Bibs...
04-27-21, 11:44 AM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Bibs...
Ok, so since i bought my first road bike when i was 13 (Fuji, downtube shifters, steel frame) i have worn bike shorts. I started back riding road last year at the tender age of 47.. debating buying a pair of bibbs. Is there that much difference in comfort? I'm not opposed at all.. just curious. Would like to stay around $100, if that would get me something decent quality-wise. I'm a size 32/32, so guessing medium, although i figure that would vary by manufacturer.
Tell me, do you prefer bibbs or shorts? It's all road riding, btw if that matters
Tell me, do you prefer bibbs or shorts? It's all road riding, btw if that matters
04-27-21, 12:13 PM
#2
Full Member
Bibs stay in place better and are more comfortable. No waistband to cut into you. I would never go back to shorts. Assos are the best.
04-27-21, 01:08 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,520
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20810 Post(s)
Liked 9,456 Times
in
4,672 Posts
You're not going to know what you prefer until you try them - some that try bibs go back to shorts, but it seems that the majority of enthusiasts prefer bibs.
Likes For WhyFi:
04-27-21, 01:14 PM
#4
Sunshine
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 16,614
Bikes: '18 class built steel roadbike, '19 Fairlight Secan, '88 Schwinn Premis , Black Mountain Cycles Monstercross V4, '89 Novara Trionfo
Mentioned: 123 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10964 Post(s)
Liked 7,490 Times
in
4,189 Posts
100% bibs- they stay in place. if i were a woman with hips, shorts could work fine since they stay up better.
04-27-21, 01:24 PM
#5
I'm good to go!
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 14,987
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
Mentioned: 51 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6193 Post(s)
Liked 4,809 Times
in
3,317 Posts
I've used shorts for at least ten years. Everyone I know says bibbs are better, even my son.
I bought some last year and they fit nicely.
I can't tell the difference when I'm riding. Only when I get ready to pee do I notice anything different. <grin>
I bought some last year and they fit nicely.
I can't tell the difference when I'm riding. Only when I get ready to pee do I notice anything different. <grin>
04-27-21, 02:15 PM
#6
Full Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Franklin, TN
Posts: 423
Bikes: 2016 Cervelo R3 & 1999 Litespeed Tuscany
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 159 Post(s)
Liked 138 Times
in
79 Posts
I think you'll hear a lot of opinions on this topic and most will say bibbs. I tried a pair and don't really care for them. There's something about the panel covering my stomach that doesn't feel right to me. Maybe I just need to lose my gut.
In any event I'm back to shorts with no problems.
In any event I'm back to shorts with no problems.
04-27-21, 02:30 PM
#7
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Posts: 9
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
After 5 years in shorts, I decided to try bibs. I like that there is no shifting at all. Also, The one spot that always seemed to get sore with shorts doesn't with bibs. I'm not going back. I use the cheapest Black Bibs.
04-27-21, 04:43 PM
#9
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,662
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1948 Post(s)
Liked 1,470 Times
in
1,019 Posts
I think you'll hear a lot of opinions on this topic and most will say bibbs. I tried a pair and don't really care for them. There's something about the panel covering my stomach that doesn't feel right to me. Maybe I just need to lose my gut. In any event I'm back to shorts with no problems.
In any event I'm back to shorts with no problems.
Likes For SoSmellyAir:
04-27-21, 05:22 PM
#10
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,650
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Colnago Classic Rabobank Schwinn Waterford PMount Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3090 Post(s)
Liked 6,599 Times
in
3,785 Posts
Good cheap bibs from The Black Bibs. I have two pair that I alternate. Well under $100 each.
Great bibs from Assos. I was gifted a pair and they are great. MSRP was around $250.
Great bibs from Assos. I was gifted a pair and they are great. MSRP was around $250.
Last edited by cb400bill; 04-27-21 at 06:12 PM.
04-27-21, 06:19 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,109
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 822 Post(s)
Liked 1,960 Times
in
943 Posts
I'll be honest, I like bibs but bibs do not like me and they wear out in a year rotating four pairs and a couple pairs of shorts. YMMV but I DO NOT care what the Roadie community thinks of me when I am wearing MTB shorts over my bibs. Damn I am not made of $$$ for f'ing Lycra that wears out quickly. My posterior is worn enough that I will eventually go off Lycra completely. It is time to man up and wear materials that hold up to a freaking bike ride. 
Last edited by CAT7RDR; 04-27-21 at 06:27 PM.
04-27-21, 07:13 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Nor-Cal
Posts: 3,767
Bikes: lots
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1958 Post(s)
Liked 2,932 Times
in
1,489 Posts
Bibs all day every day. Baggies over them for mtb. I'll be 58 tomorrow and I've owned precisely 1 pr of regular shorts in my life. And I ended up using cycling suspenders w/ them.
04-28-21, 08:08 AM
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
Bibs. Much much more comfortable. Tried them once and never looked back.
04-28-21, 08:18 AM
#15
Senior Member
I wear bibs exclusively, but I honestly feel no difference. I am skinny if that matters.
04-28-21, 01:06 PM
#16
Newbie
Thread Starter
Great responses guys. Thanks! I think i'll scope out a decent pair and give them a try.
04-28-21, 03:18 PM
#18
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,636
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
I think you'll hear a lot of opinions on this topic and most will say bibbs. I tried a pair and don't really care for them. There's something about the panel covering my stomach that doesn't feel right to me. Maybe I just need to lose my gut. In any event I'm back to shorts with no problems.
In any event I'm back to shorts with no problems.
04-29-21, 02:27 AM
#19
Full Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Thailand
Posts: 282
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV disk, and rim brake
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 29 Post(s)
Liked 97 Times
in
61 Posts
Go with bibs and you’ll never go back to shorts. I made the switch to bibs around six years ago and couldn’t be happier (more comfortable). Getting the right fit is key here. I highly recommend Asso bibs. Although, pricey you get what you pay for.
04-29-21, 06:49 AM
#20
Administrator
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Hudson Valley, NY
Posts: 33,001
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene '04; Bridgestone RB-1 '92
Mentioned: 325 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11969 Post(s)
Liked 6,646 Times
in
3,483 Posts
Shorts don't cause me any discomfort at all. Not only do I not find non-shorts necessary, I find the shoulder straps to be uncomfortable and the bathroom thing just too much trouble.
__________________
See, this is why we can't have nice things. - - smarkinson
Where else but the internet can a bunch of cyclists go and be the tough guy? - - jdon
04-29-21, 06:55 AM
#21
he said member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: is everything
Posts: 13,802
Bikes: yes please
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2789 Post(s)
Liked 1,951 Times
in
1,207 Posts
Bibs, shorts no bueno. I'll go on record for the Black bibs project. Excellent, excellent, quality and comfort.
04-29-21, 02:14 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Lebanon (Liberty Hill), CT
Posts: 8,473
Bikes: CAAD 12, MASI Gran Criterium S, Colnago World Cup CX & Guru steel
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1743 Post(s)
Liked 1,281 Times
in
740 Posts
The problem with cycling gear is that fit is very individual. I've had everything from PI to Castelli to Assos and it's Assos that works for me. But, someone else might find that a less expensive brand works better for them. In general I prefer bibs to shorts.
04-30-21, 01:31 PM
#23
climber has-been
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Posts: 7,111
Bikes: Scott Addict R1, Felt Z1
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3432 Post(s)
Liked 3,566 Times
in
1,792 Posts
My go-to supplier for bibs and jerseys is "made in California" Voler.
High quality stuff that fits well and looks decent.
Here's a nice basic set of bibs from Voler, on sale. Try them out at a cheap price:
Voler M's Jet Classic Bib Short
High quality stuff that fits well and looks decent.
Here's a nice basic set of bibs from Voler, on sale. Try them out at a cheap price:
Voler M's Jet Classic Bib Short
__________________
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
Ride, Rest, Repeat. ROUVY: terrymorse
04-30-21, 04:52 PM
#25
Senior Member