Bibs

[Pedal Wench]

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.

[chickwhorips]

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.

[spokewench]

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) 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.

[snapdragen]

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.

[Cari]

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.

Cari

[Squirrel 2]

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...

[RoadRaven]

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...

[mimitabby]

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.

[Pedal Wench]

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.

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...

[aicabsolut]

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?

[GLC1968]

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?

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!