ed 

I have always thought bibs to be goofy pants for either old men or freakin dorks who wanna show off their pecks

You know I'm not being serious...let me make it clear. I'm not trying to get a rise.

I'm going to be getting some pants soon and I'm considering getting a semi loose fitting Pearl Izumi pant or possibly some tights. I got to thinking about bibs and wondered why I should go with them over anything else.


Soooooooooooo...it's bibs, tights, or pants. (any options beyond Pearl Izumi would be greatly in my financial best interest...suggestions?)


Edit: I must add that this is for general trail riding in the cold weather.

Tom Stormcrowe

Bibs, advantages: They don't slip, they don't restrict your breathing from an elastic waistband, and they are plain comfortable. They don't tangle in the saddle, they don't bunch

Disadvantages: They aren't modest, they do highlight your bits. They can require gymnastics if you have to pee, worse if other.

Comfort and advantages outweigh the disadvantages, by the way. Once you try a set, you'll never go back.

scrublover

padded shorts + baggies on top.

the comfort of the padding on long rides, plus the practicality/aesthetics of the baggies.

padded shorts - baggies when out on the road bike.

Dannihilator

Pants, don't like lycra when on the Dirt.

free_pizza

i have a pair of bibs that rise up high in the back. I really prefer these because i find my jerseys rise up my back showing off my nasty 7" scar on my lower back to anyone riding behind me, plus i just hate the feeling of the jersey riding up my back.

As tom mentioned, its a major pain in the ass to take a piss with bibs on.

But i do have a few pairs of shorts and bibs.

Elton

I agree with Smashy. Depending on how hard you ride, wearing a bib or tights as sole leg protrection may end in disaster if you happen to take a spill... for your legs aswell as the garment.

DevilsGT2

I wear shorts, made from cotton.

Man, people and their complicated pants....

wompwomp

i'm used to bibs from rowing, but when out on the trail, i use bibs plus baggies.

Tom Stormcrowe

Ever done 167 miles in the saddle in a day? Try it sometime and see how your arse feels after wearing those cotton shorts!

I should point out, I do road endurance riding. I just saw the topic here.

LowCel 

I remember thinking how dumb bibs looked, couldn't figure out why anyone would wear those things. Finally a buddy of mine convinced me to give them a shot. I must have liked them considering I haven't purchased a pair of regular cycling shorts since.

mlts22 

I'm going for baggy shorts... I just don't want to cause a good amount of Austin's population to rip out their eyeballs if I use Lycra, until I'm in better shape.

RIC0

Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup

cyclezealot

I like my bibs, but getting the right length for the straps is important. I have one pair that the straps are a little short as they go over the shoulders. Really pulls them up tight, causing a slight discomfort down below. The second pair, they fit just perfectly.

Bike Lover

I have a good selection of both (baggies and bibs). This covers me for different weather conditions, trail conditions, or just mood. If you're thinking about them, just give them a shot. We all have personal preferences we must appease.

One other negative about bibs is the material covers the small of your back and, at least for me will sometimes leave a gap between the back and the bib. The only time this is annoying to me is when it's really hot out (I'm thinking of last summer when we had almost 100 deg. days and like 90% humidity- that was aweful) and you want the "wicking action" to take the sweat away. A couple of those days, modesty be damned, biking shorts and compression top. Leaves nothing to the imagination but I'm about as cool as I can be. (yes it does actually work...)

mcoine

bibs are for babies..

pinkrobe

Bibs and baggies on dirt, bibs on the road. The best part is that they stay where they are supposed to, and you don't have to have hips to keep your shorts on. Also, very slimming...

Nitroboy

I found a pair of cycling undies a few years back on sale, and use them pretty much exclusively (under baggies). Same basic design as a chamois-padded lycra short, only a little shorter in the legs and not shiny (I think they are a polyester/lycra blend). MEC seems to have something similar; the upshot is that they're cheaper than normal lycra shorts and you can swap 'em out between different baggies.

ed 

I must have forgotten to mention that this was for cold weather.

I wear lycra shorts for races and long, long rides. Baggy shorts for most rides.

But in winter time, I need something that's not gonna get caught in the big ring + keep me warm in zero degree weather with negative windchill.

mx_599

+1

i love mine...i won't get anything else now

pinkrobe

Oh, COLD weather! If I'm actually mountain biking, I throw on some legwarmers under the baggies and bibs. If I'm just riding to work, I have shants. If it's really cold, I put on some tights with a gore-tex front under the shants.

ed 

Shart? Is that Alabama for some piece of clothing that covers your upper torso?

scrublover

Nah, that's just the term applied by people afraid to call them capris/manpris/knickers.

I prefer not to shart in my shants, whenever possible.

cycleaddict

If i may just chime in and say that i cant stand the only pair of bibbs i have. im sure this dosent go for all types/brands but my medium DeMarchi bibs (im 5'10") causes my bits to go inside and "hide from the weather" (to use delicate terminology) whenever i get out of the saddle. This is particularly uncomfortable after a few times. probably just unique to this pair but is easy to see how the straps could put undo pressure in the nether region. I am quite fond of my pearl izumi microsensor tights without chamois (just wear performance padded shorts underneath) which is ultra comfortable. They make a nice cold weather tight too with their thermafleece. Honestly though i cant wait to just be able to wear my shorts again!

Bike Lover

Specifically for cold, I picked up an outer layer (think of ski pants) meant for riding. They have zippers on either leg so you can get your foot through and cinch them up to your leg without worry of getting into the chain ring. This way, I can layer and use whatever shorts I desire (yes, even baggies if really cold) underneath. BTW- I got them at REI but I'm sure a well stocked LBS will have something similar.

pinkrobe

Not specifically. I would call them manpris, but they're not fashinable enough to be true manpris.