Curt Coleman

Sweat pants are too baggy and rub against the chain, or even get caught in the chain rings.

One option is to wear tights over your cycling shorts. I have fleece tights that I wear under my ski bibs, and I'm thinking of bringing those, primarily to wear around camp, but if necessary to ride in if it is really cold.

But I'm also bringing arm and leg warmers. The advantage, as Curt says, is they pack up small enough to stuff in a pocket. They are great for those chilly mornings where it warms up by elevenses. On really cold days you will want more.

One warning: if you get leg warmers, make sure that you wear them with new shorts that have good elastic in the legs. With some of my older shorts, the leg elastic isn't very elastic any more. The shorts still work fine, but the lack of elasticity means that the leg warmers are continually falling down around my ankles, unless I anchor them with safety pins. This is very annoying!

Andrew Black

On the issue of leg warmers and arm warmers. They will make a big difference for a.m. and hill descent. But - with my leg warmers I have a hard time keeping them up. These are new and biking shorts are all fairly new. I think they are made for the male gender. So if you are fairly small - it can be a big nuisance.

Barbara

You don't NEED to buy them [arm and leg warmers], but I think that you'll be glad you did. They are more versatile, easier to store/carry, and will likely handle "wet" better than "sweats" will. FWIW.

igor....

Leg and arm warmers are more hassle than they are worth on CO - because of the gear drop option at the first stop to shed tights & long sleeve tops - bulk and carrying on the bike isn't so much an issue when that's available -- after CO on unsupported rides - go for warmers.

Dan (tights and shells and bells) McKenzie

At CO 12 a couple of us had nylon pants. These are made out of thin nylon, similar to windbreakers. They are unlined and have elastic waists and zippers on the lower legs to make it easier to get them off over shoes.

Robbin used his instead of leg warmers. On day 2 when it was 16 degrees I put mine on over my leg warmers and they worked great. They fold up very small and weigh very little (like a windbreaker) so they were no problem to carry once we warmed up.

They are also handy around camp.

Rox Heath

PS Make sure you have some sort of ankle strap if you wear them riding or they will get caught in the chain.