast another vote for Joneswares. I ordered knee and arm warmers
from them in a lighter fabric than they normally use. The custom fit
is perfect, the price was right, and they've held up very well. If
you explained your knee issues to them, they might be able to make
something that would help.

--glenn
West Chester,PA, USA

[Rob Hawks]

I know and have ridden with David and his endorsement has swayed me to
trying Jones Wares. Pam
sent me an off list reply with her approach to getting the right fit
and given that Jones Wares has
a reputation for working on that issue, I'm in good shape preparing
for my order. Thanks, it was
a well timed and useful discussion.

rob

[NickBull]

Ha. Timely topic! Last Friday, I ordered two pairs of the Rivendell
"wool semi-tights", $55, one for me and one for my spouse/stoker. I
like the fact that they will fit a little bit loose, as I'll most
likely only be putting them on when it has gotten too cold (or too
cold and wet) for wool leg warmers alone. I think that the loss of
aerodynamics at winter riding speed is negligible compared with the
comfort of not having another layer of tight, stretchy pants on. I
think part of why winter riding can be so hard is you're trying to
move all those layers of stretchy fabric around. So maybe these will
work better.

I also like the fact that they're $40 cheaper than the JonesWare
tights (which were my second choice, and which look very nice). So I
could buy two pairs of the "semi-tights" for only a little more than
one pair of the JonesWare.

Will report back later in the winter :-)

Nick Bull

On Oct 26, 7:33 pm, Rob Hawks <rob.ha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I know and have ridden with David and his endorsement has swayed me to
> trying Jones Wares. Pam
> sent me an off list reply with her approach to getting the right fit
> and given that Jones Wares has
> a reputation for working on that issue, I'm in good shape preparing
> for my order. Thanks, it was
> a well timed and useful discussion.
>
> rob
>

> On Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 5:28 PM, Glenn Ammons <glenn.amm...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Randon Nerd]

Any idea when PI will take on the "corporate" Shimano logo?

[Steady As She Goes]

Does anybody make a pair of windfront wool tights?

I got some ages ago from Byke Gnashbar and loved them.
A thin supplex nylon fabric over comfy wool tights.
They worked really well for me in cold weather and don't get clammy.
But I wore them out during winter commuting.

Ray

[Andrew Mead]

Ray,
I have the same type of wind-front wool tights under the Performance brand.  Probably the same thing.
The wool is rather heavy weight (two layers), so they're a bit much until the temps dip below freezing.  When it does they're hard to beat.  Mine are at least 15 years old.  I've worn through the inside layer in the sit bone area.  Outer layer is looking rather thin.   
I haven't seen these in  years, but I keep looking since the concept (wind block panels on wool tights) makes so much sense.

I've also noticed several comments on using long leg warmers in conjunction with wool shorts or knickers.  Sounds like a flexible solution, but I wouldn't be a happy camper if a gap between the two kept opening up on a cold day.  For those using this approach, is this a real problem?

Andrew

[Ray Coffey]

Yes... PERFORMANCE, not SnackBar.
Thanks, Andrew!
They also made cozy pajamas - not too hot indoors somehow.
I'd keep the heat down, you see.

I love my old DeMarchi windfront jacket even though it is an ugly
green (the nylon panels),
it is ideal for cold weather. And the price was right.
Similar to this... but not this:
http://www.longscycle.com/webstore/ProductDetails1.asp?ProductID=331

Armwarmers, wool beanie, liner gloves, and even liner socks can fit in
the pockets just in case it gets even colder or for a late-night
return trip.

Ray

[Jim Verheul]

This thread got me thinking, I used to be a big time wool tight guy. I still have 3 pair. I rarely even wear any tights anymore, let alone wool. Why?

http://www.defeet.com/product.php?id=152

• No suspenders required.
  
• I have had them for over 4 years, use them lots, and they are still holding up.
• Take a lot less space in my bag.
• Have used them down to 28F, with booties and embrocation of course, and maybe 2 pair of shorts.

Cheers,
JV

[pamela blalock]

The softshell pants from Ibex that I mentioned in a previous post provide a
really nice wind break. They really are awesome. Prior to getting these I
was using Sporthill XC pants, which were listed as windproof to 35mph. (I
use them both for winter cycling and xc-skiing)

Of course, I do a bit of riding in temps well below freezing, so these may
be too warm for Texas conditions, but I do recall a few occasions in January
from my years in NC where they would have come in handy. Up here, I use them
daily for 4 to 5 months of the year, so maybe that's why I wear out the
seats of regular wool tights!


pamela blalock pgb at blayleys.com
care-free in watertown, ma http://www.blayleys.com

[Pam Wright]

Thanks for the tips Pamela.  I actually debated some ibex and thought they might be too warm.  Of course, I'm talking about using them maybe 8-10 rides/year.  We'll start off layered up and my rack gets loaded by noon as I de-layer to say the least :)   Still, when they're needed, they're nice to have.  You made me reconsider the whole thing saying you wore out the seat, but you're right, I won't be riding in them NEAR enough to wear out the seat any time soon!   Thanks again from another Pamela, Pam Wright --- On Tue, 10/27/09, pamela blalock <el...@blayleys.com> wrote:

[DrCodfish]

Randon Nerd said:

"Any idea when PI will take on the "corporate" Shimano logo?"

A coffee snort out the nose! (ouch)

It's just a guess but I suspect PI as a corporate brand will be
replaced with Shimano as soon as Shimano has all the cache' of PI.
Think about it: If you were a global coporation and bought a company
with a real snappy, well recognized brand, known for excellence and a
certain 'up scale' market share, would you rename your product from
Porsche to Volkswagen? Image affects sales and while VW is not a bad
image, Porsche is a good image. More people are likely to buy a
$38,000 Porsche than a $38,000 VW. Porsche is Boutigue, VW is 'the
peoples wagon'.

A similar case might be made in the wool cycling garment market. I
have stuff from Ibex and from Kucharik (as well as others) . Both
make quality gear. But in todays market Ibex is much 'cooler', much
more hip, hi tech, and more 'upscale'. Kucharik is a brand that's
been around since racing bikes had 27" wheels, and clips and
straps, ... and to be honest has not kept pace with the times. They
went 'out of fashion' but I would not be suprised if they were to make
a reappearance in the 'big tent' of cycling 'fashion' coming through
the side door entrance marked 'retro only'. Sort of like the PI
'retro' wool jerseys you are now seeing ....only authentic.

For my money the differences are these:

Ibex makes a more form fitting, more stylish garment, (more laycra or
other stretchy stuff in the fabric). I have the knickers and the knee
warmers, both of which I like. But to be honest they are just a
little too 'slick' for me, ... literally. I cannot keep the
legwarmers up above my knees and I think we all know how frustrating
it can be to try to pull up leg warmers while peddaling. My quads are
shaped like a cone and when those slick warmers are interfaced with
slick shorts, .... they slip down.

My Kucharik bib tights are my expidition weight cold weather gear (you
can get them with an actual animal skin chamois! though I doubt it is
a chamois) they remind me of the black wool union suit I used to wear
in winter when working in the woods. The word 'nubby' comes to mind.
These are never tight fitting and after a long day in the saddle they
are on the verge of baggy. Add in a day long deluge and they are
baggy. But they are warm, much warmer than the Ibex stuff. And,
make an order and you might either be talking to or get a hand signed
receipt from a guy named Kucharik. I like and wear both, each has
it's strengths and weaknesses, neither is 'best, both are good.

Yr Pal Dr Codfish

[pamela blalock]

Dr Codfish wrote

I cannot keep the
> legwarmers up above my knees and I think we all know how frustrating
> it can be to try to pull up leg warmers while peddaling. My quads are
> shaped like a cone and when those slick warmers are interfaced with
> slick shorts, .... they slip down.

--

Are you pulling the warmers OVER your shorts. Any of the arm and leg warmers
I have, have a grippy elastic on the inside (including my ibex knee
warmers). This goes against the skin and the shorts go over. No problem with
them staying up.

I have some legwarmers that I had made by a woman at a farmers market in the
little town I lived in , in New Zealand. They don't have the grippy stuff on
the inside, but when placed under shorts, even they stay up reasonably well.

Sad to say, but we could not get wool arm and leg warmers when we lived
there. They were not sold in ANY bike shops. I had to mail order them from
the US - and the labels said "Made in NZ". At some point I carried an old
worn out pair of Kucharik legwarmers down to the market. Mrs Lambert copied
them and made me a couple of pairs for the equivalent of about $10 US. I
should have had her make a few hundred, but adding some grippy stuff!

[DrCodfish]

Pamela wrote:

"Are you pulling the warmers OVER your shorts."

I've tried over under, half and half, smooth, rumpled, you name it. I
know about that grippy stuff, it pulls the hairs as the warmers slip
down. I don't think it's the product, the application, or the fine
print, really I think it is me. I haver this problem with just about
all the leg warmers I have ever used. Not so much w/armwarmers.
Smartwool are my fave there though I once had a great pair by Salsa
and lost them after the first wearing on the first day of a fall 1000K
ride...dang! (funny what we remember eh?)

I rode in a nice pair of brushed Castelli bib tights over the weekend,
they scored: 8 for fit, 5 for style points, but a perfect ten for
technical merit. Next month they won't be warm enough.

Too funny about the made in NZ story.

Yr Pal Dr C

[pamela blalock]

Hmm sounds like a bit of Velcro effect going on there. Maybe you could shave
a little strip at leg/knee warmer gripper height :-)

> -----Original Message-----
> From: ran...@googlegroups.com [mailto:ran...@googlegroups.com] On
> Behalf Of DrCodfish
> Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 1:49 PM
> To: randon
> Subject: [Randon] Re: Wool Tights
>
>

[thirty-six]

There's a simple solution to your 'problem'. Its the same solution
many riders I know used to hold up their shorts before bib tights. We
used safety pins (if no braces). I still prefer seperate shorts
because can get a better fit, and I do still sometimes use safety
pins if I'm using a heavy jersey that I wont be removing. They also
come in handy for my arm-warmers and leggings. You could also add a
button and button hole to prevent sliding. I wouldnt use velcro here
although there may be some fittings in the haberdashery meant for
womens undergarmets which may suit, possibly no better than shirt
button and button hole.

[DrCodfish]

Thirty Six said:

"There's a simple solution to your 'problem'...."

First, let me say the 'pins' idea is the closest you come to simple.
Simple solution and button hole do not belong in the same sentence.
In fact the button/hole, velcro, garters, braces, etc, ideas are
certainly all solutions. But for those of us interested in
simplifying, they are steps away from simple.

But there you go, no limit to the potential of folks in this group.
for a little more pernanence there is the surgical implants idea, and
the range of implants really is only limited by our imagination.
Believe me, riding along in the cold drizzle I've had hours and hours
to contemplate these and many more 'simple solutions' (wasn't Rube
Goldberg originally a randonneur?)

Or, I can ride with slippy warmpers on chilly days and switch to
tights/ bib tights on cold days, ... which seems simpler to me.
Anyway, thanks for the ideas.

Funny you metioned it though, I have spent some time thinking about
the reception I'd get at the Red Neckerson Country Inconvenience Store
and Gas Station wearing matching red garter belt and garters from
Vickies Secret holding up my muddy knee warmers. Just the tought
helps while away the hours.

Dr 'Real Men wear red' Codfish

[thirty-six]

The thought hadn't occured to me for some weird reason. But really,
why not wear sussies, they're under your shorts anyway? They are
specifically designed for the job of holding up hoisery which is what
leg warmers are. (Or do they need feet to be hose?) So its either
four largish safety pins (I generally keep a spare set in my tyre
patch box.) or suspenders for stockings.

[pamela blalock]

I can just see the headlines now....

> >
> > Funny you metioned it though, I have spent some time thinking about
> > the reception I'd get at the Red Neckerson Country Inconvenience
> Store
> > and Gas Station wearing matching red garter belt and garters from
> > Vickies Secret holding up my muddy knee warmers.  Just the tought
> > helps while away the hours.
> >
> > Dr  'Real Men wear red'  Codfish
>
> The thought hadn't occured to me for some weird reason. But really,
> why not wear sussies, they're under your shorts anyway? They are
> specifically designed for the job of holding up hoisery which is what
> leg warmers are. (Or do they need feet to be hose?) So its either
> four largish safety pins (I generally keep a spare set in my tyre
> patch box.) or suspenders for stockings.

---~--~---

[thirty-six]

A little research has shown up a product which goes by the name of
hold up gel which is meant for supporting hoisery, I think it is a
temporary adhesive which is applied to the skin. Unfortunately my
quest was a little thwarted, for the hoisery sites seem to be a little
slow. Mmmmm.

[Steady As She Goes]

Garter clips would work. Or velcro tape stitched on.

For old (I don't buy them anymore) wool shorts without any lycra or
elastic, I've used narrow suspenders/braces, etc.
Like bibs, but not as cozy.

Hey, hockey players use garter clips for their socks, so it's macho!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hockey_sock

Yes... I'm bored.

Ray