Some people that live in the forest use leaves instead of toilet paper so you define necessary.

I sort of noticed that. But, mostly you notice the droopy straps only when stooping. ( Don't know how women withstand bras.!) Of course peeing is the big deal. Certain cuts of bibs can be so high, you might want to insert a catheter.. Bibs might be a little more comfortable without the waste band. But, if your shorts are of a good make and proper fit, the difference is not all that great. I don't think. Might as well get used to both. Because if you join a club, it will be rare that club orders aren't bibs.
Overall, the difference is no big deal. Both feel comfortable.

I prefer shorts, but I seem to be in the minority. Bibs solve the butt crack problem caused by shorter cut jerseys (compared to jerseys in the the old days) .... Guess I'm an old-schooler.
Shorts are also better for bathroom breaks ... which I tend to need when I go on super early rides.

never been a concern.

as far as the potty break "difficulties," just pull em down like shorts --they'll stretch. Or pull a leg up. It's not a concern.

guy at work is buying his first pair after his lower back was sunburned a couple weeks ago from the shorts/shirt gap in the back.

Ouch...can imagine a back getting beat up in the sun on a six hour century in the summer:twitchy:

Prefer the bibs. Will tolerate shorts, but given the choice, bibs all the way.

No.

the elastic has gone on my shorts. they keep rolling down. i wish they were bibs.

Well, first off bibs for women are relatively rare, as we have equipment that gets in the way of the straps. Also, I have never found my shorts to fall down nearly enough to reveal anything unseemly. I can understand it for people who have no ass and need something to hold stuff up, but other than that, don't really see the point, at least for women. I'd prefer not to have to completely undress to use the bathroom on a ride. :)

the elastic went at the same time as my belly shrank. there is nothing to hold them up. I'm thinking of tying a string around me.

But can't you think of others for a change? ;)

Solidly in the bibs camp. I only wear shorts when I've been too lazy to wash my bibs.

Give em a shot - only way to know.

well! there is your problem!

I live in the UK and I cannot work out what you are discussing, bibs? I am fairlynew to cycling :)

Padded cycling shorts?

Shorts > bibs.

http://www.robbinssportswear.com/cyc...ling_bibs.html

Here is a photo. A simple explanation is that they are cycling shorts with shoulder straps.

http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=155936http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=155937
Bibs

You may be right. All my cycling shorts are of decent quality. My bibs are not of the same quality. They were the first piece of cycling clothing I bought when I first started riding. I bought cheap because I didn't know how much I would like cycling. It turned out that I became addicted to cycling. Maybe I should consider buying a good pair of bibs.

Bibs when I'm riding and shorts while on the trainer.

Bibs aren't really necessary if you're skinny. There's no chance you'll be showing buttcrack or have to worry about a tight waistband if you're built like a twig.

fify

No, but bibs are more comfortable.

If your bibs are so tight that you can't just stretch the leg up past your junk when you need to pee, they're too tight for you. It's lycra. It stretches.

Women in bibs are a different matter.

I prefer bibs because they feel nicer than shorts with waist bands. I have had no issues with the straps being restricting or hotter; I don't even notice they're there.

Bibbbbsssss!