what are the benefits of bib tights / shorts?

chipandpin

having made the leap from hybrid to road bikes, i now feel obliged to make the leap from baggy shorts and t shirts that were my staple wardrobe on the old hybrid bike, to head to toe lycra. apart from the obvious aerodynamic advantages (are they really that significant?) what are the other advantages of skin tight lycra, and specifically bib tights?

cheers

golfergmc

Bib tights hold your gut in

brin

Depending on your (ahem) tool kit size, you can turn a few heads when on a cake stop - or in my case a few giggles :oops:

Jonny7c

And the bib keeps the shorts up so that they stay tight round your backside.

ratsbeyfus

You can pretend to be a pro-wrestler in 'em and petrify your kids.

chipandpin

i used to have lycra shorts and a mate told me to pop a pair of socks down them if i wanted to impress the ladies. i did this a few times and only ever got funny looks! (with hindsight, perhaps i shluld have put the socks down the front)

mrwibble

cycling is all about the lycra, end of story lol

chipandpin

i used to have lycra shorts and a mate told me to pop a pair of socks down them if i wanted to impress the ladies. i did this a few times and only ever got funny looks! (with hindsight, perhaps i shluld have put the socks down the front)

mrwibble

5 years of cycling matey, its all about the lycra. One word of advice re: the bib shorts, buy the best you can afford. The better the fit around the crotch area and more comfort you will get.

£5 shorts from aldi don't cut it in the long run

Gav888

I dont like bib shorts as its a nightmare trying to have a pee in them and they feel uncomfortable on my back, now I stick with normal shorts...

danowat

Bib shorts were a revelation for me, no longer have the waist band of shorts digging in, plus no chance of "builderus bummus"

keef66

Just so much more comfy without the waistband, and the pad is held in the right place. With the winter bibtights I welcome the extra warmth around the kidneys and the lack of draughts.

Just putting them on is enough to terrify the kids; no need to pretend to be a pro wrestler!

If you need to pee you're clearly not sweating enough!

glasgowbhoy

Just to hijack the thread but looking to replace my old Descente 3/4 bib tights and anyone seen any good deals lately? Shutt VR 3/4 look good but maybe a bit expensive at £85.
Anything good around £50?

Bar Shaker

The best I have are the Decathlon ones with the Comp gel chamois.

They are superb quality and comfort. £45.

cougie

DHB have good kit too.

I love bibs - no digging in around the waist, and no getting your baggy shorts caught on the saddle.

Entirely up to you of course- but millions of cyclists wear lycra so it must be handy.

ColinJ

Gav888 wrote:

I dont like bib shorts as its a nightmare trying to have a pee in them and they feel uncomfortable on my back, now I stick with normal shorts...

For males, it is easy - just go via one leg rather than 'over the top'!

navrig

It's all down to looks.

If you jump on a road bike in baggies and T-shirt you'll get more funny looks than you will if you dress up like Freddy Mercury.

Isn't the world strange.

Bibs for comfort but massive inconvenience when it comes to needing the loo. I still cannot believe how long it takes me to get ready for my Saturday morning ride. Especially now I have stretch over over-shoes and winter bib tights. If I had to wait that long for my missus to get ready for a night out their would be a divorce.

JKHinton

I don't think padded tights or padded bib shorts are required unless you are racing. I prefer ordinary unpadded shorts in the summer when I am commuting or just out for a exercise run,
I do like good fitting tops and jackets altura do some good ones, In the winter I use unpadded running tights. I can not stand the padded tight bib shorts and bib tights
I am only 11 and half stone so I have no big gut to hold in and I have a good hard butt. I find a pair of well fitted ordinary shorts is more comfortable for me.

navrig

JKHinton wrote:

I don't think padded tights or padded bib shorts are required unless you are racing. I prefer ordinary unpadded shorts in the summer when I am commuting or just out for a exercise run,
I do like good fitting tops and jackets altura do some good ones, In the winter I use unpadded running tights. I can not stand the padded tight bib shorts and bib tights
I am only 11 and half stone so I have no big gut to hold in and I have a good hard butt. I find a pair of well fitted ordinary shorts is more comfortable for me.

Each to their own but this gives a good insight to there benefits:

http://easycycling.com/?p=1825

gsk82

riding without bibs would be hell for me, how anyone manages without i dont know. giordana tenax are pretty good for about 60quid

JesseD

bib shorts keep your lower back warm, would never use anything else now

chipandpin

Well thanks for the input. I have taken the plunge and bought a pair of Gore bib tights (which don't actually have padding, but i will be wearing padded shorts underneath anyway). I will be taking them for their maiden voyage tomorrow and hopefully will find them better than my current Ronhill running tights that im using.

Glasgowbhoy wrote:

Just to hijack the thread but looking to replace my old Descente 3/4 bib tights and anyone seen any good deals lately? Shutt VR 3/4 look good but maybe a bit expensive at £85.
Anything good around £50?

I got these (as recommended by a couple of people on here...) http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gor ... t-ec020036 not sure if they are any good, but Gore certainly have a fantastic reputation for making quality running clothing. These seem to be great quality but inly time will tell if they are any good!

meanredspider

I have bibs and non-bibs - the non-bibs dig in no more than any other trousers or shorts I own - in fact no more than my Calvins. I think the only benefit to me is to keep me slightly warmer - consequently, on hot days(rare up here, I admit) I prefer the non-bibs (which, incidentally, is where Assos show them in their line-up - part of the hot weather kit). They are high-backed too - no chance of a builder's assos.

The OPs other question about aerodynamic aspects, I'd say an emphatic yes. I was very surprised when I moved from a loose rain jacket to a tight jersey I could measure the difference in my journey time. It's not really surprising as wind resistance is the main force slowing you down once you start to work.

cougie

Strangely I saw a bloke in an assos jacket with waist length tights on yesterday - a good three inches of his lower back on display as the tights had fallen down. Not a good look.