I bought a pair last year after freezing my legs so much I couldn't feel them. Now with chaps and heated gear, I'm ready for any cold. Temp was 55 deg this morning as I rode down the coast, time to break out the gear and get comfortable again. To hell what anyone else thinks.

 

When its cold out i wear leather pants,keep you reasonably dry for a while if you get caught in rain,and keep cold wind out!

 

my wife looks pretty good in mine

 

I've been wearing chaps for cold weather riding for 30 years. never did care about what anyone esle thought about them.

Out hear in Colorado it can be 40 in the morning and 75 in the afternoon and back down in the 40 by evening. Sure is nice to be able to take the chaps off when it warms up or put them back on in the evening. Kinda embarassing to pull your long handle underwear off in public (unless you're into that sort of thing, not me).

 

I have a good set of chaps, have had to use them on a few occasions, but as a rule I dont ride 50 degrees or under, just isnt comfortable for me. I have put my bike to bed for the next 7 months, such is life in the northeast.

 

[quote=aces25;8958024]For about two years I ignored the idea of chaps for cold weather riding (below 40º) because I wasn't a fan of the look. Rather, the choice would be to freeze my legs or not ride at all. I attempted to use thermals or Under Armour but still would be bitter from the cold wind. I have a nicer leather jacket that I only wear as the temps drop, but I guess I couldn't get passed my perceived stigma of chaps - I never saw anyone my age (26) or close to it wearing them, always associated them with the pirate uniform, village people, etc.

Now my wife has had a pair for awhile now, and I never thought anything about her wearing them. My notion was females got a pass for obvious reasons, or at least those that were easy on the eyes. She always wondered why I didn't wear them and thought I was dumb for roughing it to work on any given cold morning.



Well I decided to give them a try as this cold season approached and bought a pair from LeatherUp via a leftover Amazon gift card. I mounted up in preparation to ride this morning to work with the thermometer reading 38º. I make my way out from the neighborhood onto the main roads...

...holy crap.

I could have rode for hours comfortably. No wind chill. No shivering. I could feel my legs when got to work.

It is sad to say that chaps have got a bad image, but they do make them for a reason, you just found out why some dudes wear them. You already knew why other people wear them. IF you want to ride deep into the season, you got to do what you got to do.

 

No **** when read the hubbub all the newbies sprout about chaps all can think is Amateurs , you guys ever give half a thought to why chaps go back to horse & buggy days ? Maybe the stylish MoCo approved dress up night chaps make you look gay ?

 

I don't get the 'stigma' thing..Who here is so friggin' insecure that you'd rather freeze your kneecaps than be safer and more comfortable in the cold?

34 degrees and 37 miles this morning to work...Leg warmers over the knee cap area covering the jeans, chaps over that. Next month we go to work with thermals under it all.

10 minutes longer to get dressed, 4 extra minutes to get into the office chair and a great hour ride into work in the morning.

Damn, people worry about the silliest things...

 

I think the key is to make sure you wear pants under them. Then you don't have to worry about the stigma.

 

Well that just takes the fun out of it.