Bibs VS Shorts
 

What is the benefit of bibs over bicycle shorts with chamois?

Bibs keep you from showing off your plumbers crack. At least, that is why I switched to them.

A BF favorite. :)

Pros: they stay up and are more comfortable.

Cons: more expensive, slightly inconvenient for males to pee, significantly inconvenient for females to pee.

Pros: wear bibs.

Cons: wear jumpsuits.

:lol:

Bibs are slightly more comfortable than shorts. I had my doubts before, but the difference is noticeable. I try to avoid using them on longer rides...for obvious reasons.

When you develop an areo-belly, the tup band of the shorts tend to roll, it can be uncomfortable. Bibs prevent that from happening, so they are more comfortable. However, being that all things aren't equal, some bibs have shoulder straps that are shorter than others. It makes thing 'tight' when off the bike.

Triathlon shorts with a thin chamois are amazingly comfortable, especially for shorter rides.

For me its shorts for rides <40 miles and bibs for longer rides.

A summer base layer under the bib straps helps.

harder to pee wearing bibs, but they stay up , with built in braces/suspenders.


USA sewn Kucharek, in LA, has a option of a front pee zip for their bibs. you can choose the chamois style too.







.....

Bibs don't rely on friction to stay up.

Shorts with clip-on suspenders here. Small advantage peeing, big advantage doing more important stuff (very real if you do say a week tour or have to use Porta-potties). Same snug chamois fit (that you get to fine tune, especially as the straps age). The suspenders quickly stretch the waist elastic, eliminating the disadvantage there.

I've been wearing suspenders for 40 years. Owned one pair of bibs. Nice new. OK in its middle age. Now I don't wear it. My old shorts have become winter shorts under unlined tights.

Ben

I have both short and bib. I have no belly fat so for me, no trouble with the short staying up. I find the bib a bit warmer since I have two (thin) layer on some part of my upper body, the bib and jersey. It's still cool here so the bib helps a bit there but when it's going to get warmer/hotter, short it will be.

Regarding the nature brakes with bibs, I don't have any difficulty with Nashbar bibs at all taking a leak. Actually find them easier than my Serfas MTB shorts. Sitting down becomes a chore, though, involving removal of jersey.

FTW!


Once you go bib you never go back.

No. Once you went to bibs. I went and came back. (But then, I had learned from the first great racer of our era 40 years ago about those suspender things. John Allis. Look him up.)

Ben

If you are keen on shorts, be sure to get ones with as little chamois (but well positioned chamois) as possible. Too much chamois = wearing a diaper.

and there are tri-suits. had one for a while & found it really useful. I wore other things over it but as a base layer it was useful for a while. this is how I got to know about trisuit liners. now I use Zoot trishorts cuz they have thin liners. just be sure you get the right size. if too small, not so comfortable for "the boys" if you know what I mean

7Mesh has a line of shorts which uses suspenders.

The idea is compelling and I have given it some thought.


-Tim-

I live in my Zoot shorts.


-Tim-

EDIT: hmm, oddly I posted to the wrong thread...

I went to bibs for a while and couldn't stand them. Went back to shorts and never looked back. I've been using PI Attack shorts, exclusively, for the past 6 years and have never had any issues with them, including being too tight around the waist. I tried the bibs to see what all the hoopla was about. Good thing I only bought one to try out.

haha they're great, right? I have 3 pair. even use them at the gym (under gym shorts) cuz they have such good moisture management. they're good on weight training machines, stationary bikes of course & running the treadmil. I like how I can wash them & they dry overnight just hanging up. I have 2 of the the newer ones with the wide band around the thigh & 1 old one with the narrow tight band. not as comfortable but if I haven't done a wash ...

can't help but wonder if all those millions of people wearing sandles and shorts all over the world aren't right now asking themselves, "why didn't i wear my bibs today?"

Tried bibs. Did not like them.

I have several pairs of baggies and road shorts. Like both kinds.