Road Cycling - shorts question

I was looking at bib shorts and they look a lot better than regular shorts in terms of covering up your backside. What i mean is, that my crack has a tendence to hang out from time to time and the bib shorts seem like they would keep that from happening. Is there any real difference between the 2 or is it only a personal one?

Also, I heard that you dont wear underwear with the shorts but what about jock straps?

Also, I heard that you dont wear underwear with the shorts but what about jock straps?

Jock straps are underwear. Underwear of any kind serves no purpose under bike shorts. Good bike shorts provide plenty of support. Putting a jock strap under your lycra shorts will only cause chafing and saddle sores.

As an interesting historical aside, the jock strap was orignally invented as a form of underwear for bicyclists. This is why a major brand of jock strap is still called "Bike." However, the original Bike jock strap was meant to be worn in lieu of a union suit under a knee-length woolen breeches. Included in the uniform were a short jacket, a bow tie, a white linen shirt, and knee-high stockings. If you must wear a jock strap while cycling, you should also wear the whole set of wooly short clothes.

Otherwise, no underwear under bike shorts for any reason, ever. No excuses.

Got it?

Good.

As for bibbies, many of us find them more comfortable because they don't have a waist band. As a trade-off, they make it harder to take a gentlemanly whiz.

Underwear Nazi
You will thank me for this.

YOU ARE A UNDERWEAR NAZI!!! lol...thanks man ...i guess no jocks or underwear.

I definitely recommend bib shorts even without the same reason you have. It's just a lot more comfortable not restricinting the mid section. Unless you are a shapely female, it won't impress anyone by showing off your back side. But it's still a personal preference.

My take on bibs are yes they are more comfortable then regular shorts but the price is exactly what Underwear Nazi says ( but in my terms, a real pain in the you know what when one has to answer the call of nature!) I wear my bibs only when I know it is going to be a relatively short ride - 20 to 30 miles. If it is going to be a ride of any length/time I wear regular shorts. Just my take on bibs. :-)

roll up a leg, guys...

I saw a couple of members posting about dificulty of peeing when one's wearing bib shorts.

Bib shorts, at least two pairs I bought at Performance are cut low enough in front, if you pull down hard enough without ripping the suspenders, you get plenty of room for pulling one out for peeing. Try it once, you'll have no more reason not to wear.

i guess no jocks or underwear.

Good soldier.

I was looking at bib shorts and they look a lot better than regular shorts in terms of covering up your backside.
Bibs are MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE than regular cycling shorts. I made the switch to Voler bibs (velowear.com) in June and will never go back to regular shorts. I now have 5 pairs ( 2-black, 2-gray, 1-royal blue).
They are having a sale on all their bib shorts (through the end of October??). You get the special price when you sign up for their email newsletter listing sale and promotional items.



Also, I heard that you dont wear underwear with the shorts but what about jock straps?
As Underwear Nazi already told you, you NEVER, NEVER, NEVER wear underwear, jock straps, or anything under cycling shorts or bibs.
The only exception is with unpadded shorts or tights. I have two pairs of unpadded tights and have "special padded cycling underwear" to wear with them.
But I think it's time to ditch them and get some bib tights since cold weather :crash: is right around the corner.


Peeing is easy. As velocipedio said, roll up the leg of the bibs and ...
I do it all the time. :D

I particularly like Etxe-Ondo Power bibs. they are not the
cheapest, but they aren't the most expensive either.
As noted above, MUCH more comfortable than shorts,
especially if you've got more than 5% body fat :lol: .
and No underwear, jockstraps etc. the only thing between you and the Chamois should be air and chamois
creme.

Marty

Bibs are more comfy to me largely because they hold the shorts in place. On top of no plumber crack, the chamois is less likely to move around and cause saddle sores. I like castelli stuff, but I also like their shorts more than anything I've worn because their PY2 chamois is pretty minimal.

So are bibs padded? those seats can get uncomfortable

Absolutely bib shorts are padded, at least all the ones I've seen. They're often the same chamois and all that you find in the non bib shorts of the same or similar name. Consider it a $20 option for some shorts.

Thanks for the tip on bib shorts and other sales at Velowear - looks like good stuff.

Just curious - How does one get their promotional code, and how much additional discount can that be?

Hi,
Bike shorts will cover you up adequately, no southern exposure. What you might do is order both, and see what works for you. The shorts I have been using this year is the Performance Elite, and lucky you, they are on sale. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=14591 They also have a huge selection of bibs. I haven't tried bibs yet, but brands that I have had good luck with (that make bibs) are Velo, Cannondale, pearl izumi, and Performance. The Pearl Izumi is really nice if spendy and runs about a size small.

Thanks for the tip on bib shorts and other sales at Velowear - looks like good stuff.

Just curious - How does one get their promotional code, and how much additional discount can that be?
Just sign up for their monthly email newsletter which lists the specials for the month. Go to the bottom of their home page to sign up.

Not sure but I think October's specials are $5 off arm and leg warmers (in a choice of 8 colors - I got yellow for visibility :) ) and $10 off bibs (same colors as warmers).

Anyone tried Pearl's fancy new chamois? I don't like their blue one (PRT, I think they call it) and was wondering if the new stuff is less bunchy.

Just curious. Sorry for the attempted highjack, but it fits the thread pretty well.