Understated bike trousers

[Azoth]

I'm getting a bit tired of putting on protective, padded leather motorbike over-trousers, and I want room to put on some weight anyway (current ones are 30" waist). So I looked online for what the options are. Thinking.. what would be the ideal bike commuting wear, suitable for indoor/office environments, that doesn't need me to haul a 60 litre rucksack with me to stuff it in?

I looked online and there are 3 basic choices for proper, protective bike trousers:
1) Leather over-trousers (i.e. the bottom half of 2-piece bike leathers). Probably the best choice, but bulky and inconvenient as they require changing.
2) Jeans-type trousers with knee and hip pads and Kevlar lining. They're protective and look good, but I have to rule them out as stuffy people don't like it when you waltz into a place in 'jeans' and make an instant beeline for the toilets to get changed. You also get a bit of imposter syndrome, which isn't good for your mind, if that's your routine.
3) Textile over-trousers. Same disadvantages as leather over-trousers and no real advantage in these at all, unless you just dislike leather.

So I concluded that the answer must be found in compromise. The basic utility of leather over-trousers isn't found in crash protection, as you (hopefully) don't crash often, but in staying warm in this weather. I think that's probably why most of us wear them. In the summer, hardly anybody wears any gear at all - not even gloves. So it's all about seasonal warmth first, crash protection second.

Thinking on those lines, I recalled seeing a pair of workman's trousers in a supermarket recently. A bit on the baggy side, but would they at least offer abrasion resistance equal to that of textile trouser armour, if not impact resistance? It would be cool if they did, because I can find them online without all those extra pockets, in plain black. I suppose bagginess would make them warmer, but in a tighter fitting size, they could just about pass as cheap black trousers suitable for office wear, if the rest of the outfit is a nice shirt and a blazer. Maybe slightly shiny, but otherwise inconspicuous.

The main issue, I suppose, would be abrasion resistance. How would they compare with, say, textile armour or jeans? What do you guys think?
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Safety in numbers

[bamt]

Depending upon what is acceptable in your office, how about some of these?
https://www.hoodjeans.co.uk/hood-motorcycle-jeans/cargo-jean-mens-black/

[Bonnie Lad]

No idea on the abrasion resistance of them, but you'll look like a 100% gold standard bell end rocking up with a shirt, tie and blazer paired with some workman's trousers.

Seriously, jeans would look less ridiculous.

Edit: unless of course you work in a fancy dress shop or you're the manager of a trade factors

[Bozzy]

I work in an office environment and quite frankly don't give a fuck what people think I look like when I walk into work. As long as I'm dressed properly by the time I clock on I'm not doing anything wrong.

To answer some of your points. I generally wear textile upper and lowers as they are warmer and offer better resistance to the elements. In summer I wear my leathers because they are perforated and therefore cooler. I've also got some armoured jeans but not tried them yet as I don't want to freeze my scrotum off in this cold.

P.s I always wear gear. I'd rather have some protection if I come off than none.
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2004 SV650S >>> 2009 Street Triple R

[Azoth]

[Azoth]

[bamt]

[Azoth]

[iooi]

[Ste]

Overtrousers and ride faster so that you've got enough time to take them off when you arrive.

[Landy10]

I got a pair of these, the missus couldnt tell if they were bike jeans or just new jeans

https://www.roadskin.co.uk/shop/black-paranoid-fully-lined-rain-jeans-with-elite-armour/

[chickenstrip]

[grr666]

https://kickasstrips.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Grayson-Perry-pink-motorbike-5-Small.jpg

You could get this guy to make you some, he is big on understatement.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Baffler186]

[Landy10]

[chickenstrip]

I was looking at some trousers in some of the outdoor gear shops in Ambleside today. Some look like pretty normal casual wear things, but use Goretex etc. Only thing is they offer no crash protection if you're concerned about that kind of thing, but far less bulky than proper bike wear stuff, and some would probably be quite warm too.
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Azoth]

Thanks for all the helpful tips. It's much appreciated.
I know someone who deliberates a bit too much over every clothing purchase, being a bit too indecisive, and he came to my mind when thinking about this stuff. So I decided that my solution has been found, so that's it for me. Happy days.

[chickenstrip]

[andyscooter]

Now all the sensible answers are here can i add every time i read the title i think it reads understained trousers

And i think wtf
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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
if its spelt wrong its my fat fingers and daft auto correct on my tablet

[chickenstrip]

[andyscooter]

[Falco]

[kramdra]

Then you end up walking about in (very expensive) shit stained trousers all day. If it rains they will get soaked.

[Bozzy]

[kramdra]

No. There is never a good reason to wear textiles, they are shit.

Get decent 2 piece leathers to wear over normal trousers/jeans.