It’s mid-20s all week here in Le Sud, but I know there’ll come a day sooner or later that I’ll have to start covering up. It’s with that depressing thought that I turn to you, person who sees the words and not just the photos.

I’ve been cycling through winter for many years, but have always worn something like this:

In fact, what I have now has been keeping my private parts more or less unfrozen since I came to France in 2008. Sadly, they’ve finally bitten the dust so I’m turning my attention to other alternatives. What I can see is:

1. More of the same.

2. Buying myself a pair of winter legs.

Number 2 is by far the cheaper option, at least in the short term. But here’s my question: I understand that my legs will be warm, given these things are built for winter, but what about the space between where they end at the top and where the upper body begins, i.e. those private parts I spoke about earlier?

Is there some undergarment to be worn under regular shorts? Are there winter shorts? How do you guys (girls, you’re welcome to contribute, too) manage it?