Fifty Plus (50+) - Dumb Question About Bibs

I'll ask it here because we 50+ people are kinder than some others.

I've never worn bibs, only shorts. I see bibs advertised in Nashbar, Performance, etc. and they always picture little white undershirts under the bibs. Do those come with the bibs when you buy them? If not, where do you get them? I don't remember ever seeing little white undershirts advertised in the catalogs.

Inquiring minds want to know.

No, that's a base layer you wear under your jersey. I always wear a base layer even in the hottest weather, just crack open the zipper and let the air flow. I only wear bibs, no stress around the gut. Get a full zipper jersey though makes life easier for the emergency pit stop!

Oh, the base layer goes under the bib straps. NEVER EVER wear the straps on the outside of your jersey! That's a Fred moment I've seen!

I see bibs advertised in Nashbar, Performance, etc. and they always picture little white undershirts under the bibs. Do those come with the bibs when you buy them?
Do you mean this? It's not an undershirt, it's the straps that hold the bibs up. There's no elastic around the waist. :thumb:
http://www.velowear.com/images/productimages/1110226/1110226_prt_f_400.jpg


Same thing here, only the straps are the same color as the bibs.
http://www.coloradocyclist.com/img/product/200/a/ASSXBRYT.jpg

Once you try bibs you'll NEVER go back to shorts. :beer:

Oh, the base layer goes under the bib straps. NEVER EVER wear the straps on the outside of your jersey! That's a Fred moment I've seen!

I was putting on my HR strap in the infield at Hellyer and then put on my jersey. As I was going to saddle up and roll onto the track, my wife says, "Ahem, you may want to put your straps over your shoulders". They were hanging down along my thighs.:o However, I can say I have NEVER put the straps over my jersey.:D

I only wear a base layer when it is cold / cooler.:thumb:

Once you try bibs you'll NEVER go back to shorts. :beer:

YMMV. I really don't care for bibs. Again, YMMV.

^^

I have one pair of bibs and generally like them. I do need a base layer underneath, though, or the straps kind of dig into my shoulders. Also not so convenient when making a pit stop.

As snaproll says, YMMV.

Suspenders.

I was putting on my HR strap in the infield at Hellyer and then put on my jersey. As I was going to saddle up and roll onto the track, my wife says, "Ahem, you may want to put your straps over your shoulders". They were hanging down along my thighs.:o However, I can say I have NEVER put the straps over my jersey.:D

I only wear a base layer when it is cold / cooler.:thumb:


I have two base layers- The winter wicking one and a summer Aertex version that keeps a sweaty- clingy jersey that will eventually wick away moisture- away from my skin. The summer version has never kept me overwarm- but I do find that without it I do feel the cool summer morning air just a bit too cool on the downhills.

...
I only wear a base layer when it is cold / cooler.:thumb:

I wear a base layer when its below 75F ... armwarmers below 68F
That said there have been only 2 days (2 days during our recent Jesusita wildfire) when I haven't worn a base layer since last Oct. Prolly only been 6 rides when I haven't worn armwarmers since then.
Right now - 2 pm , 63F at SB airport, 57F here in Goleta and heavy Marine layer; been that way since forever... sun comes out about 4:30p and the wind blows at a steady 15...
although it don;t look like we're getting any sun today

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Do you promise never to wear bibstraps over your jersey?

Bought my fist bibs a few weeks back - bib knickers. This is a great cool weather pant - keeps the lower back warm. I'll stick with my shorts in the hot weather. My get some bib tights for the extra cold weather though = although my current tights do pretty well and I have stretched them out enough so they will accomidate a fleece layer underneath when it's sub-freezing.

This is going too well, time for CONTROVERSY.
I wear my bibs, then my base layer. I hate the slippery base layer letting the straps slide, and besides, I wear the bibs with no base in the summer, so it isn't like I need a base to lessen the strap pressure.

I mentioned this in Road and was told to: Buff up, HTFU, get a life, kill myself, never post again, sell my bike (which was likely crap anyway) and that my favorite band sucked.

So, my question bibs or base first? (now that we've solved the "do they come with a base layer?" question.

And, just as a public service announcement:
Never NEVER wear your bibs over your jersey, no matter what they show in a catalog. It's just, well, wrong.

So, my question bibs or base first? (now that we've solved the "do they come with a base layer?" question.

Bibs first, then base (I don't consider the poly "tank top" suspenders to be a true base layer).

So, my question bibs or base first? (now that we've solved the "do they come with a base layer?" question.


Base, then bib/bib straps over base. If you wore it the other way around, you might be inviting a draft coming up/down your front side.



And, just as a public service announcement:
Never NEVER wear your bibs over your jersey, no matter what they show in a catalog. It's just, well, wrong.

Well now I'm intrigued...maybe I'll go home and just wear my bibs with the straps over the jersey just to see how Fred I look. :innocent:

Since buying my first bib shorts two plus years ago I have not even attempted to get into regular bike shorts again. Bibs eliminate so many problems and are so comfortable all day.

Now for that base layer. I only wear the base layer in temperatures under 60 degrees as a high.

No offense...I'm 56...ride a bike almost every day, and I wouldn't want to be caught dead in those :roflmao2: (you guys crack me up)

Got my first bibs about a month ago. Buddy swears by them, but he is a bit round. I thought what the heck and got a cheap pair from perfromance. I havent worn my shorts since, and commute in the bibs everyday.

Comfy, heaven help me if I have to use the head in a hurry, I may not like them so much then. lol

Don't you guys get Nashbar or Performance catalogs? Here are some of the typical bib pictures:
http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/medium/BW-FCBS-BK-FRONT.jpg

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/large/GB-CTB-NCL-FRONT.jpg

http://www.nashbar.com/images/nashbar/products/large/CN-MLTD-BL-FRONT.jpg

http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/large/10-0683-BLK-FRONT.jpg

But hey, I just found a section called "Base Layers (http://www.performancebike.com/bikes/SubCategory_10052_10551_400068_-1_400000_400020)" on Performance's redesigned website. Now I know where to buy those little undershirt thingies if I ever decide to wear bibs.

Like these - only fifty bucks! What a bargain!

http://www.performancebike.com/images/performance/products/large/10-1354-WHI-FRONT.jpg

My shorts never slip down and I'm already suitably dorky. Do I really need bibs? (This thread wasn't started because I was contemplating same; I was just curious.)

Do I really need bibs?

You do not need them. People happily and successfully complete bicycle tours of many months without bibs. In earlier eras the tour de france was won without bibs.

I only wear a base layer during the winter. When I do wear a base layer with bibs, the base layer goes under the straps. The jersey always goes over the straps. Always.

I find it interesting how many people say they will never wear shorts again after wearing bibs. I have a few pairs of each and wear them all. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. I almost always choose the bibs for anything over 50 miles where their main advantage really comes into play. My shorts will sometimes start to slip down, causing friction in my crotch while pedaling. This only happens to me on long rides. Bibs prevent this from happening at all. Shorts are a little cooler on very hot days. Shorts are much more convenient if I need to sit on the porcelain during a ride.

You do not need them. People happily and successfully complete bicycle tours of many months without bibs. In earlier eras the tour de france was won without bibs.

Unless you are time traveling to race the Tour (and win), you, my bikeforums friend, do indeed need bibs.

Unless you are time traveling to race the Tour (and win), you, my bikeforums friend, do indeed need bibs.

Thanks for setting me straightening me out on another thing I've happily been doing wrong my entire life. :twitchy: Actually, I have a couple of pair. They're ok.

[QUOTE=Hermes;9021829]I was putting on my HR strap in the infield at Hellyer and then put on my jersey. As I was going to saddle up and roll onto the track, my wife says, "Ahem, you may want to put your straps over your shoulders". They were hanging down along my thighs.:o

gads I hate that.:notamused:

Well now I'm intrigued...maybe I'll go home and just wear my bibs with the straps over the jersey just to see how Fred I look. :innocent:[/QUOTE]

omg a new fashion statement! almost as good as one glove ala Michael Jackson? :lol:

I mentioned this in Road and was told to: Buff up, HTFU, get a life, kill myself, never post again, sell my bike (which was likely crap anyway) and that my favorite band sucked.



You forgot to mention that they told you to use the search function first.

I'm thinking that maybe one's bias towards or away from bibs is a direct function of the size of one's gut. Ones of us whose gut is protuburant would favor one's bibs.

If I take a pair of bib overhauls and cut off the legs, would that be too fred, or would it just be a new style of bibs.

If I take a pair of bib overhauls and cut off the legs, would that be too fred, or would it just be a new style of bibs.

Don't go there.

Two votes for suspenders + shorts.

(Actually, I'm the only one voting; I'm voting twice).

Two votes for suspenders + shorts.

(Actually, I'm the only one voting; I'm voting twice).

What? Are you from Philly?

I succumbed to temptation and bought my first pair of Assos just now. Great bibs and they came with a booklet telling me what I had bought : "Assos are not apparel, but equipment which enables you to free your mind, go further, longer and faster." On the same page I am also told it will be overkill to walk the dog in these 150$ cyclingshorts. Who would have guessed.

Mon always put my bibs on the outside

http://www.danzfamily.com/archives/blogphotos/07/695-babys-first-fourth.jpg

I'm thinking that maybe one's bias towards or away from bibs is a direct function of the size of one's gut. Ones of us whose gut is protuburant would favor one's bibs.

I don't have a gut and I definitely prefer bibs. I don't even consider buying shorts anymore.

I wear the base layer under the bibs. I find that more comfortable and besides, how is it going to wick away sweat if it's not next to your skin.

Oh, and I always wear a base layer, even when it's in the 90's. (Though that would be a good occasion to make sure you grab a summer weight base layer and not one of the winter ones....).

What? Are you from Philly?

Re: voting twice ---- 7 years in Chicago, 3 years in Mexico.

I don't have a gut and I definitely prefer bibs.

Fine then. Just fine.

I wear bibshorts and always wear a base layer under the straps. Then the shortsleeve jersy.


BUT in winter I also wear tights- The bib form without a liner.

Now do I put these on after the Bib Shorts- or after the s/s jersey?

...
BUT in winter I also wear tights- The bib form without a liner.

Now do I put these on after the Bib Shorts- or after the s/s jersey?

It'd still go under the jersey, wouldn't it? Although I could see the Fredlicious attraction of putting them on over the jersey and then throwing a l/s something over the s/s jersey... (which of course would cover your Fredliness, until it warmed up...and you would be exposed for your deviant behaviour) :p

In earlier eras the tour de france was won without bibs.

Yes, but most of the riders wore suspenders.

Back in the day, we were encouraged to remove the elastic waistbands from our wool shorts and sew on buttons for suspenders, or use the kind with the little metal clips.

If I wore suspenders they pulled the waistband up to just below my ribcage, so the elastic never constricted my breathing anyway.

If we didn't wear suspenders, a companion was liable to pull down our shorts and hook the waistband under the saddle when we stood up to sprint--the reverse of an atomic wedgie.

Tried my first bibs this winter. They are bib knickers and are comfy. I also have two pairs of bigs as part of my race team kit. This said I just bought a pair of PI Pro-micro sensor 3D shorts and must say I love em. I don't have a boinkage problem and like all my shorts as well as the bibs.

I wear my base layer under the bibs.

What? Are you from Philly?

You know what Gov. Fast Eddie Rendell(PA-D) says about Philly? "I see dead people,....... vote".

On bibs, myself I will never go back to plain shorts but poorly made bibs are just as uncomfortable as bad shorts. For me the best value in bib shorts is in the Adidas line. Well made and reasonably priced. Leg cut is a bit long for some tastes.

Base layer is temperature dependent.

I recently got a pair of Performance Ultra II bibs (sale price plus 20% off). So far I've only done one 51 mile ride in them, but they were very comfortable. Better than the earlier versions of Ultra and better than my Elite bibs (which are also very good).

If we didn't wear suspenders, a companion was liable to pull down our shorts and hook the waistband under the saddle when we stood up to sprint--the reverse of an atomic wedgie.

that's one image that will stay with me. :roflmao2:

I don't care for bibs. Comfort seemed about the same but you have to practically disrobe for a nature call. I just don't see any advantage over shorts. My theory always was that they were more comfortable for guys with a "roll" in the middle and for guys too skinny to keep shorts up. What am I missing here?

As a big-bellied rider, it's bibs all the way. I wear a compression shirt under my bib shorts both as a base layer and to keep my loose skin in place.

I don't care for bibs. Comfort seemed about the same but you have to practically disrobe for a nature call. I just don't see any advantage over shorts. My theory always was that they were more comfortable for guys with a "roll" in the middle and for guys too skinny to keep shorts up. What am I missing here?

Interesting...no roll but no problem keeping shorts up...still very much prefer bibs. I guess I just don't like the waistband.

Number 2 might be an issue (but a very infrequent one) but number 1 requires no disrobing at...just pull the front down.

Took the Jr mafia out for a training ride today and they got to see a Fred with aero bars, very bad position on the drops, but wait..........wearing his bibs on the outside! The boys all commented that "that was so wrong".

As well as the 'what's closest to the skin' discussion, we surely need to consider the 'sequence of dressing'.

To do it right

First, string vest
Second, polo shirt
Third, bibs with straps over shirt
Fourth, jockey shorts over bib bottoms for the true 'superman' and to preserve modesty
Fifth, woolly knee socks in an argyle or plaid pattern with tab garters
Sixth, Dunlop Green Flash tennis shoes
Seventh, ski goggles and construction helmet

I say it, so it must be so

Base layers are great..Craft makes a very nice summer mesh version. If you look at most of them, they have a rather longish tail so if you wear it over your bib straps (outside your bibs) the back and perhaps front will stick out beneath your jersey. They are intented to be worn under your bibs..but I say go with what is comfy for you..I have one pair of bibs whose straps terrorize my nipples, so mostly I wear the base under the straps to save nipple rub..

My 2 cents!

Bibs are great for older guys (and gals) with dunlap's disease (my belly done lap my belt). The waist bands on my shorts roll over unless I pull my shorts halfway up my chest, and bibs solve this problem. I also like one-piece skinsuits for racing for the same reason. And yes, I wear a light wool-blend base layer under the straps and a full length zipper jersey to facilitate frequent pit stops.

So, I want to know how all you bib-wearers keep the stupid straps from sliding off your shoulders, especially if you are wearing a 'base-layer' shirt (other wise know as slippery than ****).

I can barely keep the straps up over a 50-50 cotton/poly t-shirt I wear at times for a base-layer. They are a bit better on bare skin, but where I live, I usually have to wear a short sleeve or even long sleeve shirt under a regular jersey, even in what passes for summer around here.

I even put some Shoe-Goo on the bottom sides of the straps on both pair of bibs I have...that helps just enough to keep them up most of the time on the cotton/poly shirts, but can't even get out of the house if I try to wear them over the slick undershirts.

So...what's the secret?