Why?
What are the benefits of bibs? When would you wear them?
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Why?
What are the benefits of bibs? When would you wear them?
I hear they're good when eating lobster or crab... :D
Grrrr.
:D hee hee! :D
It looked like a lot of the boys in TdF were wearing them. Are they a boy thing? All I know is that I don't need suspenders to keep my bike shorts up.
They are not necessarily a boy thing
advantages:
no waist elastic to dig in or give you a "roll"
no cold patch on your back where your shorts and shirt don't meet
disadvantages:
have to remove your jersey to take them down to use the restroom
nipple rub! (though odd as it sounds this is a guy problem - women don't place the suspenders there)
I got some PI micro sensor bibs and really like them. I especially like them if I am wearing tights. No elastic at the waist is much more comfortable.
Linda
I think pretty much all pros wear them. If you missed the riders with unzipped jerseys at the Tour, check any webstore that sells authentic team uniforms. They usually come with bibshorts, not regular shorts.Quote:
Originally Posted by pooks
In addition to what Eden mentioned...
They allow you to have a snug (yet comfortable) fit on your shorts, which is important so your chamois pad will remain in place. I think most pros also wear base layers under their jerseys (thermal base layer in winter and cooling/wicking base layer in the summer) so the bibs help to keep that in place as well.
Regarding nipple rub: I've heard male riders complain about this when they wear jerseys alone, too. I think base layers are the only solution, if they have that problem.
I also think that they're more flattering than regular shorts, especially if you have any kind of pudginess to hide. :D
I would wear them anytime... if I could find them! Well-designed women's bibshorts are hard to find. If you do decide to go that route, just make sure that the straps are set wide enough apart so that they go around your chest, not right over your boobs. I have some men's Louis Garneau bibshorts (part of a team uniform) and the straps go right over my boobs. It looks really weird and isn't very comfortable.
Cari
I have two pairs of bib shorts which I got by default as my partner didn't like the chamois.
I use them on cooler days - they keep my lower back warm and because they are higher over my waist they often give enough extra protection on my lower chest to mean I don't need a wind breaker.
I do find they tend to slip off my shoulders... I think they are too long for me and I am going to alter them so they cross over at the back.
I have dropped numerous hints that I would like the bib shorts for women... I forget who makes them but the front straps are actually one that run down between the breasts...
I don't use bib shorts for races simply because I always need to pee before the race, and as Eden says, its a bit of a hassle for us gals!
Re the nipple rub - I think because the straps are lose this hasnt been a prob for me, but the way I am going to alter them I dont think it will a hassle anyways...
My partner has lots of pairs of bib shorts, and does several 90-130km training rides a week, most of his training rides are at least 2 1/2-3 hours long... he rides 6/7 days when well... he has never had a prob with nipple rub...
Assos.Quote:
Originally Posted by RoadRaven
Thanks Grog
I leave a mag with a pic of them strategically "accidentally" lying about, open... well whaddayano? on the page with that pic in it (where she is posing soooooo weirdly) - its my birthday REAL soon!
Anyone else tried the womens Assos? (lol, typing that makes me think of the assne discussion...)
I LOVE my bib shorts. They are really comfortable, especially on long rides. I don't have a problem with them rubbing anywhere, because I always wear a sports bra. Also, the straps kinda stay off to the side. The lack of a waistband is so comfy, and it might be imaginary, but i feel like it helps my breathing. They are also much more flattering.
HOWEVER, they are a pain during 'nature breaks'. During the summer, I prefer to wear them with my sleeveless jerseys, because I can slip the straps off through the armhole of the jersey. With a long-zipped jersey, I pull the jersey down with the shorts. But, that two minutes of hassle is well worth it for hours of on-bike comfort.
Verge makes my team shorts, and their women's bibs are really nice.
my bf says he wears them to help keep them up because regular shorts fall off seeing he has not hips, imagin that.
i've tried to invest in a pair because i hate a cold draft up my back, but i haven't found one that i like the chamois pad or that was in my budget or many in genearl.
What a pain they are. I ride a lot where there are no bathrooms! Okay, let's see, let me take off my shirt and then pull my bibs (now I'm almost naked in the woods):confused: off while I'm going to the bathroom behind that tree or in the ditch or behind the cactus! They are just not for me.
I like my bibs, although potty breaks can be a pain. I just ordered a new pair from Voler - they have a new chamois (compared to my old ones). I'll be curious to see if I like them as much.
Those Assos bibs look interesting, but they make me wonder... what do you do with that wide strap going right down between your boobs? I think if I wore it over my sports bra it would press down on my boobs. So then what, wear it underneath my bra, so that I have to take that off as well when I need to pee? Um, no.
I really liked a pair of women's Castelli bib shorts that I got here, but I had to send them back because they were too big - XL was all they had left and I usually wear L - the straps were too long and also the legs were kinda short and I like about an 8" inseam on my shorts. But the straps were set wide enough apart so that they fit perfectly *around* my boobs, and not over them.
By the way... most guys I know who see the pic of that Assos model don't really notice the bibs -- they just stare and wonder what her boobs look like. If your current method isn't working, you may want to try another approach to hint-dropping. :D
Cari
I love riding in bibs -- for those of you who haven't experienced the great feel of no-more-sweaty-waistband, give it a try. The straps keep the short up & in place. But fit is crucial, as is strap location. Most of the women's fit bibs eliminate the strap-placement problem & any potential rubbing. Castelli is great for taller riders as the straps are quite long. Louis Garneau is great for those of us who are shorties, and Descente is somewhere in between. Bibs also tend to use a company's finest chamois.
Assos is a world unto itself with that front single strap design. I do not have the bib shorts, but I do have the winter bib tights using that same strap system. It takes a little getting used to because the straps seem backwards at first, but if you step into it first & then just pull up the straps over each shoulder it works fine. It keeps me warmer than anything else because there are no gaps for cold to get into. (ps--the strap goes over the sports bra)
And the bathroom mechanicals are not bad at all in the bib world -- ever notice that the pro riders wear full-zip jerseys? Unzip & hang the jersey on your bicycle handlebars while you use the porta potty. It's that easy. I try to avoid partial zips on bib short days -- hauling a jersey over your neck to pull down the straps risks dumping your pocket contents all over the floor of the facilities or, worse yet, right down the toilet. Not a pretty sight...
Squirrel, thanks for that excellent feedback on bibs...
I had never thought about the full length zip - of course! That would make it so much easier to attend ones "ablutions"!
And good to hear about the ASSOS bibs... I think for bigger busted women a strap over sports bra/crop top might be uncomfortable? But I have smaller breasts (and they seem to be getting smaller as I get more time on the bike done) and I think that it won't be a problem...
I had picked up some Castelli bib shorts from Sierra Trading Post last year when they had them on closeout (50% off - yay!). I find they are great for short bursts and wear them on the weekly shop ride, where I know p-breaks are not an issue. They are very comfortable, provide good coverage for shorter jerseys, and I've never had any problem with rubbing, chafing, or falling straps. Sometimes I wear an underlayer, sometimes not.
Are they better than regular shorts? Not necessarily. I wouldn't keep only bibs in my closet, but they have their place.
R
I just got a pair of PI 3d sensor bibs. Scarily expensive. Quite comfy. Chammy is not my favorite but quite nice.
But the best thing is how comfy it is when it's hot. Nothing at the waist. Fabulous.
So I wouldn't get all bibs, they're too expensive for what they bring. But they do have some advantages...
Cari-
re- Bib straps (men's ofetn too long )
This might seem wierd but with my Garneau bibs i crossed them in front - ie: pull the right side over your head to the left and the left over the head to the right . kid of a "cross your heart bra" effect. its kind of odd but it works - eventually i'm just going to alter [shorten] the straps, but i LOVE bibs--- so much more comfortable. much easier on my body. i hated the tight waist line. i feel like i breathe better. in BIBS
the potty thing did it for me. I have lots of comfy stuff that does not cut into my waist.
I remember being a little girl having these stupid one piece outfits that my mother used to buy for us. Had to take everything off to go to the bathroom. I don't like it anymore now then i did when i was 6.
I used to love my bibs. Said so further back in this thread. After Sunday, not so sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by mimitabby
I did route safety for a charity walk. It was cold. And wet. At one point, to use the potty, I had to remove: credentials and walkie-talkie hanging around neck, reflective safety vest, rain jacket, crew tee-shirt, and cycling jersey. I was smart enough to put the straps OVER my base layer and sports top.
I'm not gonna make that mistake again any time soon...
I've mostly seen them for men too. Are they problematic for someone with a long torso? I can't wear single piece bathingsuits and such as I'm pretty tall from crotch to shoulders. Should I maybe try a men's pair?
Quote:
Originally Posted by aicabsolut
This is exactly one of the reasons why I haven't tried them. My torso is longer than most women but larger sizes usually mean larger chamois (a problem I've had with regular shorts) and that won't work for me either.
Most of the guys I ride with love them because they don't fall down (most guys have no hips) and because they don't bind at the waist. 1) I have huge hips (and butt) so there is no way my shorts would EVER fall down and 2) most of my bike shorts are already too big in the waist (again, big butt and legs) so the binding at the waist has never been an issue for me.
One of these days I'd like to try them just for the experience...but they are so expensive that it's not likely to be anytime soon!
The only bibs that I've seen for women have been the ones that zip up in the front. Do they actually make the ones with the straps for women? If so, who makes them? Can I get them in a plus size? Let me know. I've been wanting a bib for a while and would definitely like to get some knickers/capris for the colder months. (Colder being relative, as it never gets below 40 degrees in Houston....*sigh*)
That's kind of how I feel at the moment. My shorts are always much tighter around the quads than at the waist, though I do sometimes have but sagging too. I have curvy-ish hips or larger upper thighs for some boyish cut brands, and I agree that sizing up sometimes creates chamois issues.Quote:
Originally Posted by GLC1968
With my long torso, though, I don't have a long rise.. my waist is low. So I do sometimes feel like cycling stuff is binding at the waist even if it's not super tight on me, because it comes up so high--makes it hard to bend over comfortably. Lower cut in the front would be more comfortable. Or eliminating the waistband issue. I'm tempted to try bibs but not THAT tempted yet.. one day :) I first need to find a jersey with which I could cover up said bibs. I have fit issues there too with my long, skinny torso and broad shoulders. I'd need a men's XS or something..:p
I just got these. I LOVE the way they fit and they are veryveryvery soft. But they are not for riding in temps above about 45-50 F (for me, anyway).