Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Shorts vs Bibs & Brand 100+ mi.

Just looking for opinions on whether there is a preference among the group as to which is currently more comfortable over 100mi+ distances, shorts or bibs, and any recommendations as to brand, model, etc. Looking for summer gear especially. Any feedback appreciated.

Definitely bibs. They're much more comfortable than shorts.

I picked up 2 high-quality bibs for special events (e.g. century, tours), some above-average for longer rides, and use the crappy ones I never should have bought for the days when I only ride 15 miles. ;)

I've done well with DeMarchi and Louis Garneau. I don't like the Adidas' chamois or the Performance stuff.

Definitely prefer bibs, but they really make bathroom stops more of an issue, particularly if you're a female. If you're a guy, make sure to get bibs that pull down kind of low in the front. I've bought (and returned) bibs that were cut too high in the front, and thus make a trip to the bushes unnecessarily complicated.

I like the Descente bibs, but also have a pair of Castelli knicker bibs that seem alright, though the pad on the knickers seems to rub in the wrong spots, somewhat.

The comfort is nice on longer and shorter rides, but the bathroom breaks are a colossal headache compared to regular shorts/knickers.

What makes them more comfortable? I mean, it seems like shorts cover all the necessary area.

Assos bibs

I tried bibs on a century once, sorry, but it was a day of misery. I had worn them several times before the ride so I thought all was cool, not so, big chamoise fit problem. You can get a bad fit from either shorts or bibs so what ever you choose, put a bunch of miles on them before the big day. One real con about the bib is the bathroom thing, #1, you can lift up a pant leg and go that way. #2, off with the jersey, helmet etc. Maybe this is wrong and I was properly informed on the how to's of the bib?

What makes them more comfortable? I mean, it seems like shorts cover all the necessary area.

The bibs keep the shorts from tending to slide down, and they make it so that you don't have a tight band of lycra/spandex going across your stomach. They're also typically a little higher around your waist, so in the winter you're less likely to get a cold spot if your shirt rides up a little.

... One real con about the bib is the bathroom thing, #1, you can lift up a pant leg and go that way. #2, off with the jersey, helmet etc. Maybe this is wrong and I was properly informed on the how to's of the bib?

Or #3, if you are flexible enough, and your jersey is loose enough, you can pull an arm inside, slip the shoulder strap off, put your arm back through, and repeat on the other side. With a little more difficulty, you can reverse the procedure to put bibs back on. This way, you don't risk spilling your jersey pockets onto the bathroom floor as you take your jersey off. Though if you're too far into a long ride, wearing slippery cleats on a slippery bathroom floor, and you use too much body English to get the bibs off/on, maybe you risk spilling your whole body onto the bathroom floor :-)

I have recently discovered bibs after using shorts for several years. I still like the shorts, and will continue to use them for shorter rides but I was looking for something that was more comfortable for longer rides.

However, the additional material in the bibs traps my body heat (even the mesh top) and I wish that there was something that ventilated them. I also never experienced pain from my shorts digging into my waist...

Bibs are sweet, my first pair is a Pearl izumi with 3D Pro chamois, it's extremely comfortable and lightweight. Previous use of cheap Performance brand tights worked out ok, especially in cold weather. But in the hot weather you need the lightest weight garments possible and they have to stay on your person when you're sweating.

Bibs.
I switched from shorts and love the way the fit after 100+ miles on the bike.
Currently wearing PI, but eyeing some Assos...

Be warned - my first brevet in bibs was painful - I didn't wear an undershirt and the way the bibs interfaced with my chest rubbed my nipples raw. Now I wear a wicking underlayer for most rides.

As for bathroom breaks:
Urinating for men shouldn't be a problem - I've found there's plenty of room to stay standing without removing jersey's etc. (lift jersey up, pull front of bibs down)

Option 2 is a bit more involved... but if you are weighing this vs. the comfort of bibs I think the bibs win - unless you need to use the facilities every hour... in which case pulling the jersey off would be a chore.

... I also never experienced pain from my shorts digging into my waist...

Drank cider (unpasteurized?) on a brevet and spent the next four hours with serious intestinal pain and bloating. Slight pressure from bike shorts was very uncomfortable.

I have always found bibs much more comfortable. I do not at all care for any kind of a waistband while leaning over a bicycle. Having said that, I recently switched to much longer distance cycling than I used to be involved with (from track racing to randonneuring) and also decided to switch to wool shorts. (I've enjoyed wool jerseys for many years; figured maybe I ought to try wool shorts, and ended up liking them. Go figure.)

But between the fact that randonneuring requires a bit more in the way of bathroom breaks etc. and that I am unaware of any any wool bibs, I'm back to regular shorts for the first time in decades. My solution to waistband constriction was to entirely remove the drawstrings and use suspenders to hold the shorts up.

And yeah, I know all of this is way too far out into retro country for most folks, but there you go. :-)

Cool..

I may have to try a bib sometime.

I usually just roll on leg up and pee carefully . but someitmes you get your shoes when using that method

http://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/pee.jpg

I've never been able to pull down the front of any brand of bib far enough to get the job done. Maybe that's a personal issue.

At any rate, I've always just pulled up the leg, and yeah, you gotta watch the shoes.

Shorts or bibs is down to personal preference. Only thing I have noticed is that once you have tried bibs- You never buy another pair of shorts.

+1 what stapfan said!

My personal fav is Sugoi Technifina which is now a bit hard to find because i think it has been discontinued in favor of RS Flex. I went 100 miles last week in the RS Flex and ended up with a little but of a raw spot, which I think was a result of a seam or where the dual density pads came together. Never had a problem with the RS Flex before so maybe just an odd thing. Others in my club who use Sugoi seem very happy.

$100 for TEchnifina and $130 for RS Flex. Pearl Izumi has a big following in my club but I was disappointed in that they tend to bunch up some (PI Microsensor with 3D Race chamois). OK for short rides and very nice feeling fabric. I do have a pair of PI Attack thermal tights that are comfy with the old PRT chamois but the chamois tends to move a lot and is huge.