My turbo trainer is in the outbuilding at the end of my garden … it’s pretty nippy in there in UK winter. I’m starting to wear thermal bib tights but they feel a bit restrictive for z3 and above. At what temperature do other folks switch to longs?
I’d previously heard a snobby UK cycle club rule that sorts are only “allowed” on the road if it’s 15°C or above.
I would not go so far to call it a rule or it’s only “allowed”, but that is also how I approach it. I started doing it this year and honestly, my (old) knees feel that much better.
Before I went for short bibs whenever it was +double digits.
I’m not for a minute anyone should feel obliged to follow club rules (personal preference of course) but a club member got quite aggressive when I suggested I’d wear shorts in 10 degrees. I didn’t join that club (or any club!). I think to be honest he was just a bit of a w*nker!
Anyway… I think single digits is my lower limit… but might have to get leg warmers instead of bib longs.
I wouldn’t wear longs on the turbo. I’d start with more upper body clothing, a hoodie or even a coat, then just take it off when you’ve warmed up.
Keep shoes / clothing in your house, not the shed, so the shoes are not frozen when you go there.
If you really feel you need something on your legs to start off in the shed, wear leg warmers and take them off after the warmup. Or zip-off pants like we use for cross.
If they limited things to 15deg C in the UK they’d hardly never go out in the UK, maybe more so that they prefer a minimum of 15deg C. For outdoors riding its my preferred temp before I start removing knee warmers. The trainer is different I hardly ever have my knees covered (I think I started off with them covered in one particularly bad winter). On the trainer when its particularly cold I start with layers that I can quickly shed when I warm up, maybe a softhell jacket and maybe knee/leg warmers when setting up and not riding.
I’ve been a member of several Cycling clubs in the UK and I’ve never heard any “rules” about when you should wear shorts or longs. They do mandate long mudguards in the winter, but that is another debate.
Sounds like my first and last encounter with a club member involved a toss pot!
Surely there is no debate on mudguards 
As for shorts…. if someone turned up in shorts in the middle of winter in our club everyone else would just think they were hard as nails 
Never long bibs on the trainer though…. or a jersey…. I might start with a hoody but always end up plenty warm enough and end up putting the fan in in the end.
I was in my shed doing a turbo session last week in 3° C I have a dodgy left knee and if I wear bib tights the tension over my kneecap is painful so I avoid bib tights. I layer up with long sleeve base layer, short sleeve jersey, hoodie and a cap with gloves on my hands. If it’s a more intense workout then the hoodie and/or cap comes off but is sat close by so it can be put back on during recovery blocks.
We are all affected by the cold differently wear what works for you.
I live in North East Scotland, I run warm, despite my hands suffering badly with Raynaud’s syndrome. I train in my unheated detached double garage with the door wide open all year around. It has gotten as cold as -10C, I’ve never needed thermal bib tights. I’m still using a fan when its below zero.
I layer up before I leave the house, all layers go over bibshorts so they are easy to get off while I’m warming up. Once I’ve warmed up the tights almost never stay unless its well below freezing. All the outer layers come off once I’m warmed up the long sleeved baselayer usually stays on if its below 5 degrees.
-10 to -5 PlanetX baselayer tights over my bibshorts while I’m warming up but they come off pretty rapidly. PLanetX Long sleeved baselayer , Alpkit Griffon fleece hoody with the hood up, lightweight insulated jacket, Beanie, and full finger gloves
-5 to Zero baselayer tights over my bibshorts Long sleeved baselayer , fleece hoody with the hood up,
Zero to 5 Long sleeved baselayer , fleece hoody with the hood up,
5 to 10 Long sleeved baselayer
10+ just the bibshorts.
15 degrees is outside riding, short sleeve jersey weather.
They have issues, whether you wear shorts or not is none of their business.
My thoughts exactly! Unfortunately they were a colleague so I had to work hard to avoid them after that
What a complete and utter tool telling people you can only where a certain item of clothing at a certain temperature.
Personally, I find it’s trial and error on the turbo. I’ve always been fine in shorts but I’ll often start with a jersey and then take it off after the warm up. I even have a towel in front of the fan which I move to try and keep a comfortable temperature.
Try taking a few items of clothing out with you and then change as you see fit. Of course, the session you’re doing will make a difference.
My typical min for shorts on my 1 hour cycle commute was 5C. I’d get the bike out, have my tea, then set off to work. I had a thermometer attached to the top of my rack bag. I’d always check it after bike had been out 15 mins or so, to see what the temp outside was. Then change if necessary. One morning I read it as 8C , and set off in my shorts. The first 3 miles is slightly downhill and I was cold before going up a hill. Arrived at work bloody cold and spent first 10 mins in shower just warming up. Back out to bike and rechecked thermometer and it was -2C. The markings were quite worn.
As you say we all deal with temps differently depending what we are used to.
I tend to wear multiple thin tops which get discarded, but it’s legs that are problematic (as I only own bib longs and bib shorts). Think I’ll get some leg warmers.
Thanks 
I wear shorts basically year round (I have thermal ones for winter), maybe with knee warmers when it gets below freezing. Just don’t like the tightness on my lower legs.
However, I’ve had plenty of people commenting on it, not always favourably.
With regards to riding in 15 degree C - agree with above, that’s short sleeves weather, it’s often as warm as it gets in summer!
i just find that weird - what possible issue is caused by someone wearing shorts in cold weather if they are comfortable? I assume they’re just jealous.
Are you living on Antarctica?
Not based in the UK, but lots of experience with cold trainer rides (I’m based on Minnesota, USA). My trainer is set up in an attached but unheated garage which is typically 40-50 degrees F throughout the winter (4.5-10 C). I always wear bib shorts and start with a heavy sweatshirt or hoodie to start then ditch the hoodie as soon as I’m through the warmup. I’ll then start running fans when I begin to sweat. I can’t fathom wearing thermal pants or even leg warmers on the trainer, I think I’d overheat fairly quickly.