Categories: Accessories and GearKitLook Pro

The Tightness of Being

Diego Caccia demonstrates how to make tights work. Photo: Pedale.Forchetta

Sprezzatura. Leave it to the Italians to dedicate a word to trying to Look Fantastic without looking like you’re trying too hard. I’ve haven’t spent much time in Italy, but I automatically love a country where an entire nation holds aesthetics in the same high regard that I do. Not to mention their dedication to drinking espresso and wine. A bottle of wine at lunch? I can work with these people.

Sprezzatura for the Velominatus applies to every aspect of the sport; how we set up our bikes, our style and technique when riding, and how we select and wear our kit. Looking good in the summer isn’t very complicated; any fool can look good in short-sleeved kit adorned with tanned guns. Where things start getting tricky is when the cold and wet sets in and we need to add more kit to the equation. How does one control the chaos as leg warmers, long-sleeve jerseys, caps, gloves, rain jackets and overshoes are added to the mix?

The basic concepts have already been covered under the principles of wearing one’s Flandrian Best; always wear as little as possible, never wear an accoutrement below when a complimentary set is not worn above (i.e. no knee warmers without arm warmers), and never – under any circumstances – wear full-length leggings.

Which brings us to today’s lesson: how to wear full-length leggings and still look as Fantastic as possible. Sometimes it is simply too cold for three-quarters and there is no denying the Pro-ness of casually wandering about sipping a pre-ride espresso in sandals, full length leg warmers, and a long sleeve jersey – especially on a warm summer day. Sprezzatura is an art, and it should not be taken lightly.

The fundamental problem with leggings is that they make the guns amorphous; lots of fabric without any points of definition give the eyes nothing to focus on. If you have amazing calves (which I don’t) then you may be able to break up the monotony with your bodacious leg curves, but the rest of us are going to need some help.

Always go with leg warmers and not one-piece tights. The reason for this is simple: the legs of your shorts will provide the first visual delineation for the eyes to grab ahold of.
The leggings should also always have an elastic gripper around the ankle, not a stirrup. This is Cycling, not ballet. Better yet, the ankles should have a short zipper to ease pre-departure removal of said leggings and also to provide a little more delineation.
When it comes to materials, the more matte the better. In fact, I prefer wool. Thick materials are also handy, as they add some bulk and make the guns look less spindly. All good things.
Look for some leggings with good, thick seams. Again, this makes wool a strong candidate. Align the seams carefully to accentuate whatever curves your leggs can muster up, and make sure both legs are symmetrical. We are not savages.
Wear a contrasting color sock. White is preferable, of course, as demonstrated by Diego above but any color works so long as its not the same as the legging (which should obviously be black).

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

Next Look Pro: Stay Still »

Previous « Velominati Super Prestige: Milano-Sanremo 2015

View Comments

VeloVita says:

Mar 24 2015 at 1:51 pm

For those looking for more definition while wearing legwarmers, these are available...
John says:

Mar 24 2015 at 2:05 pm

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?
frank says:

Mar 24 2015 at 2:11 pm

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.
wiscot says:

Mar 24 2015 at 2:23 pm

@frank

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Hell's bells John, you had to see that one coming!

Holy Merckx, my gear's been getting a workout here in Wisconsin. Over the last 6 weeks the temps I've ridden have ranged from mid 20s to high 60s. That's going from full on fleece-lined neoprene booties, windfront tights, triple layer up top, heavyweight skull cap and gloves to knee warmers, shorts and medium long sleeved jersey. Various other grades of headgear, shoe covers, gloves, gilets have been employed too. Likely this summer it'll get into the 90s at some point and at that point it's bare minimum on gear: socks., shorts, jersey, helmet. It must be weird living in a place where the temps don't vary much.
Gianni says:

Mar 24 2015 at 3:03 pm

@wiscot

@frank

@John

@Dave

I love my toe warmers. Great for between 40 and 50F. How do you keep them not visible?

By never wearing them.

Hell’s bells John, you had to see that one coming!

Holy Merckx, my gear’s been getting a workout here in Wisconsin. Over the last 6 weeks the temps I’ve ridden have ranged from mid 20s to high 60s. That’s going from full on fleece-lined neoprene booties, windfront tights, triple layer up top, heavyweight skull cap and gloves to knee warmers, shorts and medium long sleeved jersey. Various other grades of headgear, shoe covers, gloves, gilets have been employed too. Likely this summer it’ll get into the 90s at some point and at that point it’s bare minimum on gear: socks., shorts, jersey, helmet. It must be weird living in a place where the temps don’t vary much.

Weird, more like outstanding! I have bags of old jackets, bib knickers, gloves, booties, all in the closet. My kit varies not a bit out here. A vest has been worn for a bit but that is as radical as it gets in Hawaii.
teleguy57 says:

Mar 24 2015 at 3:16 pm

@wiscot

Holy Merckx, my gear’s been getting a workout here in Wisconsin. Over the last 6 weeks the temps I’ve ridden have ranged from mid 20s to high 60s. That’s going from full on fleece-lined neoprene booties, windfront tights, triple layer up top, heavyweight skull cap and gloves to knee warmers, shorts and medium long sleeved jersey. Various other grades of headgear, shoe covers, gloves, gilets have been employed too. Likely this summer it’ll get into the 90s at some point and at that point it’s bare minimum on gear: socks., shorts, jersey, helmet. It must be weird living in a place where the temps don’t vary much.

Indeed we've had a chance to try lots of combinations. Up north of you we only got into the low 60s, but the same variations of winter shoes, summer shoes, neoprene covers, windproof covers, Belgian booties, merino socks, layered socks, summer-weight socks -- and that's only below the ankles! I have found my new favorite piece of versatile clothing. The Bontrager B2 windfront baselayer makes a nice difference underneath a variety of top layers, all the way from my ShowersPass softshell trainer for colder conditions to under a midweight LS full-zip jersey and lots in between. I think it will go very well with my Gabba SS and Sportful No-Rain warmers.

On the bottoms my favorite is my Endura bib knicks with windproof/water resistant panels. Slightly thicker/warmer than my Nanoflex, works well under my 28-year old (!) PI tights for high 20s/low 30s, and wore them alone today when the high was 38F and 15mph winds.

Oh, socks of any variety are ALWAYS inside leg coverings...
frank says:

Mar 24 2015 at 4:12 pm

@Pete

White socks in winter? I guess your mum does your washing.

You, sir, are confusing bad weather with cold weather.
frank says:

Mar 24 2015 at 4:14 pm
@Walbly

“and never – under any circumstances – wear full-length leggings” ???

Are you serious? Why don’t you tough guys come up north and ride when it is 14 degF in your groovy knickers with your frost-bitten calves sluffing off in big black chunks. With two pair of full-length fleece tights and one pair full-length regular tights I still am lucky if I can do 12 miles without feeling like I won’t even be able to get off my bike, much less strut around showing everybody my delineation.

Do you ever even wear full-fingered gloves? And you call yourselves tough.

Two things in life are sure:
1. If I post a photo of my bike, someone who has not seen me riding it will tell me it does not fit me.
2. If I propose that tights or saddle bags are for losers, I will immediately receive a nastygram.
These are the primary reasons I have not yet retired from Velominati.
DeKerr says:

Mar 24 2015 at 4:20 pm

Crap! I just realized MSR has come and gone and the winter wool still clings to the guns.

Enough of this banter about what lower body coverage to wear in winter - It's Spring! Time to work on the mid quad delineation.
DeKerr says:

Mar 24 2015 at 4:24 pm
@frank
@Walbly

“and never – under any circumstances – wear full-length leggings” ???

Are you serious? Why don’t you tough guys come up north and ride when it is 14 degF in your groovy knickers with your frost-bitten calves sluffing off in big black chunks. With two pair of full-length fleece tights and one pair full-length regular tights I still am lucky if I can do 12 miles without feeling like I won’t even be able to get off my bike, much less strut around showing everybody my delineation.

Do you ever even wear full-fingered gloves? And you call yourselves tough.

Two things in life are sure:
1. If I post a photo of my bike, someone who has not seen me riding it will tell me it does not fit me.
2. If I propose that tights or saddle bags are for losers, I will immediately receive a nastygram.
These are the primary reasons I have not yet retired from Velominati.
I know - right?

Although I suspect the reason @Walby can only crank 19.312128 kilometers (enough with the imperial measurements everyone - this is cycling, not Nascar) is due to his enormous ballocks stuffed into that much gear.