bibs « Bike Noob

Bibs & shorts – what to look for

May 14, 2009 at 9:03 am | In Accessories, Equipment | 15 Comments
Tags: bibs, bike shorts

Hot summer weather has returned to central Texas. My ride yesterday was in 93F heat, with a stiff southerly wind and a burning sun. After 18 miles, I was done in, and slept for an hour and a half after supper.

I don’t know if this had anything to do with it, but I wore my pair of bibs on the ride. In the past, I’ve complained about my bibs, mainly because I didn’t like the feel of the straps over my shoulders, and the mesh top added another layer of clothing, which on hot days didn’t help.

For the most part, I’m over those complaints. I’ll grab the bibs as quickly as any other pair of bottoms in the drawer. I guess I’ve gotten used to them, and the additional support I get around the midsection does feel better. Still, in hot weather they’re not my first choice, especially after the reminder I got yesterday.

Reader Don from California says he much prefers his bibs — but he has a problem. A seam in the chamois pad hardened up after the bibs were washed, and now causes him discomfort. He admits these bibs were inexpensive, and is now looking for a new, better pair. So he’s asking Bike Noob readers for advice: “If I were buying shorts or bibs for the first time, what should I look for?”

I’ll be the first to weigh in: go for quality. I have two pair of cheap Nashbar shorts. They’ve held together for almost two years, but the chamois on one pair is ripped along much of its seam, and the fabric on the other is losing its compression and bunching on the leg. I still wear them for rides of under an hour, but lately, I spend real money to buy my bottoms.

What else can we advise about bibs and shorts? What are the must-have features you look for?

Bibs or shorts?

September 3, 2008 at 9:33 pm | In Accessories | 9 Comments
Tags: bibs, bike shorts, sore butt

From time to time, I have alluded to problems I have with my posterior region. Sometimes, my butt just plain gets sore when I ride. I’ve dealt with the problem by spending some real money and getting high quality biking shorts. And on Father’s Day, Mrs. Noob Pat gave me a pair of bibs.

Chatter on Bike Forums gives the nod to the bibs. People generally think they fit better and are overall more comfortable than regular shorts.

That’s not true for me.

My shorts and bibs are both by Pearl Izumi. Both have the same generous Race 3D chamois. But given the choice, I’ll pick the shorts over the bibs.

I still get the sore butt occasionally, but not as much as before. I get it with both the shorts and the bibs, so neither gets the nod for greater bottom comfort.

The mesh top and straps of the bibs do seem to add an extra layer to my clothing, and in the Texas summer heat, that can add to my riding discomfort (despite what I said about them in that earlier post). I’m not crazy about the way the straps feel over my shoulders. The bibs are supposed to have a slimming quality to them, but I’m not seeing it (Lose weight, fat boy!). And answering the call of nature while wearing bibs can be a real production. Better find a public john somewhere, because a lot of your kit will be undone in order to tend to business.

Anyway, I know I’m something of a maverick here, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. When it’s time to get a new pair of bottoms, they’ll be shorts — not bibs.

Father’s Day swag

June 15, 2008 at 2:01 pm | In Accessories | 1 Comment
Tags: Accessories, bibs, clothing

My wife saw to it that Father’s Day had a biking theme this year. She made a trip to our favorite LBS and brought back some goodies:

The swag.

The starring role went to a new pair of bibs. Yes, bibs. I’d never tried them before, and the sales clerk at the shop told her they were really comfortable. Not to mention that the mesh upper half helps hold in that beer gut tummy bulge guys my age tend to show. He was right — they feel great, and even on another day in the 90s, I never felt that they added a layer to my biking outfit.

Complementing the bibs were a new doo-rag from HeadSweats. I already have one, and like it. This one has the ties in the back, and it’s a little different feel from the other, that doesn’t have the ties.

Finally, because my bike is black, blue, and white, we have to have color-coordinated socks, right? So, a new pair of blue, black and white biking socks finish off the sartorial haul.

On my 32-mile ride this morning, I was a vision of Fredness on my black, blue and white bike, wearing my black, blue and white outfit. And after a great ride this morning, I get to watch the final round of the U.S. Open this afternoon. Biking and golf — can’t get much better than this.