bib shorts or saddle for long rides

shamsasa

Hi

I know that this topic has been disused a ten times at least, but I am still looking for a bib shorts with a good padding that could keep me riding for a longer times. I am a heavy rider with a 278 lb of weigh coming from 300 lb.

I am asking people who are in the same boat as me. How did you solve this problem?

Finally, if I changed the saddle, will I be able to ride longer with a good bib shorts?

thanks in advance

StillGoing

Comfort doesn't necessarily mean more padding. Decent quality bib shorts with a saddle that fits your sit bones is all you need.

marcusjb

Correct positioning will make as much, if not more, difference than the bib shorts you are wearing and probably about the same as the saddle.

JayKosta

The type of shorts/bib does not make a difference if the saddle is not good for you.

I suggest you get a saddle that gives lots of support.
A possible choice is a Brooks B-72 - it is wide, comfortable, and somewhat heavy, and it will help you to ENJOY riding.

Jay Kosta
Endwell NY USA

navrig2

Trial and error.

Rigga

I just got some altura gel bib shorts from Evans, £30 reduced from £50 ish I think. Anyway they are very comfortable and have taken away my saddle soreness . I'm a big lad too at 90kg.

shamsasa

Really appreciate the time you guys took to reply. I already ordered dhb Vaeon Roubaix Padded Bib Short. I hear they are good in some way. If the problem continued to exist, I will have to look for another saddle that is wider. I have tried Fizik Arione and a Prologo that I don't know. The Brooks B-72 looks way out-of-date for my Nashbar CR4. Any other suggestion you have? please by all means.

HebdenBiker

Specialized do a range of saddles in different dimensions to suit the rider. Find a Specialized Body Geometry dealer, and they'll have you sit on a memory-foam pad in order to get the shape of your arse (specifically, the position of your sit bones), then will sell you a saddle that matches it. I believe they come with a "bring it back and change it if it doesn't fit" type of guarantee, too.

keef66

shamsasa wrote:

Really appreciate the time you guys took to reply. I already ordered dhb Vaeon Roubaix Padded Bib Short. I hear they are good in some way. If the problem continued to exist, I will have to look for another saddle that is wider. I have tried Fizik Arione and a Prologo that I don't know. The Brooks B-72 looks way out-of-date for my Nashbar CR4. Any other suggestion you have? please by all means.

I was going to suggest a Brooks B17 saddle (no tractor springs on that one); I have one on my winter bike and from the moment I fitted it I stopped thinking about posterior comfort. OK, it looks a little incongruous on a lightweight alloy bike, but you can't see it when you're riding.

ic.

marcusjb wrote:

Correct positioning will make as much, if not more, difference than the bib shorts you are wearing and probably about the same as the saddle.

The best bib shorts in the world and a saddle as good as if you've had it custom made for you won't make up for poor position on the bike. You'll still be uncomfortable. Lever angle, saddle to bar drop, set back and reach all have an impact on saddle comfort

Bike fits are expensive, mine was £150, but it's money well spent.

But to answer you original question simply: Shorts - you get what you pay for (Some will be advertised as racey, pro cut - avoid these, you want "all day comfort", maybe Assos Cento in TIR fit?). Saddle: At least start with finding one the correct width for your sit bones. Then you can experiment with flat, rounded etc

sadlybiggins

shamsasa wrote:

I have tried Fizik Arione and a Prologo that I don't know.

My bike came with an Arione and I found it very uncomfortable on longer rides. I changed to a Specialized Toupe Gel and find it very comfortable. I had my sit-bones measured before buying which, as others have said, is key. You don't want to find your saddle is narrower than your sit-bones and that all your weight is on your perineum!

shamsasa

I would like so much to try one of Specialized Saddles. However, where I live is impossible. My only choice is to buy one online and hope that it fits me. I already ordered Selle Italia Max flite Gel Flow Saddle after I checked my sit bones. I read some very good reviews of it. I will try it out and see how it goes.

I am very grateful to all of you.

best Regards

ManOfKent

If you can only buy online without having an opportunity to try a saddle, maybe look for a Charge Spoon. At about £20 online it's less money to waste if it doesn't suit you; and a lot of people (including me) have found them very good.

shamsasa

A little too late my friend. already ordered the Selle and will receive it tomorrow. I will feed you guys back after the trail.

dennisn

Since this is in the "beginners" column I'm going to assume that you are having the same problems that ALL beginners face. You want a comfortable ride and you want it now. To be honest it doesn't work that way. It takes a while and some experimenting with saddles, position on the bike, time in the saddle, etc. As for bibs or shorts, as long as they fit you and are of good quality they will work as well as the next brand. It's padding, not magic foam, and there isn't a lot of difference from one quality short to another. At least that's how I see it.

shamsasa

will, I have been riding for almost a year now. However, I consider my self a beginner. It is because I was not able to ride a long distance rides during that time. I was not able to ride more than half an hour. I thought it could be because of the cheap bib shorts with the poor padding. That is what I am doing now, trying things out. I hope I don't waste alot of money in the process.

shamsasa

Hi
Yesterday was the test ride for the saddle. I was able to ride for two hours with no problems, except in the last 10 minutes. The pad in my bib started to roll like a rope. It hurt so much. Will the bib needs to be changed. Lucky me, I made an order couple of days ago from wiggle on dhb bibs. I will feed you guys back on how was their test ride. In the end, I will recommend the saddle to any one how is in the same boat as me. Buy it without hesitation.

kajjal

I did the same and measured myself for a specialized avatar saddle of the right width. I can now ride for hours without problems. Found decent quality properly fitting Lycra shorts improved things still further. Before that any ride of more than an hour was painful on my road bike.

bing gordon

Rigga wrote:

I just got some altura gel bib shorts from Evans, £30 reduced from £50 ish I think. Anyway they are very comfortable and have taken away my saddle soreness . I'm a big lad too at 90kg.

snap , same here , I recently bought some altura bibshorts and I've tried quite a few different ones believe you me and I personally like them without spending a bomb. I also tried the "Charge Spoon" and the scoop saddles after years on a Toupe and it's taking some adjusting to. I keep a spanner in the pocket and keep tweaking it on a ride back/forward/up/down etc till I get the sweet spot.

It's def a trial and error thing, I buy the saddles second hand and if they don't work for me , flog them on. I've yet to try a Fizik Aliante or Arione but I'm beginning to think the Toupe's for me

OwenB

I'm a similar weight to you, and have struggled finding shorts that fit decently. I've tried the altura progel which the pad was good, but the stitching was crap and seams went quickly, DHB stuff has been pretty good but the pad wasn't as good as the Altura.
Am currently using Planet X Clubman shorts and to be honest they've been the best of both, they offer a good range of sizes too!

With regard to saddles, I tried loads and ended up with a RSP Carbon saddle which has suited me down to the ground.

shamsasa

Hi

Will, I tried the bibs, and they do not do the job very well. The pad was OK for 30 minutes only. Then, they started to transfer every road little scratch.I thought a chamois creme could ease the problem. I applied some Vaseline as recommended from some web site and it did the job perfectly. I was able to ride for an hour without sores. After that,the sore started to show up. It was not the bibs fault, It was mine. I did not read the details right. I will stick with it until the new bibs arrive. I ordered Adidas Supernova bib shorts after reading so much about their padding. and they were cheep.
Thanks to all of you who replied. And again, I will feed you back with more details.

apreading

Please stop buying more shorts until you have sorted the saddle and possibly bike fit. If you cant ride more than 30 minutes then this has nothing to do with the shorts unless they have a bag of nails for a pad.

It is also unlikely (in my opinion) that Adidas will be as good as DHB, never mind better.

shamsasa

Hi

Buying the Adidas bib shorts was just because I had only two. Regarding it, I read about it's chamois and thought it could be it. Any ways, I had to try.

Thanks

kajjal

You don't mention where the pain is which is a good guide to solving it. Also if you wear underwear beneath your bibs it can be really painful. I did this recently leaving my boxers on by mistake and after a couple of hours it was quite painful. Common causes are bike setup including saddle positioning, saddle size / type and clothing.

shamsasa

The pain location is really hard to explain with my language. I am not that good in English anyway. However, I don't wear underwear beneath. I learned that the hard way. But I think because I am a little chubby, the pad is sticking in places like behind my testicles and my thighs. that when I thought it could be the thin pad. I had a thick padding bib shorts which I like, that did not stick. But they become useless after two hours of riding. That is why I started this (journey) to look for the perfect chamois for me.
I really envy all of you guys because you have the chance of trying before buying. While I don't have this possibility due to the lack in LBSs in my country. It is laughable that we only have Three Stores which only concentrate on selling Bike. Even the maintenance becomes hard when you bring a bike that you did not buy it from them. Anyway, I am not going to complain more than that.
Thanks for your concern