Cycling Knickers and Bib Knickers Information

On days when tights are overkill, but it is still too cold for shorts, knickers are the answer. They cover the knees to keep you warm and to protect your constantly-moving knee joints from cold-induced tendinitis. Cycling knickers and bib knickers can be worn in cool weather, but also come in summer-weighted fabrics as an alternative to bike shorts.

Like all of biking clothing, lightweight and wicking fabrics are used in the construction of knickers. Form-fitting material allows you to move your legs freely, and also helps the material capture moisture from the skin for quick evaporation. Thin lycra is designed to keep the skin cool in warm weather and insulated fabrics have a brushed thermal interior for extra warmth in cool weather.

Bib knickers are like bib shorts, in that they lack a waistband. Soft, stretchy, breathable bib straps keep the shorts from falling down. In thermal versions, the fabric sometimes extends higher around the abdomen to keep the core warm. Non-bib knickers have a flat or elastic waistband. The bottom hem of the knickers ends anywhere below the knee, depending on the style and the rider’s leg length. An elastic gripper often keeps the hem from riding up.

Padded knickers and bib knickers have a seamless chamois insert for saddle comfort. Just like in bike shorts, the chamois is soft and breathable next to the skin. Women’s knickers that are popular spin class clothing that have a minimal chamois that dries more quickly than a full-size insert. Women’s and men’s knickers are also available without a chamois.

Turn to knickers on chilly spring days when you are just itching for warm weather to come, but when shorts might leave you shivering. Or, wear them in the fall, when you are not quite mentally prepared for winter. Knickers are versatile pieces of cycling apparel that can be worn from cyclocross to spin class, three seasons out of the year!