Trousers for wearing post cycling on bikepacking

[Rockbus]

Bit of a specific q this one but trying to sort out my kit for first trip.

What trousers do people take to wear once finished cycling? Preferably after some that are light but acceptable to be seen in public in (ie pub for dinner?).
Thinking my hiking trousers but think may be a bit bulky but not sure I can brave leggings !

[redefined_cycles]

I just wear mountain bike trousers on the road or mountain bikes. Stuff that I can't stand to be seen in, in public, I also can't stand to be seen on the bike

There was a man called Colin many moons ago that used to frequent this forum. He taught me (amongst other things) about Scuffers. I wrsr em on the commute to work... at work... on the bike... in the car... to the masjid. They are just amazing and since have gotten a second pair (pff here from the deep south) and had em cut to size. Amazing things and I believe they also come in a cycling specific cut, which isn't baggy but also isn't superman/woman fit...

Hope your preparations for the bivys are going well

[due]

Mountain Equipment Approach trousers for me. Mainly because I had already had a pair, but they are lightweight and don't look too Bear Grylls-y

[Rockbus]

Sorry, another though what what about on your feet as well? Presumably would be good to have some dry footwear?
Think I might need a trailer at this rate!

[Lazarus]

Think you have strayed into the realms of touring there, personally I dont take a change of clothing or footwear when I go bikepacking*- I dont even have a change of cycling gear[ may have some shorts but very unlikely].

TLS and you wont need to consider a trailer.

* i have yet to be refused service for sartorial reasons.

[sean_iow]

When I'm bikepacking dinner is hours before bedtime so changing would be a bit impractical. I normally stop at the pub in my cycling kit (sometimes lycra) and eat. Post dinner I'll ride on for a few hours to find a bivi spot.

Never had any issues with my outfit at a pub. If you walk into a pub carrying a cycle helmet it's obvious you're on a bike so no-one raises an eyebrow at what you're wearing.

If I'm on a trip where I'll be in civilization most of the time I might wear my baggies over my bibs. My cycling shoes look like trainers anyway.

[sean_iow]

Forgot about the dry footwear bit...

I have dry socks to sleep in. To enable me to put my wet shoes on if required without getting the socks wet (night time comfort break) I have 2 plastic bags, theses go over the dry socks before putting wet shoes back on.

[fatbikephil]

Losing the spare footwear was one of the steps on my 'journey' from four pannier cycle touring to bikepacking style touring. I tend to use goretex boots so as long as they are fairly clean I'll wear them into a pub if I happen to be camping near one. If I have lightweight shoes on I'll keep the waterproof socks on. Good way of drying wet shoes - go to pub and stick them (in your feet) in front of the fire! Socks are acceptable for hotel / B&B use.

Trousers wise I've a pair of very lightweight walking trousers I throw in the bag if I need to socialise on a longer trip (i.e. staying with friends or hanging around in the hotel bar ) Bought many years ago and long gone as far as I can tell - most of the usual suspects sell lightweight travel trousers. On top I'll wear the same T shirt I sleep in.

[RIP]

Yep, as a two-wheeled tramp I've recently taken the 'no trousers' ploy to the next level. Never mind no spare trousers for the pub, I don't even wear them on the bike. Just the lightweight bamboo or fleece leggings. It seems to be a (yet another) talking point in the pub. Or possibly, and more likely, the Normals just talk and point. Then again I must admit with these ultra thin leggings my point does get much talked about.

[Johnallan]

I've just ordered a pair of waterproof shorts from decathlon for 25 quid. If I'm happy with the fit and pack size, these will be my emergency rain wear and double as civilian clothing for longer rides.

[redefined_cycles]

Yep, as a two-wheeled tramp I've recently taken the 'no trousers' ploy to the next level. Never mind no spare trousers for the pub, I don't even wear them on the bike. Just the lightweight bamboo or fleece leggings. It seems to be a (yet another) talking point in the pub. Or possibly the Normals just talk and point. Then again I must admit with these ultra thin leggings my point does get much talked about.

Reg... which bamboo leggings have you got please. Are they a bit cramped when worn under trousers. I currently have some Dickies bamboo loose longjohns but have decided to wear something underneath my trousers all the time now. Seems to have helped my sciatica.

Thanks (link to the fleece ones too if they're any good and cheap enough) again

[RIP]

Reg... which bamboo leggings have you got please.

Highlander. As worn by Connor MacLeod. Bought a pair a few years ago from 1stmilitary I think it was, same time as my first bamboo base sleeved top. About £18. Then a second pair from some Scouts supply website. Price was going up so I nipped back to 1stmilitary and bought four more pairs. Double that price these days usually. Although Bambooclothing have these at half price https://bambooclothing.co.uk/shop/hucka ... VDEALw_wcB. Look a bit heavier than mine.

Are they a bit cramped when worn under trousers.

Nah. Great for kipping in too. You wouldn't want to ride through brambles in 'em though.

Thanks (link to the fleece ones too if they're any good and cheap enough) again

Decathlon. £12.99. £11.99 when I got 'em. Flipping brilliant strides.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-tre ... /R-p-15939

[RIP]

Further to that post, I've just washed up for Mrs Perrin, and since I have absolutely nothing better to do now, and since for some baffling reason weighing kit has a pleasure totally out of proportion to the effort, I've borrowed her kitchen scales so we can weigh some of these items. When people show the weights of their gear lists they always omit the togs they wear, which I think is the third heaviest "item" after bike and body so hardly to be ignored.

In these cases we have:

Pair of Endura Singletrack trousers (*): 541g
My fleece leggings: 160g
My bamboo leggings: 164g

So that's nearly 400g saved right off, and you're still protecting (most of) your modesty downstairs. Obviously Reg's are a size larger than recommended. Curiously the bamboo ones are 4g heavier than the fleece ones! Dunno what's going on there.

While I was at it, I was having so much fun I weighed my boots and sandals as well. Admittedly the boots are lightweight trail ones, but:

Boots: 880g pair
Sandals: 690g pair (surprisingly heavy. I must get some of them there Five Fingers or similar)

Another 200g there then.

(*) I rather like using the word "trouser" instead of "trousers". Sort of word a chap would use. And thinking about it, how is it a pair of trousers? Surely that's four legs then? One leg can't be called a "trousers"? Should it not be a pair of trouser?

[PaulB2]

As far as I remember, it dates back to when trousers were two items, one for each leg tied to a belt, akin to chaps.

[woodsmith]

Generally I just wear baggy-ish shorts and don't bother with long trousers. I do have some zip off leg Endura mtb trousers that are good for camp, especially in Scotland against the flying teeth. I've also used them in Turkey and will take them on my upcomming trip to Morocco for the sake of cultural sensitivity off the bike. DHB themal leg warmers I've founf to be very good and sometimes available for cheap in the sale.
Of course we shouldn't be wearing trousers in these woke times. It's cultural appropriation dontcha know? Originated in what it now Kazakhstan. Along with apples and tulips and horse riding to name a few that I can remember.

[RIP]

As far as I remember, it dates back to when trousers were two items, one for each leg tied to a belt, akin to chaps.

Ah ta. Although I'm totally confused now by plural chaps for a singular chap.

Khazakstan. Thanks Woodie. My learning point for this evening .

Anyway, poor old Rock. Came and asked a perfectly civil question and we've done a classic BBB digression. Has this helped even remotely, Rock? Seems the consensus is dinnae bother at all? Although point taken re cultural sensitivities perhaps.

[barney]

I tend to chuck a pair of Ron Hills and a spare short sleeve base layer in my bag. Packs down next to nothing but I can sleep in warm dry gear, oh and spare socks.

A bit of a compromise between a change of clothes and a bit more comfort when I get in the sack especially in the colder/wet trips.

[Rapideye]

I've gone for Merino leggings paired with lightweight shorts for post-rides but only put them on when I've sorted out camp etc. I sleep in the leggings & bamboo long-sleeved top. This way I'm minimising the amount of clothes taken.

For riding, I wear either waterproof Enduro shorts or some Pearl Izumi lighter style shorts. I'd wear legwarmers for when it's colder but not waterproof. I don't ride in trousers as I don't own a decent pair of waterproofs but do have a pair of lighter DWR coated Sprayway trousers that I'd take for use around camp if I needed them for cold or for wet conditions. To date, these are un-used. I cycle in a pair of Adidias Terrain shoes. If it rains, these will get wet but I've got a pair of waterproof socks that I'd change into when in camp with the still wet shoes. No need for a second pair of shoes.

So, for a ride lasting a couple of days, I'd have 1 set of ride wear and one set of camp/sleep wear, along with possibly an extra pair of light trousers and extra socks. If space permitted, I'd take an extra baselayer top and t-shirt for riding in as a change.

[redefined_cycles]

Anyway, poor old Rock. Came and asked a perfectly civil question and we've done a classic BBB digression. Has this helped even remotely, Rock?

Maybe someone could design a bog standard disclaimer for such threads... Like, warning, "this might not end well"... Or, "attention, you might not find the answer to your Q... but you might find one to many others".

Yes, thanks for the learning point on the pants. Or is thata totally different can of worms!?

[Rockbus]

Anyway, poor old Rock. Came and asked a perfectly civil question and we've done a classic BBB digression. Has this helped even remotely, Rock? Seems the consensus is dinnae bother at all? Although point taken re cultural sensitivities perhaps.
[/quote]

Yeah it has helped, I think! Although mainly to make me realise no point over thinking any of it…something I should probably continue to remember as I start my adventures!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Never felt the need for any post ride clothing personally.

[Moder-dye]

Not being a ride til you drop and scrape two hours tormented tumbling in a plastic bag I tend to take something for the 'tent' to get out of cycling kit and allow it and certain places to air. I don't tend to take spare cycling kit, other than WP jacket (which isn't really spare, just another layer).

Dry socks (for in tent), bamboo or merino top and very lightweight trackies, ronhills, or shorts. No spare shoes, but I wear either trail shoes or spds that don't look much like spds to the casual eye. If my shoes are wet I'll either just put the wet socks on if I need to put shoes on, or no socks, but have employed the two plastic bags/bread bags over socks or sealskins in the past.

A different discussion and digression, but I'm happy that bikepacking isn't 'just' touring if you stop and enjoy where you stop. It doesn't have to be as many miles as you can physically manage in a day before you crash with hallucinations and minimal stoppage, that's an ITT. In my mind it's cycling and exploring with major chunks of it off road, largely camping in some format, carrying minimal kit.

[Shewie]

It'd be a pair of Ron Hill tracksters for me, especially on a multi day trip, not a fan of minging about camp or sleeping in my chamois

[benp1]

There's a difference between clothing for sleeping/bivvying and clothes for doing somewhere public

I usually carry a LS baselayer and leggings for sleeping in, just to get out of wet kit and ensure I'm warm. Wouldn't wear those in public, if I'm going somewhere I'll just wear whatever I'm wearing. Not been uninvited anywhere dressed like that. Apart from that time a michelin star restaurant in Cartmel said they had no free tables even though it looked pretty quiet in there

[Lazarus]

It doesn't have to be as many miles as you can physically manage in a day before you crash with hallucinations and minimal stoppage, that's an ITT.

I have no interest in that and would crash if I tried but bikepacking is about taking the minimum[TLS] to survive and touring is enough to have a good time - spare shoes and non sleeping clothes*are the later IMHO[ yes they would be nice but they are not essential]

* depends overnight i might just crawl into a my sol bivvy "liner " wet and muddy or I may have a set of leggings and base layer [ which I would have for multi day riding]