Knee warmers, a seemingly innocuous piece of clothing designed primarily for cyclists, have always been a subject of controversy among bike riders. Designed from a wide variety of materials -- including synthetic fleece, nylon, Spandex and Lycra -- knee warmers are designed, as the phrase implies, to keep the knees warm while biking. One cycling Website tosses out the mantra "If below 65 degrees, cover your knees."
Knee warmers are most often made as a sleeve for each knee, extending from mid-thigh to mid-calf. Ideally, this sleeve will intersect with biking shorts at the top and long socks at the bottom to provide continuous coverage to the legs. There is generally a band of elastic at top and bottom to hold the knee warmer in place.
Knee warmers can be purchased from virtually any cycling specialty store, all of which tout their particular warmth of material and ease of motion. They also come in sizes to fit varying leg lengths, and most cost in the range of $20-$30 US Dollars. Some of the newer knee warmers feature wool, which has the added attraction of "breathing" and drying quickly if soaked.
The arguments against knee warmers range from the practical to the purist. Those in the former camp wonder that if it takes three different articles of clothing -- shorts, knee warmers and long socks -- to cover the entire leg, why not just wear sweat pants or stretch Lycra? Meanwhile, the more hard core bikers see knee warmers as a sign of weakness.
From that hardier set has come the phrase "Belgian knee warmers." This actually refers not to a piece of clothing, but to a liniment applied to the knee. According to its proponents, this keeps the knees warm from the chemical heat imparted while allowing freer range of movement. The liniment sheen on the knee on cold biking days is also regarded as a badge of toughness.
Range of motion is also an issue with those who regard knee warmers as constricting. The creator of the blog FatCyclist.com points out: "Knee warmers, while ostensibly keeping your knees warm (because we do not want chilly knees!) are in reality applying a gentle tourniquet to the quads, the muscles you use most when cycling. As a rider, you must ask yourself: which will help me stay warmer: a thin layer of Lycra, or not having my limbs turn blue and falling off?"