I just got these Gore bib zippety-doo capris:
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodGB_WLPOWS.html
They have two zippers on either side of your waist, intended to allow bathroom breaks without having to totally take off everything.
They literally just arrived so I've tried them on but haven't ridden in them yet, and I'm trying to decide if I'm keeping them. I tried unzipping them and find that your ability to move is very limited because the braces are still over your shoulders. I'm worried that I'll end up moving wrong and tearing them in the middle of a ride. And it feels like you'll still need to take off everything if you need to reapply chamois cream or do anything other than a quick pee.
I'm just wondering if anyone else has this type of bib shorts or tights, and if the zippers really do allow you to stay mostly clothed or if you end up ignoring them so that you can move more freely.
The long story is -- I have never wanted bib shorts, I just need a pair of capris that I can wear on long rides in the spring and fall. My old Shebeest capris were good but they're pretty worn out and Shebeest has changed their sizing which makes them no longer an option. I tried a pair of Sugoi capris but the waist is way too low and the utterly non-elastic stitching around the chamois causes chafing after about an hour. I bought a pair of Bontrager capris on sale, they developed a hole on the seam so I exchanged them, the new ones also developed a hole on the seam and more importantly their chamois also chafes after about an hour. Pearl Izumi is no good because I already know I don't like their chamois. My most comfortable shorts are Gore Oxygen, so I decided to give these Gore capris a try. The chamois is the same size and shape as the one in the Oxygen shorts but the fabric is different and the tag says it's designed for 3-hour rides, so if I want to wear them longer I figure I need to be prepared to reapply chamois cream along the way.
I also tried some Ibex capris and hated the chamois, so I ripped out the stitches and removed it. So when it's capri weather I wear them over my Gore shorts, which is okay but the elastic waistband on the capris is a bit snug so wearing two waistbands gets uncomfortable after a while. And I have to deal with two waistbands (tights plus shorts) all winter long so I'd prefer to just have a good pair of capris for spring and fall.
Anyway. Do we like the Gore zippers?
Thanks as always for your help.