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.

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View Comments

KogaLover says:

Mar 24 2015 at 3:31 am

@Tugman

That's your arm right? If it's your gun, then you'd better shave it.
Tugman says:

Mar 24 2015 at 4:36 am

@KogaLover

It's my winter coat! Plus,I work outdoors year round, so I need all the fuzz I can get! Some days I wish I were woolier, just for that reason alone. Will shave/get sun when it's above freezing out.Which should be aroud August it seems...
VeloSix says:

Mar 24 2015 at 5:20 am

@piwakawaka

Socks should never go over tights. Thats the equivalent of tights over shorts.

that's the truth.... like arm warmers over your sleeves...
VeloSix says:

Mar 24 2015 at 5:32 am

@RobSandy

I regularly wear full length non-cycling specific leggings. Under my shorts, obviously. I think it looks reasonably pro unless you look close. I tend to be a bit of a lone ranger on rides in the winter, and I’m always moving to fast for anyone else to get a good look.

Overshoes are very useful for covering the gap between base of leggings and top of chosen sock combination. Looking forwards to legging-free rides soon.

Full length leggings, below 1° - 2° C, always under the bibs (and over the socks). Knee warmers otherwise. That's only a handful rides for our winters.

I do enjoy chatting up the folks whilst wearing less kit, especially if they're mumbling through their ninja ski masks.....
VeloSix says:

Mar 24 2015 at 5:36 am

@Dave

Another vote for socks under leg warmers. The line has to be drawn somewhere short of frostbite. Below 40 that means full coverage. Hate to admit it, but for long cold overcast or dark rides practical experience forces me to toe warmers (not visible of course) and shoe covers (smooth, tight well fitting ones). I have come back too many times not able to feel my toes.

Toes are critical. I can do less kit than many I ride with, but not for my feet. Woolies, heaters, covers, all winter.....
VeloSix says:

Mar 24 2015 at 5:43 am

okay, upon further investigation of the top photo, Diego clearly doesn't have my kind of cold sensitive feet.... if the chap can go without shoe covers or wool socks, what's the the need for leg warmers or tights?
Chris says:

Mar 24 2015 at 6:07 am

@Owen

The full unabridged Don Logan.
unversio says:

Mar 24 2015 at 6:13 am

@VeloSix

@Dave

Another vote for socks under leg warmers. The line has to be drawn somewhere short of frostbite. Below 40 that means full coverage. Hate to admit it, but for long cold overcast or dark rides practical experience forces me to toe warmers (not visible of course) and shoe covers (smooth, tight well fitting ones). I have come back too many times not able to feel my toes.

Toes are critical. I can do less kit than many I ride with, but not for my feet. Woolies, heaters, covers, all winter…..

I've learned to forget about my toes and DeFeet woolie boolies make it easier.
Kyle says:

Mar 24 2015 at 6:17 am

Yesterday's temp was 34 F with 15 mph wind. Tights under shorts with two pairs of wool socks. Tights zipped over the socks.
Chris says:

Mar 24 2015 at 6:25 am

The question of whether socks should be worn over or under full length leg warmers has to take into account that if it's unless it's cold enough that are necessary overshoes/socks you should be sticking to knee warmers.

And if you think that having a bit of sock poking out of the top of your overshoe/sock whilst covering part of your leg warmers is stylistically acceptable, you'll probably find you've got your bibs on over your jersey.