Although the calendar says August, it looks like it will be about 55 degrees when I start the bike leg of an Olympic length tri on Sunday. If it were a training ride, I would definitely wear leg warmers. I may not know a lot about cycling, but I know that I cannot get leg warmers on while riding. Would you wear leg warmers if it were going to be 55 degrees for your race?
My first reponse to this was “you’re kidding me!” Second one though was, we’re all different.
55 degrees calls for leg warmers? Where do you live?
In the mid-atlantic region where I live 55 is balmy for riding. I wear regular bike shorts down to the mid 30’s. Arm warmers don’t go on till its in the low 50s and the temps will stay there for the whole ride.
This past weekend the early morning ride temps were mid 50’s. My arms were cold for a half hour but my legs were not at all.
For a race where its even more of a bother no way would I consider taking the time for warmers, legs or arms.
I’ve never seen any point in being cold if you have the equipment available to be comfortable. My guess is that it will take you less than 5 sec to pull the leg warmers on so if they will make you feel good, go for it.
Maybe some more detailed information.
I live in Michigan and ran at least a dozen times just this past winter when the chill factor was below zero. I will wear short sleeves because it won’t be cold enough for me not to do so. I ran the Detroit marathon last year in shorts when it was probably about 30. But, after reading through Demerly’s site, he believes that you can mess up your knees by not covering them on the bike when it’s below 70. Since one of my knees is already surgically repaired, I try to avoid doing more harm to it. I’m trying to find out whether his view is commonly shared or not. It seems that you do not share his view.
Thanks for the add’l info. No, I do not share in any way, shape, or form the view that knees need coverage below 70F. In fact, my opinion of that is that is totally and completely absurd.
I agree with you that we are all different with regards to how are bodies cope/deal with cool/cold temps. However, I would be inclinded to take a look at and consider what many top runners and cyclists do. Generally speaking with cycling you will see the extra layers( arm warmers/leg warmers) being put on at around 20C and for runners you see this at 10 - 15C. I know that for many people, this seems extreme, but these people are in the business of protecting their assets( their bodies and muscles) and their performance.
Yes, for racing you may see them wearing less, but often they have coated their legs with vasaline or some other similar ointment that will cut the wind and help keep working muscles and joints warm…
Personally, I see too many runners and cyclists out training with not enough clothing on on cool to cold days.
For a cool weather tri with air temps of about 15C, I would pull on knee warmers and arm warmers at T1 for the bike and then take them off if required at T2. This takes very little time and would make me far more comfortable, and warm and allow me to perform at my highest level.
Whow - my knee warmers have been in the bottom of the bedroom dresser since about the end of February here in Houston! I think this really depends on whether we are talking about training or racing! In either case I would never wear leg warmers opting instead for knee warmers (Sugoi or Pearlizumi) since knee warmers are much easier to remove (for me at lease) while riding. As for knee coverage - this is dependent on the person - my wife has picky knees and she wears both her arm and knee warmers until the temps around Houston are at or above 60 degrees while during the winter time I often shed/roll down my knee warmers on training rides even though the temperatures may still be in the 40’s
A warm knee is a well lubricated knee. Hell yes I’d wear leg warmers in 55 degrees. But I’m towards the south, so 65 is a bit chilly to me.
CTL,
I, too, live in MI and have recently turned 52. In the Spring, I try to cover my knees until it is near 75. By Summer, if it gets down to 65, I will cover my knees if it is a training ride or an organized ride (century, etc.). If I am racing (time trialing) I will go without knee warmers down to 60 degrees. It may not be the best thing to do, but we all make sacrifices, right?
If its 55 degrees out, I’m definitely covering my knees, whether I’m racing or not.
I wouldn’t wear them. But then I don’t put on tights or leg warmers in training until it gets below about 45F.
Bob, if that is what you do, then you are indeed Gonzo!