bibs?

**kgorrell** · 10-04-2008, 10:07 AM

Anyone have any thoughts on bibs or suggestions on what kind/brand to try? I really would like to try a pair and wanted to see if anyone had reviews of specific brands that they liked/disliked.

Katharine

**Aquila** · 10-04-2008, 02:01 PM

I have Pearl Izumi women's bibs (I got them at TE), and I love them. I've never tried any others, though, so I can't say that others aren't better.

I really like the length on the leg and the way the shoulder straps don't dig in or get in the way. The chamois is smaller than the shorts I'd been wearing, and surprisingly comfy for me. (I hadn't expected that the smaller chamois would be comfier, I guess.) They seem to be wearing okay, though I don't ride as much as some people.

**LBTC** · 10-04-2008, 03:40 PM

I have 3 pairs of bibs now - only one of them is women's specific. I've found it really hard to find them at a reasonable price and have ended up buying store colours from two different stores - they are size XS and they are either "unisex" or mens, I'm not sure which. I absolutely love to ride in them!!! It's great not having a waist band digging in. I have a pair of Gore bib tights that I recently got and haven't had a chance to ride in yet - maybe tomorrow, it is pretty cool out these days.

For me, the bibs are pretty easy to fit as I have a very short torso. I would be afraid that the shoulder straps would cause too much pressure on my tight trap muscles if I had a taller torso.

I tried on a pair of Louis Garneau womens bibs and they were a car wreck! The should straps could be taken right off and re-attached with velcro. When I tried them on I checked to see what would happen if I undid them to pull them down and yikes - I couldn't even put them back on without stripping down completely. I guess not every design works.

Best of luck in your search!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

**TxDoc** · 10-04-2008, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by kgorrell

Anyone have any thoughts on bibs or suggestions on what kind/brand to try? I really would like to try a pair and wanted to see if anyone had reviews of specific brands that they liked/disliked.

Katharine

I have a few team bibs, two of them were made by Cannondale for Health Net, very nice comfortable bibs. Assos bibs are really nice too.

**kermit** · 10-05-2008, 02:24 AM

I have two pair of bibs and I love them. Super comfy. I would check out www.velowear.com. They have womens specific and the prices are reasonable.

**Velobambina** · 10-05-2008, 10:23 AM

I wear only bib shorts now (during spring/summer/fall). Most of my regular non-bib bike shorts have gone into retirement.

One additional sad thing about winter is the scarcity of reasonably priced bib tights and bib knickers for women.

**Bluetree** · 10-05-2008, 03:28 PM

Originally Posted by Velobambina

I wear only bib shorts now (during spring/summer/fall). Most of my regular non-bib bike shorts have gone into retirement.

One additional sad thing about winter is the scarcity of reasonably priced bib tights and bib knickers for women.

^^^ ditto everything VB wrote.

The only non-bibs I haven't chucked are EO's tights/knickers. The only women's bib knickers I've been able to find are by Assos and they were very expensive. (I wish Soooooo much that EO would make bibknickers!)

My team kit is made by Velowear and the chamois is thin, very good for racing, but is not the most durable. I also like the Giordana Tenax bibshort (sold on TE), which is thinnner than most other American brands.

For tights, I have the Gore womens bibtights and the men's Assos. The latter is too warm for anything except the coldest temps, and their sizing is based on height, rather than overall size. If you don't get a heart attack over the price at, they make a chamois-less version that makes them essentially unisex. You just wear them over your favorite shorts.

**crazycanuck** · 10-05-2008, 10:31 PM

OOoooo..oooo oooo!!!!

Ground effect has bibs!!! OOOOoo...

**momof4greatkids** · 10-11-2008, 06:16 AM

Originally Posted by Velobambina

I wear only bib shorts now (during spring/summer/fall). Most of my regular non-bib bike shorts have gone into retirement.

One additional sad thing about winter is the scarcity of reasonably priced bib tights and bib knickers for women.

+1 I tried the Voler bibs and I love them. I am now in the process of switching all my bike shorts over to bib style because they are just so much more comfortable than regular shorts. Even with the bathroom hassles, the benefit outweighs the burden.

Bib tights for women are scarce, but I ended up ordering the men's version from Voler. Fortunately it hasn't been cold enough to try them yet, but they are well constructed w/zippers at the bottom. The chamois is discreet and seems to be up to the job.

I am fairly long waisted, and I've never had a problem with the straps cutting into my shoulders. The straps on the Voler bibs are made of really comfortable, stretchy material.

Colleen

**RoadRaven** · 10-11-2008, 11:38 AM

I would love ASSOS bibs, but as Bluetree said, they are sooooo expensive.

I use mens bibs, they seem to work for me, and I don't have any issues. They fit ok... shoulder straps not a problem.
Brand? Just whatever is cheap/on sale.

We have buy most of our clothing (bibs, shorts, jerseys, gloves) and bike necessities (like tyres, tubes, cleats etc) online on sale from Torpedo7 and ProBikeKit.

**aicabsolut** · 10-11-2008, 12:17 PM

Voler does make women's bibs, especially for custom orders.
I prefer men's, though. They just fit better, if I can find them in small enough sizes.

**7rider** · 10-11-2008, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by aicabsolut

Voler does make women's bibs, especially for custom orders.
I prefer men's, though. They just fit better, if I can find them in small enough sizes.

I have a pair of Voler bibs, and they're okay, except for a few "issues" I have with them.
Sizing is on the small side.
Grey panels = see through!

I will NEVER again get grey panels in shorts. These bib shorts have been retired to non-group rides and under-tights duty.
They have a paper tag attached to a side seam that is incredibly annoying and itchy. I'm afraid to cut it off, for fear I will make it worse. I have to get it laying "just so" in order to not irritate me.

The other bib shorts I have are Castelli and Exte Ondo. Both seem to have stiching quality issues -- as in, they keep ripping apart. I don't know if that's a function of what ends up at Sierra Trading Post's close-out bin or what. They are both comfy, otherwise.

Hicapie's bib tights are wonderful. On the short side, but very nice.

**kjay** · 10-11-2008, 12:57 PM

What is the advantage of wearing bibs? Thanks in advance.

**RoadRaven** · 10-11-2008, 05:02 PM

Advantages... no tightness on waist... no feeling like the shorts are slipping down... lower back always covered (even when jersey rides up... lower back and sides much warmer in winter

Disadvantage... complete undress if you wanna pee

**aicabsolut** · 10-14-2008, 03:56 PM

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of Voler in general. It's not just the gray that's see-through! I also know what you mean about the tag. I know they just make some women's bibs that are virtually the same as the men's line. That's fairly rare for non-custom orders.

Most of my bibs are Champion Systems, because that's what my team has used. I'm ordering a pair of Giordana ones. We were going to use Hincapie last year, but they flaked on us. Those were on the very long side (at least the men's stuff--it's all designed with Big George in mind I guess!).

Bibs are so much more comfortable, and +1 to what RoadRaven said.

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