Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Bib question for small riders

Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Bib question for small riders

Old 01-27-09, 03:23 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
blankgen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 229
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Bib question for small riders

The chamois on my current pair is getting pretty worn out and I am experiencing progressively worse chaffing even with tons of chamois cream. I am using some small Louis Garneau bibs right now and they fit well but I don't like how quickly the chamois wore out so I want to try another brand.

What bibs fit slim riders well and provide good support? I'm 5'8", 130 lbs, 32" inseam, 31" at the hipbones and I have a 28" waist.

btw how long do bibs usually last? I have roughly 2000 miles on mine and I figured that they should last longer.
blankgen is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 03:28 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
kster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 661
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm 5'7", 133lbs, 29" waist and I wear size medium Assos bibs (which fit great). I own four or five pairs now; the oldest are a few years old and still in great condition.
kster is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 03:31 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
blankgen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 229
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'd love to try some Assos stuff but I should have mentioned that I'm nearly broke

I just bought books for this semester and the most that I can possibly spend is about $150. I really shouldn't be spending any money on hobbies at all right now but this is quite important.
blankgen is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 03:37 PM
  #4  
Recovering mentalist
 
Randochap's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: On the Edge
Posts: 2,810

Bikes: Too many

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
These look nice and are guaranted to survive many washings:

Randochap is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 04:39 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
AnthonyG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queanbeyan, Australia.
Posts: 4,135
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3450 Post(s)
Liked 420 Times in 289 Posts
Try out some Nalini bibnicks and jerseys. They have an old fashioned chamois in them but its a good one and it just works. You can get some of the Nalini range in sizes down to euro 1 which is extra small. The Nalini lycra is thin and stretchy which I like however they are probably not the longest lasting brand out there due to the thin lycra.

Anthony
AnthonyG is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 04:49 PM
  #6  
misanthrope
 
333foto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 153
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
i wear some good ol performance brand shorts... guess what, they're pretty damn comfy and i can't really complain about them. did i mention they're cheap?
333foto is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 05:30 PM
  #7  
Young and unconcerned
 
Treefox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Merry Land
Posts: 4,123

Bikes: Yeah, I got a few.

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by AnthonyG
Try out some Nalini bibnicks and jerseys. They have an old fashioned chamois in them but its a good one and it just works. You can get some of the Nalini range in sizes down to euro 1 which is extra small. The Nalini lycra is thin and stretchy which I like however they are probably not the longest lasting brand out there due to the thin lycra.

Anthony
Those old-school Nalini chamois rip me to shreds with a seam right up the center. Otherwise I like Nalini's stuff - it was my team kit up until this season.
Treefox is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 05:40 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
blankgen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 229
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I tried on all of the performance brand shorts/bibs and none of them fit right^ The Nalini bottoms look interesting, is that seam only on the real chamois or do they use it on their synthetic as well?

Just browsing around I came across some Giordana stuff and the listed sizes seem like they run smaller than many brands. I'm leaning toward ordering these https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...900.163.0.html in a small but I'm pretty much right at the brink between small and medium.
blankgen is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 06:06 PM
  #9  
Mountain Goat
 
dark13star's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,244

Bikes: Cannondale Synapse 3 Carbon

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
You are probably stuck with the European brands, which are also more expensive. I have 25 lbs on you, but I have a 30" waist at 5'11" and I just tried to use a pair of PI Ultrasensors I bought once when I forgot bibs on a trip. They are made for guys with three butt cheeks (and weren't cheap). I have switched to Assos, but as you mention, they are costly. They run about $140 right now from Wiggle though.

I tried the Hammer bibs once, but wasn't thrilled. They are cut good and slim, but they just didn't strike me as a bib I want to wear for 5-6 hour rides.
__________________
"I would be an historian as Herodotus was." Charles Olson
https://herodot.us
dark13star is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 06:09 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
 
Nate552's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: TX
Posts: 2,620

Bikes: Orbea Orca Trek 5500 Trek Equinox

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Just wondering, how are you washing them? Gentle cycle and hang dry? I've had bad luck with the LG bibs too.
Nate552 is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 06:16 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
blankgen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Stockton, CA
Posts: 229
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Yeah I use the hand wash cycle using cold water only and I hang them up to dry overnight. They were perfect for the first 1500 miles then after that they started to feel really rough.
blankgen is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 06:32 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 3,247

Bikes: Moots Vamoots, Colnago C60, Santa Cruz Stigmata CC, and too many other bikes I don't ride

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 152 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
I have the Descente bibs with Strata chamois. They are by far the most comfortable of all chamois I have tried, hi or low end. They run pretty true to US sizing. I am 5'10" and 165, and Large fits me just right. The oldest one probably has about 2000 miles on them and it still looks and feels great and I can see another 2000 miles in it with no problem. FWIW, my average ride is about 20 miles and I washed it everyone time after riding. So that's about 100 washes, and I use cold water, gentle cycle, and lay flat to dry.
dalava is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 07:25 PM
  #13  
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Montgomery County, Maryland
Posts: 43

Bikes: 02 Merlin Agilis

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by blankgen
Just browsing around I came across some Giordana stuff and the listed sizes seem like they run smaller than many brands. I'm leaning toward ordering these https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...900.163.0.html in a small but I'm pretty much right at the brink between small and medium.
OP...send me a PM if you're interested in a new pair of these. I have one I'd like to sell.
senecacyclist is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 08:25 PM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
yogi13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Torrance, CA
Posts: 1,113

Bikes: '06 Specialized Allez Expert

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by blankgen
I tried on all of the performance brand shorts/bibs and none of them fit right^ The Nalini bottoms look interesting, is that seam only on the real chamois or do they use it on their synthetic as well?

Just browsing around I came across some Giordana stuff and the listed sizes seem like they run smaller than many brands. I'm leaning toward ordering these https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...900.163.0.html in a small but I'm pretty much right at the brink between small and medium.
Giordana runs about a size smaller than PI or LG. I'd probably opt for the Tenax model; I have trouble with the silverline chamois after 40 miles or so. You might also think about Santini T-gel bibs; chainreactioncycles.com has them pretty cheap right now.
yogi13 is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 08:53 PM
  #15  
Senior Member
 
AnthonyG's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Queanbeyan, Australia.
Posts: 4,135
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3450 Post(s)
Liked 420 Times in 289 Posts
Originally Posted by Treefox
Those old-school Nalini chamois rip me to shreds with a seam right up the center. Otherwise I like Nalini's stuff - it was my team kit up until this season.
The seam certainly looks big and you wonder at first about it being in the middle but in use I don't feel the seam at all and thankfully it isn't a seam under your sitbones where it would be painful.

The Nalini chamois IS a synthetic chamois as opposed to modern pads which aren't chamois's at all even though we still call them that.

Anthony
AnthonyG is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 09:43 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 104
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I'm shorter than you, but am visualizing you as about my thin-ness (no ****). 5'5", 120 lbs, 28" waist. I love my Hincapie HC12 bibs. They're on ebay all the time and go for around 50 dollars. Many smalls are a little too big for me (PI especially), but these Hincapie's fit perfectly and the chamois is amazing. Give them a shot?
ggatsby is offline  
Old 01-27-09, 09:50 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,900
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by kster
I'm 5'7", 133lbs, 29" waist and I wear size medium Assos bibs (which fit great). I own four or five pairs now; the oldest are a few years old and still in great condition.
The answer to the problem lies in the post above and it is not Assos. Bibs, just like shoes, last many times longer if you have several pairs and rotate through them. Esquire magazine did a study on this in the 70s, when I was in college, and shoes last about 5 times longer than if you had 5 pairs of shoes and wore one pair until shot and then the next pair.

Don't ask about the science behind this, no idea.
oilman_15106 is offline  
Old 01-28-09, 01:25 AM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 214
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I have almost the exact same measurements and wear a size medium/3 in Nalini bibs. I have Nalini bib tights and knickers and the mediums/3 fit really well.
DCnoJ is offline  
Old 01-29-09, 04:52 AM
  #19  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Perth, W.A.
Posts: 935
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by yogi13
Giordana runs about a size smaller than PI or LG. I'd probably opt for the Tenax model; I have trouble with the silverline chamois after 40 miles or so. You might also think about Santini T-gel bibs; chainreactioncycles.com has them pretty cheap right now.
+1. I think Giordana Tenax are the most under-appreciated brand around. Not that well known but well priced and the most comfortable brand I own, and I have most.

To the OP - from your description I would still go for a small in the Giordana although I wonder if the suspenders might be too short for you. The lycra is quite stretchy and gets more so with wear.
scirocco is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.