John_V 

I've tried several brands of bibs and couldn't find any that fit properly. I also don't care much for the tugging feeling they have around the shoulders. I have been using PI Attack shorts for three years and can do centuries in them and they are comfortable for the entire ride. Never had any issues that some say they have with shorts. That being said, I think that larger framed guys would do better in bibs than shorts.

tony2v

Been wearing bibs since 1983.
My team jerseys are all full zips, so no issues with #2
I wear a skinsuit when racing on the velodrome, it's a pain with #1 or #2 .

Looigi

So you haven't worn cycling shorts in 30 years? If so, how do you know you wouldn't prefer them?

JimF22003

I have no strong feelings either way, except for winter riding. I usually have bib shorts on under a non-padded tight, and then a base layer, plus a heavier outer layer. That means basically four layers of stuff around my hips. With regular shorts on underneath the tights, they sometimes slip down, and I hate having to dig them out using heavily padded gloves With bibs they stay put.

But for summer use, the straps can get tight and even itchy. I don't mind them, but shorts are fine too.

(Now I got myself thinking about summer )

HIPCHIP

Only reason for shorts is if you have to go to the bathroom. Look at the Pro's, they wear bibs. Gotta be a reason. I prefer bibs as I find them more comfortable. They block the sun off your low back and don't squeeze your waist as much. I have a pair of short that I only use for the trainer, but if I'm out, I prefer bibs. But the LBS manager, who's been riding for years, swears by shorts and hates bibs, so go figure!

Carbonfiberboy 

My preference is shorts. No problems with them at all on rides up to 18 hours. Bibs tend to cramp my stuff. Shorts I can adjust more easily. The other problem with bibs is having the group leave you in the sanican.

CACycling

Cleaned out my cycling closet over the weekend and put my shorts in the donation pile. Realized I hadn't worn any of my shorts since I tried bibs so no reason for them to be taking up room in the closet.

Rick@OCRR

Bibs with full-zip jersey on centuries and double-centuries. Esp. on doubles when I'm on the bike all day (and part of the night) the extra comfort of bibs is appreciated. I've used Pearl Izume, Giordana, Hincapie and Santini . . . all work well for me!

Shorts with 1/2 or 3/4 zip jerseys or when commuting to work and back. No need for the extra hassle since comfort isn't needed for such short distances.

For club rides of 40 - 60 miles either will work and which I use is a matter of which jersey I'm wearing (i.e. how full is the zipper).

Rick / OCRR

wphamilton

Bibs or shorts, all the same to me. Honestly though I seldom wear either one unless the ride is more than three hours or so.

Biker395 

I use both, but generally prefer regular shorts. The reason?

Plus:

1. Slimming/eliminates waistband foldover;
2. Warmer in cold weather.

Minus:

1. Peeing/crapping;
2. Warmer in hot weather;
3. More expensive; and
4. Chilluns shriek when they see me wearing them without a jersey, no matter how ephemeral the exposure.

tony2v

I've tried shorts since then, but prefer the comfort of not feeling the waist band. I've never had a problem with overheating while wearing bibs. If it's hot, I wear a lightweight full zip jersey. It's really a matter finding which bibs fit best (strap length is critical). I love the fit of my Squadra Pro Issue team bibs.

smoore

Rode with shorts for sixteen years and they felt fine. Tried bibs and they felt GREAT. Would never go back.

Jumpski

Perhaps, not popular, but I prefers shorts.......

B. Carfree

Bibs or shorts?

Yes, of course. Unless it's the naked bike ride one or the other would seem appropriate.

I have and enjoy both. In warm weather, I'm slightly more likely to wear shorts, but both do the job just fine.

technoD

Neither here, as I gotta have room for the junk. BDU cargos for me, and allows for my ccw weapon in a SOB holster.

bruce19

mine fits in a rear pocket when I'm feeling the need.

jppe

I have both and have worn both for longer rides. I've never had an issue with shorts on even 200 mile rides and prefer those for ease of use and they are cooler. Plus bib straps are the one thing my wife has turned her nose up about my riding wardrobe.

billydonn

I've changed my thinking lately and now I lean more toward shorts than I used to. Especially in hot weather. Bib knickers are preferred for cold rides.

Not throwing my lightweight bibs out though.

John_V 

Yep! Since they don't buy their own, that's what they are given by the clothing manufacturers that sponsor the teams. It doesn't make sense for a company like Castelli or Giordanna to supply them with shorts when they can give them their most expensive bibs so all the wannabes go out and buy them just because the Pros are wearing them. It just baffles me why people don't just go out and try both and pick what they like the most; and that's why I wear shorts instead of bibs.

3dMark

When I was young and thin, I wore shorts. Now that I am neither, I wear bibs. I think this about sums it up.

Boudicca

It's all about the bathroom breaks for me. I only have a couple of jerseys with full zips, so switching to bibs would involve a whole new investment in full-zip jerseys, which just doesn't seem practical when I am perfectly happy with shorts, even on long rides.

Besides, anything I can do to stay cool in the summer is worth it my end.

Oh, I really wish it was summer.

az_cyclist

I switched to bibs 3 years ago. they are the best for climbing (when you stand occasionaly) and long rides (centuries and double centuries).

NOS88

I find both bibs and shorts comfortable. For non-cycling reasons I tend to have more bibs. I generally hang all my clothes, save undergarments. With bibs, I throw them on a hanger to air dry and when dry throw a jersey on top of them, saving space in my small clothes closet. I just reach in, grab a hanger and I've got the jersey and bibs in one grab. May be a lame reason to use bids for some, but it works for me.

lhbernhardt

For me, shorts are just way more comfortable, probably because I've been wearing them for 40+ years and I'm used to them. I like the feel of the elastic around my waste - just feels more secure. Also helps to have a 32" waist (I'm 6'1"). I also find bibs tend to ride up more in the leg than plain shorts. Instead of bunching at the hip (doesn't happen if you're thin enough), bibs tend to bunch at the crotch.

Full-zip jerseys were made for bibs. Anytime I wear one of my few bibs, I make sure I'm in a full-zip jersey. You can take off the jersey without having to empty the back pockets, especially inside the crowded confines of a porta-potty. Try taking off a non-full-zip jersey & half the contents will likely fall into the hole... I no longer buy jerseys that are NOT full zip. And I'm surprised that most of you recreational cyclists favor bibs. In the past few years, I have asked the people who order jerseys for various recreational cycling clubs if their jersey is available with a full zipper, and they have no clue. ALL racing clubs have been switched over to full-zips for years! My theory is that people with wider hips (women mostly) find it difficult to zip into a full-zip. A regular-zip jersey just pulls down. But then you're better off in shorts, possibly with suspenders. At least you can undo the suspenders in an emergency!

And being somewhat retro, in the winter I wear long tights (without bibs - way less expensive) over my shorts (the ones that are worn out, where you can see thru the lycra - I don't throw them out, I just use them in the winter), but the tights must have suspenders. My shorts are always tight enough to not slip down, but I don't like the tights slipping, but I also don't like the feel or the expense of bibs.

The one advantage of bibs that I can see is that you don't get the sunburn in the lower back where some people have the gap between low shorts and jersey that doesn't come low enough. I always buy good shorts that have a high back, plus a t-shirt under the jersey (extra material in case of a crash). I've never had a gap between shorts & jersey, but then I tend to be somewhat style-conscious and real fussy about how I wear my clothing. I'm one of those guys that always zips up the jersey all the way when crossing the finish line in 1st place, or appearing on the podium!

Luis

love2pedal.com

Bibs, 100% of the time.

Sad to say, but for the last 5 years, when I wear shorts, the waistband rolls over on itself