Why wear bib shorts?

[beetle]

Newbie question here. Are bibs or shorts just personal preference or is there an obvious benefit to bib shorts?

[Bron]

There have been a few threads on this before which may give you more answers, but I think in the end it boils down to personal preference. The bib shorts I have have no waistband to dig in, so they are quite comfortable, however ladies with more boobage tend to find the straps uncomfortable (for a novel, but somewhat kinky strap solution look here: http://www.assos.com/en/womens/detai...icle=52&color=)
The other problem is getting them off again to have a pee.

I have one pair, but I won't be going out of my way to hunt down more.

Hope this helps,
Bron

[ehirsch83]

I just got a pair of Louis Garneau bib shorts,wore them yesterday!(along with taking the new bike out for its first spin).

Anyways I fell in love!! The chamois in them have gel in it, amazing! they never moved, and the straps have little hooks(like a convertable bra...) so you can unhook them to pee!!

The material of the shorts is also really nice, compression material-felt great.

I have become a fan.

Oh and the most important part, I never felt like the chamois was riding up my coochie

[gnat23]

Funny you should ask! I just got my first pair and rode with them yesterday for ~30 miles.

The comfort was fantastic: no elastic waistband, the straps were fine, and since I didn't have the double-stomach pooch thing going on, I felt really sleek. Rawr!

When I stopped for a bathroom break, tho, I realized that I had to get my jersey off in order to disrobe below. So off comes the helmet, the glasses, the gloves, unzipped the jersey and peeled it off, only to have everything that was in my back pockets (snacks, keys, routemap, etc) scatter all over the restroom floor. At that point, I'm a little weirded out that I'm in a park's restroom stall dressed in basically nothing but a sport's bra. Hrm.

So my overall rating: A- and try not to have to pee ever.

-- gnat!

[Pedal Wench]

You know that the jersey only has to go up to your neck - not over your head
Also, if it's a jersey with a long enough zipper, I unzip and take out my arms, with the jersey around my waist, and slip the bib straps under it that way. Either way, the comfort is worth the inconvenience.

Funny you should ask! I just got my first pair and rode with them yesterday for ~30 miles.

The comfort was fantastic: no elastic waistband, the straps were fine, and since I didn't have the double-stomach pooch thing going on, I felt really sleek. Rawr!

When I stopped for a bathroom break, tho, I realized that I had to get my jersey off in order to disrobe below. So off comes the helmet, the glasses, the gloves, unzipped the jersey and peeled it off, only to have everything that was in my back pockets (snacks, keys, routemap, etc) scatter all over the restroom floor. At that point, I'm a little weirded out that I'm in a park's restroom stall dressed in basically nothing but a sport's bra. Hrm.

So my overall rating: A- and try not to have to pee ever.

-- gnat!

[gnat23]

You know that the jersey only has to go up to your neck - not over your head

See, and THIS is why I love this message board: I learn something new every single day. Thank you thank you!

-- gnat! (can't wait to put the bibs back on now just to SHOW THEM who is boss)

[RoadRaven]

Cause they feel sexy when you get dressed in front of your partner

Seriously... they keep my back warm and there is no annoying elastic to bug my concentration when I am racing.

You do have to consider/plan toilet stops though

(I still want ASSOS bibs... )

[RoadRaven]

Anyways I fell in love!! The chamois in them have gel in it, amazing! they never moved, and the straps have little hooks(like a convertable bra...) so you can unhook them to pee!!

Ah... just saw this "little hooks" comment...

So, how are the hooks there? Do you notice them on your shoulders? Is it a big chunky seam?
Or do you only know they are there when you need to try and find them?

[ehirsch83]

Ah... just saw this "little hooks" comment...

So, how are the hooks there? Do you notice them on your shoulders? Is it a big chunky seam?
Or do you only know they are there when you need to try and find them?

The hooks are on the front side at the top of the shorts, just a little plastic piece on each side- don't feel them at all and then the back velcro's on(also don't feel it) so you can take the straps off completely or just pop off the front.
When on, you don't realize that they can come off, it all seems to be one solid piece.

so I guess the answer would be, you only know they are there when you need to try and find them!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Oh and the most important part, I never felt like the chamois was riding up my coochie

Wow, I've never had that happen! How would suspender straps prevent something like that anyway? Sounds counter-intuitive somehow...

[ehirsch83]

Wow, I've never had that happen! How would suspender straps prevent something like that anyway? Sounds counter-intuitive somehow...

I feel that most shorts, at least the ones I have tend to ride up and rub around the 30 mile mark. I tend to start welcoming red lights so I can adjust it.
The bibs tend to keep everything in one place, they keep the shorts from twisting and moving.

[spokewench]

Real bathrooms are far and few between most of the places I ride so I just can't get my thoughts around bibs. No way am I doing all that to pee behind a tree!

Never heard of the kind that have hooks on the straps, but that sounds like a good idea, but still too much trouble for me. Good fitting shorts are fine with me.

[Grog]

I feel that most shorts, at least the ones I have tend to ride up and rub around the 30 mile mark. I tend to start welcoming red lights so I can adjust it.
The bibs tend to keep everything in one place, they keep the shorts from twisting and moving.

I would perhaps volunteer that your previous shorts might have been a little bit too big. Bike shorts should be as small as you can fit into, which is often one size under what you'd normally feel comfortable buying. Then they won't be moving at all. And you should be able to find a pair that's comfy at the same time.

Hope that helps!

[koala]

Once you experience the comfort of bibs, there's no going back.

Pee-breaks are no problem--just wear a full-zip jersey. It's no problem getting at the straps then, plus you don't risk losing all your pocket stores all over the floor by trying to haul the jersey up over your head.

The single-strap design by Assos is also available with Etxe Ondo. It works very well to keep straps from sliding down your shoulders. I'm a big fan of this one.

The LG's with the hook on the front sound like a good idea, too. Second endorsement for the super-comfortable pink chamois. Feels like you're riding on air.