Fifty Plus (50+) - Bibs Report

Well, the bibs came in their plain brown wrapper. With shaking hands I tore open the package, found a way to pour my middle-aged frame into them, pulled on a jersey and slithered out the door for my first ride. Herewith, the report:

Comfort Factor: At first, the shoulders felt a bit constrained, but that feeling soon disappeared. As I began my ride, they seemed about as comfortable as other shorts, but as the ride progressed beyond 25 miles, they did seem more comfy than my old reliable cheepies.

Plumber Factor: I've seen a few riders showing more of their backside than anyone wanted to see. It was good to know that with bibs this is not gonna happen.

Heat Factor: In hot weather, the extra material around the middle and shoulders is somewhat noticable.

Porn Factor: As others have pointed out, there's absolutely no difference when you've got a jersey on. However, without a top, my wife thinks I look like an extra in a cheezy porn film.

Overall rating: Not the holy grail, but definitely some plusses. I'll still wear my non-bibs without complaint. If you're going to be seen in public wearing bibs, please wear a jersey.

Porn Factor: As others have pointed out, there's absolutely no difference when you've got a jersey on. However, without a top, my wife thinks I look like an extra in a cheezy porn film

I was going to ask you if you had ever gotten them. I wore my De Marchi's today. I passed an older guy wearing bibs, with the jersey under the bib. Just doesn't look as cool.

I wear my bibs just like I would regular shorts. with a jersey.

I got my bibs last week.
Today I order 2 more and gave away all the shorts.
Just love them. They are very comfortable!

I got my bibs last week.
Today I order 2 more and gave away all the shorts.
Just love them. They are very comfortable!


What did you get?

I want to like them but that padding rubs me raw. I bought Aerotech Designs top shelf.

Overall rating: Not the holy grail, but definitely some plusses. I'll still wear my non-bibs without complaint. If you're going to be seen in public wearing bibs, please wear a jersey.

Pretty well sums up my opinion of bibbs. 2nd sentence applies equally to shorts.

Bwahahahahaha!

Next will be DG, then Tom Bom, then freeranger. Well, no, it'll never happen to freeranger.

Bwahahahahaha!

Next will be DG, then Tom Bom, then freeranger. Well, no, it'll never happen to freeranger.

Worry about yourself, you drug-soaked fool. Don't your realize you're next. Bwahahahaaha.

But I already wear them. There's a picture of them in my Medora Elf Ride photos.

Worry about yourself, you drug-soaked fool. Don't your realize you're next. Bwahahahaaha.
And by the way, I resent that. I'm not really drug-soaked, unless Starbucks and chocolate count, in which case I'm guilty as charged.

Now off to the Mother Ship.....

What did you get?
Pearl Izumi AeroSensor

I got my bibs last week.
Today I order 2 more and gave away all the shorts.
Just love them. They are very comfortable!

Who do you give used bike shorts to? :D

Who do you give used bike shorts to? :D

I bought a used bathing suit once at a thrift shop--to the unending horror of my betters. I wore it regularly and am still a regular blood donor. Just sayin'.

Well, the bibs came in their plain brown wrapper. With shaking hands I tore open the package, found a way to pour my middle-aged frame into them, pulled on a jersey and slithered out the door for my first ride. Herewith, the report:

Comfort Factor: At first, the shoulders felt a bit constrained, but that feeling soon disappeared. As I began my ride, they seemed about as comfortable as other shorts, but as the ride progressed beyond 25 miles, they did seem more comfy than my old reliable cheepies.

Plumber Factor: I've seen a few riders showing more of their backside than anyone wanted to see. It was good to know that with bibs this is not gonna happen.

Heat Factor: In hot weather, the extra material around the middle and shoulders is somewhat noticable.

Porn Factor: As others have pointed out, there's absolutely no difference when you've got a jersey on. However, without a top, my wife thinks I look like an extra in a cheezy porn film.

Overall rating: Not the holy grail, but definitely some plusses. I'll still wear my non-bibs without complaint. If you're going to be seen in public wearing bibs, please wear a jersey.

Mad Dog Vachon Factor:

Who do you give used bike shorts to? :D
Salvation Army!

just killed me, but I just bought some used Sidi's and have been wearing them for a week...I got over it and still have no athletes foot flare ups..at 41.00 I got over pretty quick

But I already wear them. There's a picture of them in my Medora Elf Ride photos.

I just rechecked your photo and NOW i understand all those comments about the Mother Ship etc, you have some kinda communicator thingie device mounted on the left side of your head. Either that or it's the funniest earring I've ever seen.

I got my bibs last week.
Today I order 2 more and gave away all the shorts.
Just love them. They are very comfortable!


Another convert. OP - you will know your really a bibs fan when you order a pair of white bibs.

I'm still on the fence about bibs. Everytime I see a pair in a shop, I check to see if they have 'em in my size. If they do, I get real close to pulling the trigger, but just can't bring myself to do it yet. Two thoughts keep running through my head: 1. That's a lot of cash, are they really worth it? 2. My closet's full now, where will I hang 'em? Those two thoughts are just enough to keep me from trying a pair. Sad isn't it? Maybe I'll hint that they would be a welcome Father's Day gift. That way if I don't like them, I can always rationalize it and say someone else got them for me.

I want to like them but that padding rubs me raw. I bought Aerotech Designs top shelf.
I've been riding the Aerotechs for several months now and had to resort to liberal applications of chamois cream to stop chafing from the stitching at the edge of the pad:eek: . Their chamois also seems to retain heat more than necessary. Wasn't sure whether it was me or the shorts until yesterday, when I rode the Zoot Sports bibs I just got from Sierra Trading Post for $48. The Schoeller chamois in the Zoots was WAY more comfortable than the Aerotech, both in chafing and temperature. The fabric of the Aerotechs seems a bit more robust, but after 6 months of use the fabric is pilling up where it moves over the saddle. We'll see if the Zoots do better. STP, BTW, has several different brands of bibs at very significant discounts right now.

2. My closet's full now, where will I hang 'em?

Just wad them up and throw them in a drawer.

I just discovered bibs and I LOVE them. Before bibs my bicycle shorts would roll down my belly. :eek: Trust me. You don't want to see that.

I just discovered bibs and I LOVE them. Before bibs my bicycle shorts would roll down my belly. :eek: Trust me. You don't want to see that.
I have that problem. Thought about wearing suspenders with 'em. Nope. That won't work. :D

For hot weather, Performance sells some "bib light" shorts with only 6oz material and some very light uppers.


For people who don't like what you look like in bibs without jersey, ask if its any better to be seen in non-bibs without jersey.

I just rechecked your photo and NOW i understand all those comments about the Mother Ship etc, you have some kinda communicator thingie device mounted on the left side of your head. Either that or it's the funniest earring I've ever seen.
You are going to be assimilated. Resistence is futile.

Mad Dog Vachon Factor:

Wow, what a blast from the past! I used to watch Mad Dog Vachon on All Star Wrestling with my dad. What was it, 40, 45 years ago?

Thanks for the memory.

I have a couple of pairs of bibs and they are more comfortable than the shorts. They are also noticeably hotter. I have put them away for the summer and switched back to the shorts for the Florida summer.

I have 7 pairs of cycling Shorts- 1 Pair are the Bib KNickers (Long enough to cover the knees) 3 pairs of cheap Bibs from the sale Bin but I bought 1 pair- found they fitted perfectly and went back and bought the remaining 2 pairs in my size as they fit perfectly And two pair of Bibs from my LBS as They semi- Sponsor me on the long rides and they Like to have their name palstered all over the South Downs. I then have the emergency pair of ordinary shorts. I have to keep these just in case I get sunburn from going topless with the bibs on up on the hills. (Only done it once and will not be doing it again. 2 hours of Sun beating down on my back was a big mistake) Then there are the leggings- but they are bibs aswell.

The reason I like bibs is that I do not like to have anything tight araound my waist- For that reason- I never use a Bum Bag- Think you call it a Fanny Bag and just hope that I haven't caused a problem with differences with terminology there. So sorry if I have just sworn.

So if you have a wardrobe that only has ordinary shorts in it- Then don't get bibs- You will be sending the Shorts to the Sally Army shortly.

Wow, what a blast from the past! I used to watch Mad Dog Vachon on All Star Wrestling with my dad. What was it, 40, 45 years ago?

Thanks for the memory.

Did he wrestle with BoBo Brazil???

Did he wrestle with BoBo Brazil???


That is so funny. He was born and raised in Benton Harbor, right across the river from St. Joseph. Died in 1998 at the Hospital in St. Joe. His wife was on my program after he died. I used to love watching that guy wrestle.

That is so funny. He was born and raised in Benton Harbor, right across the river from St. Joseph. Died in 1998 at the Hospital in St. Joe. His wife was on my program after he died. I used to love watching that guy wrestle.
That made me google him. Interesting story here. (http://www.mikemooneyham.com/pages/viewfull.cfm?ObjectID=56862536-856B-4113-B9096A01774D74BC)

http://www.mikemooneyham.com/pages/binarydata/brazil-bobo01.jpg

Did he wrestle with BoBo Brazil???
BoBo Brazil and the coco butt?

Wasn't he the inspiration for Argentine Apollo?

I never use a Bum Bag- Think you call it a Fanny Bag and just hope that I haven't caused a problem with differences with terminology there. So sorry if I have just sworn.


Fanny pack is the most common term here. I call it a butt bag.

We enjoy the differences in terminology. Usually it's self explanatory, if not...we'll ask.:)

Hey guys get over the Bib thing. Wear your Jersey over the straps and large areas of your "butt" won't be scaring the children.

I was a freestyle wrestler and coach for 40 years so Singlets (the real name for Bib shorts) are not a big deal to me. I do know that we never wore the straps up after a match due to crowding issues with the boys, however.

Bum bag! Actually bought one of those today. The last one was junk. A simple no frills bum bag is kind of hard to find. You can get one with everything but the kitchen sink. And a bum bag works with bibs.

I'm still trying to like padded shorts, bibbed or otherwise. I tried a nice big gob of axle grease (well, maybe Gold Bond super healing hand lotion) strategically placed along with the bib shorts. I made it through a 35 mile ride that way with nary a trace of chafe or raw spot in the bad place that had been happening. Perhaps there is hope for me and bibs after all.

Did he wrestle with BoBo Brazil???

and Haystack Calhoon