any inexpensive recommendations?


I normally just wear compression shorts under running shorts, but since I caved on the foot retention and saw the light, I'm thinking that I might be missing out on more things cycling....."real" shorts being one of them. I'll still wear shorts over them though LOL

Falconi Deluxe bibs from Love2Pedal.com.

Why would you wear shorts over them?

And in my experience, don't buy cheap.

If you're still planning on wearing regular shorts, then maybe you should try some liner shorts. These go under any kind of shorts or pants and are padded...

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...9_20000_400065

https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...8_20000_400065

Bibs ... I've not used Love2Pedal yet but I've heard good things.

I've typically ordered from Nashbar, but the last pair I ordered (Nashbar brand) the pad is already coming unsewn and I've only had them for a few months.

I have a pair of Pearl Izumi bibs that are fabulous ... but they were a gift, so price didn't matter

I would still wear shorts over them because I think they look ridiculous.

Those liners look to be something I'd be interested in

I'm not so interested in bibs. they look too much like singlets. I might leap from the top tube of my bike and put some jogger in a rear naked choke, because the bibs made me do it.

I had the same predicament a while back, and went with Andiamo Padded Skins. They're considered underwear. Guessing that the liners linked to by DEK are similar. The claim is that they turn any pair of shorts into cycling shorts. I've found the claim to be true, and have had very good luck with them. Ironically, they were cheaper at my LBS, than on Amazon.

Take your own advice and try the bibs. You can get a nice inexpensive pair, and if you don't like them, it's not that big of a hit, but when you do like them you'll realize why most of us wear them.

And you don't think you'd look ridiculous with perfectly visible cycling shorts under obviously unnecessary other shorts? Tastes differ, clearly. But in that case you'd be better off with baggy shorts with the padded undershorts.
You're just a mass of prejudices, aren't you? Bibs are much more comfortable, but it's a free country...

I have 2 pair of shorts from Aerotech Designs: https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/bigsize.htm

I've got one of the Pro Bike Shorts, and one of the Classic Bike Shorts.

I actually prefer the classic to the pro (even though they're cheaper), since the pro has a rubber band around the bottom of the thighs which is a little tight at the moment, whereas the classic are simply spandex.

Bought the pro because I was experiencing extreme chafing with the classic and foolishly blamed the bike shorts; turned out it was the saddle and once I switched to a Brooks all is right with the world.

I get my cycling pants at Performance. I prefer the "Century" short over others I have tried so far. I also wear a thin pair of gym shorts over the cycling pants unless I am on a group ride or going a long distance. Living in rural Ga is not the place to be running around alone in a set of spandex shorts with a chamouis.

A lot of big guys here love the Falconi Deluxe 2 for 1 bibs from www.love2pedal.com I just got my own pairs and they are really great. Don't worry about what the whole bib package looks like because the straps will be hidden beneath your shirt. I love having the extra coverage on my sides and butt...I never feel self conscious about having plumbers crack, and they never roll down or change position, really!

So why are you getting chamois lined shorts? Do you have seat issues/chaffing issues? If you are comfortable do what you are doing.

I bought (too many) liner shorts that I wear under regular shorts. I found regular biking shorts with no shorts on top are much more comfortable. Just less stuff moving around and plus I'm cooler in the heat. But I was worried about looking flabby. My legs are fine but the belly is meh. Bearing children and weight loss give me jelly belly. Anyway, my solution was to wear long tops. I buy bigger sizes or I wear non-cycling tops, like a tunic.

Just a thought.

I just ordered a pair of Falconi Deluxe bibs from Love2Pedal because of this forum so I am still waiting on those. I have always worn Gore bibs and there really is nothing better - I would like to see how the cheaper Falconi bibs are in comparison.

Don't be afraid to rock the bibs they will change your cycling experience for ever.

Just need to lose weight to get into them. I am sporting 5x shorts/shirts right now.

+1 on the Falconi Deluxe Bibs. Have been using them a bit over a month and they are great.

Nope, I don't think thats ridiculous at all. Just my preference. Also, I'm not saying that anyone else looks ridiculous wearing them. I wouldn't really say that I'm a mass of prejudices, and I didn't realize that folks wore shirts over the bibs. If they do that then whats the purpose of the bibs?



Good reminder, I don't like the bottoms that have a ring that is signifigantly tighter than the shorts either.

this man gets it.

I didn't really realize that people wore shirts over them. I pictured bam bam bigalo on a bike. I'm serious.

You bring up several good points, the best is why? I don't have any issues with being comfortable or chafing with the compression shorts. I don't NEED to change what I'm doing, just thought I might be missing something. Like maybe I don't know that I'm uncomfortable, because I'ver never known comfort...hmmmmm.

What exactly is so great about the bibs? I will keep an open mind with them I guess. How are they so great that they will change my cycling experience forever?

The bibs give the compression benefits of a cycling short, the comfort benefit of the pad all without the fear (in my case) of the shorts rolling down over my excess baggage exposing the world to undue hardship

The purpose of the bibs is to rely on the straps to hold them up and in place. Regular shorts on those of us who are circumferentially challenged, while still comfortable, have an unfortunate tendency toward waistband rollover, which is just plain annoying, uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing. Plus bibs don't have an actual waistband per se, or at least not in the same sense that regular shorts have, so they feel less restrictive around your middle. Way more comfy, IMO. The way they'll change your cycling experience forever is by making you not want to wear regular shorts ever again.

If the OP wants to wear gym shorts over the cycling shorts whats the problem? That's how I wear mine and I don't think it lessens the performance of the cycling shorts at all. Spandex/Lycra isn't a good look for some people, me included, so I guess it is a personal preference.

I will never buy a pair of shorts again. I'm a bibs convert.

I used to wrestle so I was already comfortable in the general outfit. But bibs are great. They help with some compression as well so your jersey fits better . I personally recommend Performance Ultra Bibs. Just straight up comfortable. https://www.performancebike.com/bikes...8_20000_400065

My usual is a pair of padded liners and then a pair of cycling shorts; goes back to my early cycling days at 250 lbs and NEEDING the extra padding etc. I have never tried bibs so? Never had the shorts roll over/under my donelap either!?! Guess I am just blessed!

You know maybe I'm just skinnier than I think I am, but this has not actually been a problem for me using plain cycling shorts.

I did this at first. I was too squeamish to wear just the spandex alone, so I had gym shorts over it at all times.

Then one particularly hot day I got so chafed up, about 4 miles from home I just couldn't stand it anymore, so I decided to try taking off the shorts to see if it made a difference. It did; I felt a whole lot better, a lot less chafing, a lot more comfortable, and the thing I didn't expect was I felt much much cooler. Ever since then I've been wearing just the spandex, and I gotta say, I don't look as bad in them as I would have thought. Then again, 90% of my excess weight is centered in my beer belly; my bottom is rather fit-looking for my size.

You might want to rethink shorts over bicycle shorts. A primary benefit of bicycle shorts is not only the padding, but the lack of seams in critical areas. Adding another pair of shorts just reintroduces the seams, which cause discomfort.