I'm trying to start commuting a bit to work (16 miles each way) and often find that my jerseys can ride up a little bit especially if I have a ruck sack on so I was thinking about getting some bib lycra shorts. What are people's experiences of bib shorts? What brand do you like? what's your favourite bit of kit for cycling and commuting? any advice welcome thanks in advance!
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 I love bib shorts, so much more comfy than ordinary shorts. I have some Pearl Izumi ones from Minx-Girl. Girls ones are hard to come by, but I don't get on with men's shorts. With bibs, it's even more important to get women's ones as the straps are in different places. My most favorite bit of kit is my windproof gilet, also Pearl Izumi. I think it's called the Whisper vest. I wear it for road riding, mtb, running, walking, just about everything. Or at least I did until advancing pregnancy stopped me running and riding. Can't really wear it for swimming which is what I am mostly doing these days !
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 I've recently been talking about bib shorts with Bry off the forum. I've found I love them. I have a pair of mens and they fit great but wiggle have some womens ones which might be worth trying. I don't commute with a rucksac, I'm on a road bike and found it hurt my back! But things I love are my nightvision jacket in the winter, really bright and reflective, overshoes to keep my feet dry and my warm winter tights that keep me going when it is freezing!
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I hardly even find mens' kit fits and I get really frustrated!! I will have a look at Minx I do like pearl Izumi kit especially if it's in the sale (have a look at Evans Cycles now, massive sale!)
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Crumbs some of those are expensive £70 for Adidas pair!!! Now I know why I've never bought some before maybe I'll have to get some overtime to pay and then hoep I don't crash and rip them on the first outing .. shouldn't do (famous last words!!).
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 Is there such a thing as bib shorts with no padding?
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I dont' think so! Mind I find Castelli's lycra insert in my 3/4 is rubbish and may as well be nowt there!
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Wbhat would be the point of bibs without padding? The idea of lycra is to keep the layers/seams rubbing against the skin to a minimum. Undershorts would defeat this, no padding would be worse! Munge-Chick- You do tend to get what you pay for with lycra and bib shorts. The more panels - the better fit, flat (rather than raised) seams, decdent chammy, thick lycra, leg gripper that work and on ladies bibs - straps that don't get in the way of boobs!
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I don't like padding and do fine without. I wear leggings designed for running in right now (no underwear), but thinking that bib shorts might be better to eliminate a cold back in the autumn, but if they're all padded i'll look for another solution. Don't like the nappy feeling.
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I don't find I get the nappy feeling with padded shorts and I wouldn't be without them. I have tried shorts on before that don't suit me that have felt like that but I just don't buy those ones. Good padded shorts to me are essential on long rides.
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I agree ref padding, I could not ride without especially on my hardtail - I can get blisters even with padding on a long ride! I wear my padded shorts to spin classes too
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I guess it makes a difference if your road biking or mountain biking. I don't do any road biking and the longest I'll ever bike is around 50km, but that's off road so you tend to be up and out the seat and shifting position a bit more which i guess you don't get road biking so much.
Anyway, now i know they don't come sans padding i can stop grabbing the crotch of every pair i see hung up in bike shops! 
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I ride both and want my padded shorts for both. 50km on a mountain bike is a long ride and I would expect to be sat down at least some of the time, usually pedalling uphill. I found when I was riding with cheap shorts, still had a chamois but not much, I actuallygot bruised when I started doing long rides. After back to back long rides last week at transwales I was glad of my more expensive shorts, onlya little bit of nappy rash at the end of the week and no pain at all. But yesterday I rode to the supermarket, normal clothes, and I know that a chamois makes a difference even over 3 miles. I don't think that there would be much call for non-padded bibs. On the whole if you are wearing cycling clothing you want a chamois. MissGroover, the now make specific shorts for spinning with a chamois, so obviously even non-cyclists want one for spinning. Looking at the sofas they put on the bikes I imagine they aren't the most comfortable!
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going to stop being a cheap skate and invest in some good bib shorts, got my mate who ones a LBS (althoug not mine as I live in Bicester and his shop is in Cardiff) to get me some in and he'll post them up. had a breezy back again coming home today. Think I'll stick to baggies for MTBing though, particularly on those day rides when I have regular soujurns into the woods ... bibs could be a problem!!!! 
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It's amazing how easy it is to get them off after a bit of practice, all you need is a long zip on your jersey, not as easy as normal shorts though!
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 I couldn't live without padded shorts/ tights either and even then I tend to get bruised and sore on long cycles while wearing padded shorts. I do find that bib tights are a bit of a hassle for toilet stops but it's worth it for the warmth and comfort. My favourite kit though has to be my Sealskins waterproof socks.
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 Two things! - I just had this feeling that non-padded bib tights DO exist, for people who want to wear them over their favourite (padded) shorts in the winter...but I'd have to wrack my brains for where on earth I saw them!  - Munqe-chick, you live just down the road from me!!
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| Edited: 28/08/08 09:35 |
I'm sure you are right Bry, my winter longs are non-padded, I like that so I can wear them for a few days when commuing. But I don't think you'd get non-padded shorts.
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