Fifty Plus (50+) - Bibs

What's the advantages of bibs over regular shorts. I'm leaning toward the bibs, but it gets pretty hot down here near Houston and I heard the bibs were hotter.

That's why I usually only see bibs in the fall and winter.
Other than being warmer, bibs provide a courtesy to the rider behind you. Some riders cause those behind them to catch the dreaded disease, asscrackatus vomitus. It's rarely fatal, but it's nasty and can ruin your ride.....

A bit hotter than just shorts. Once you try bibs you will like the lack of a waistband or drawstring. Cheap bibs are the same as cheap shorts, cheap and usually not too comfortable.

I read Houston, TX is booming right now.

A bit hotter than just shorts. Once you try bibs you will like the lack of a waistband or drawstring. Cheap bibs are the same as cheap shorts, cheap and usually not too comfortable.

I read Houston, TX is booming right now.

Your right about the booming, man they are coming from all over the world, I can't believe it. I'm about 30 miles west of Houston and there's new houses going up all the time. I don't know about a lot of other places, but the bike community here is very big. That's why I started riding at almost 66 years old.

I ride bibs 100% of the time and really the comfort is worth the slight heat disadvantage. There is a good thread on cheaper but quality bibs over in the road forum.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=415510

It seems like as long as you don't mind obnoxious logos the Hammer bibs are the best buy. I have tried a bunch and now I will pay a premium for Assos because they last more than a year and are very comfortable, but at $200 they should be.

I bought a pair of bibs recently and have worn them once. IMHO I didn't see an advantage for me....it just made it harder to use the bathroom facilities:mad:

George, it's not even close. Bibs win for comfort and performance all week and twice on Sundays!
Beverly, don't sweat five minutes of bathroom stops. It's the hours of superior riding comfort where the advantage is found.

I recently got my first pair of bibs and really like them. They're especially better for those of us who don't have classic biking proportions in the waistline area, and you don't have to buy them strictly based on how the waitband fits. I have a pair of Louis Garneau that cost me about $125 and I feel like I could easily wear them all day. I also just ordered a pair of the Hammers for only $50 that I can be less careful with, maybe ride off-road, etc.

Thanks for the replies, I seen the PI bibs on sale and I think I'll order some today. I like the looks of the pads.

George, it's not even close. Bibs win for comfort and performance all week and twice on Sundays!
Beverly, don't sweat five minutes of bathroom stops. It's the hours of superior riding comfort where the advantage is found.

Maybe women don't get the same advantage from them. Maybe it's because I don't have a problem with the waistband on regular shorts. I really didn't find them more comfortable than my regular PI or Terry shorts. The bibs are PI, too.

If your tummy sticks out a bit

Bibs are the thing!

Hi,

With bibs you don't have to worry about anything inappropriate showing if your jersey is a bit short or starts to ride up in the back. :innocent: :rolleyes:

Seriously, I stopped using shorts in the 1980s. Bibs are just much more comfortable for me. As for going to the bathroom it's not much of a problem. I can imagine that for women it's a pain to have to remove your jersey first.

Hi,

With bibs you don't have to worry about anything inappropriate showing if your jersey is a bit short or starts to ride up in the back. :innocent: :rolleyes:

Seriously, I stopped using shorts in the 1980s. Bibs are just much more comfortable for me. As for going to the bathroom it's not much of a problem. I can imagine that for women it's a pain to have to remove your jersey first.

+1 Bibs tend to hold the chamois in place. I do not find that they are hotter than shorts. You posted in another forum about problems with saddle sores. Bibs MAY help but I would caution about getting ones with too much padding. I like the new PI pro bibs with the 9 mm (I think) chamois. The microfabric is very soft and the padding does not collapse and bunch up where it should not. Also, on saddle sores, get out of the saddle i.e. stand up as much as practical on rides. Constant pressure deprives the skin (as well as nerves) of blood flow and predisposes the skin to damage in some people (per my dermatologist).

Maybe women don't get the same advantage from them. Maybe it's because I don't have a problem with the waistband on regular shorts. I really didn't find them more comfortable than my regular PI or Terry shorts. The bibs are PI, too.

I'm with Beverly 100%!! Any advantages are greatly outweighed by the bathroom disadvantages (even with a full zip jersey). It is hard to be discrete to take a "bio call" in the woods when you have to strip down to your bra top. Moreover, I don't have any chamois issues where bibs would be an advantage.

Its that lack of elastic pressing on the bulge that makes Bibs so good. Never had a problem with heat but I do have summer weight ones- Except for the Knickers abut they are used in the winter in any case.

I only have one pair of shorts and they are the ones with the thick padding. Ideal for Looong rides but I do get fed up with them riding down.

I've tried bibs (Giordona) and they're mostly comfortable, except that where straps come down the front is right on/over my nipples. Kind of exciting for a few seconds, then mostly annoying.

Maybe I should cut little round holes in the center of the straps just a nipple-height!

Rick / OCRR

I tried my first bibs in the 90s and never wore shots again.
There's a reason pros wear 'em

+1 Bibs tend to hold the chamois in place. I do not find that they are hotter than shorts. You posted in another forum about problems with saddle sores. Bibs MAY help but I would caution about getting ones with too much padding. I like the new PI pro bibs with the 9 mm (I think) chamois. The microfabric is very soft and the padding does not collapse and bunch up where it should not. Also, on saddle sores, get out of the saddle i.e. stand up as much as practical on rides. Constant pressure deprives the skin (as well as nerves) of blood flow and predisposes the skin to damage in some people (per my dermatologist).

Yes, I started to get out of the saddle more and that did help. I tried to order PI bibs on sale this morning and they were all out until the end of June. So when I get done here I'm going shopping. Anyway, that's the way I'm going to go and thanks very much for the replies

I tried my first Bibs last year. :thumb: I'm never going back to regular shorts!

I like bibs, especially for long rides where they eliminate the problem of the shorts riding down and moving the chamois from the right location. They are very slightly warmer, but not a problem, even in very hot weather. The biggest drawback is, as others have said, having to remove your jersey to use the john.

I definitely like bibs, but I still have and wear shorts. It doesn't have to be like a religious conversion. :)

Bibs eliminate plumbers butt.

Thanks for the replies everybody. I was trying to order the PI shorts, but they were out of my size. I read on the road forum that the Hammer bibs were pretty good and there pretty cheap because of there name on the side. I don't care about that as long as they do the trick. I think I'm still going to try the PI bibs when they come in. I'll have to see how the Hammer bibs work out, thanks again.

BlackBottoms (http://www.blackbottoms.com) bibs are as durable as iron, are extremely comfortable, and are built with top-notch materials.

Bibs plus long zip jersey. What I reach for. Minor peeing troubles. My wife just has to pop a little deeper into the woods. If she even bothers doing that - she's less shy with every head impact! I didn't realize how comfortable they were until I put on some non-bibs the other day. Yuck.

Do you guys all need Flomax or something:) I read so many posts about using the bathroom being a problem in bibs. I think you should be able to get through a 4 hour ride without a bathroom break, I can see the need in a longer 6+ hour but I just don't see this as an issue.

Do you guys all need Flomax or something:) I read so many posts about using the bathroom being a problem in bibs. I think you should be able to get through a 4 hour ride without a bathroom break, I can see the need in a longer 6+ hour but I just don't see this as an issue.

Give yourself another 10 years or so. And, I don't take ANY drug I absolutely don't need to take.

It's that morning water weight from hydrating the night before. It always wants out after the first hour of riding. After that I'm good for several hours. I like bibs much better than shorts. However, I'm still waiting for someone to invent a model with a velcro fly!

Do you guys all need Flomax or something:) I read so many posts about using the bathroom being a problem in bibs. I think you should be able to get through a 4 hour ride without a bathroom break, I can see the need in a longer 6+ hour but I just don't see this as an issue.

It's amazing how often that 4 hour number is mentioned in conversations about men's medicines.

It's amazing how often that 4 hour number is mentioned in conversations about men's medicines.

Well, with Boniva you only have to take the one pill a month. So the ladies have it easier.

This commercial drives me crazy

Not sure that I would care for bibs. Pearl Izumi shorts have been fine for me

It's that morning water weight from hydrating the night before. It always wants out after the first hour of riding. After that I'm good for several hours. I like bibs much better than shorts. However, I'm still waiting for someone to invent a model with a velcro fly!

Just roll the pants leg up. No big deal.

Not sure that I would care for bibs. Pearl Izumi shorts have been fine for me

They were Ok for me too, but losing 30# made them a little lose in the back. If I go to a medium they are to tight.

Just roll the pants leg up. No big deal.
You da man!
When I have been riding for a few hours I need a pair of tweezers.

Do you guys all need Flomax or something:) I read so many posts about using the bathroom being a problem in bibs. I think you should be able to get through a 4 hour ride without a bathroom break, I can see the need in a longer 6+ hour but I just don't see this as an issue.


Wow man, you ain't an old guy unless you gotta pee every hour or so at least. You're kidneys may be way too young for this forum.

Do you guys all need Flomax or something:) I read so many posts about using the bathroom being a problem in bibs. I think you should be able to get through a 4 hour ride without a bathroom break, I can see the need in a longer 6+ hour but I just don't see this as an issue.

Not a problem so much as a hassle. And not even that for peeing. :rolleyes: I can do that without pulling the bibs all the way down. It's when you need to pull them down that it is more trouble than shorts. Not so much trouble that it's not worth it for the added comfort.

And when you gotta go, you gotta go. :twitchy:

I like bibs much better than shorts. However, I'm still waiting for someone to invent a model with a velcro fly!

You wouldn't want THAT to malfunction during a ride! Better plumber's butt than... :eek: