Bib tights and padding!

[Punkawallah]

Yes, but I'm imagine with very different riding styles. On a good day 40 miles is about 2:40 for me.

Can we lose the ‘I can do 40 miles in 4 minutes’? The point is if you need padding for a two hour ride, but I don’t for a four hour ride, you might need a different saddle?

 

[PaulSB]

Can we lose the ‘I can do 40 miles in 4 minutes’? The point is if you need padding for a two hour ride, but I don’t for a four hour ride, you might need a different saddle?

I'm only trying to illustrate a difference in riding styles. Apologies if I haven't made this clear.

It isn't a question of needing padding but of overall comfort. My saddles have never created an issue.

I'm 71.

 

[Webbo2]

Can we lose the ‘I can do 40 miles in 4 minutes’? The point is if you need padding for a two hour ride, but I don’t for a four hour ride, you might need a different saddle?

No I don’t need a different saddle nor do you. At your speeds I imagine you are very up right, where as people going faster will be lower and more aero. So completely different positions on the saddle.
Have you ever watched any cycle racing, if so you might notice the complete absence of Brooks saddles.

 

[blackrat]

An idle thought. To what extent is one's view on cycle clothing influenced by bike choice and riding style? I ride road and gravel, both on drop bar bikes. I have a small bar bag in which I carry tools, tube, snacks, glasses, keys with some room to spare. In years gone by tools and tubes lived under the seat and everything else was stuffed in jersey pockets. The comfort aspect to one side before I invested a cycle jersey was pretty much essential.

From time to time CCers post images of rather lovely bikes. Very often the bike type, set up etc. is far different from mine. People mention ride, times and distances. Again I see a great diversity of styles. When I consider this I appreciate why there is such a wide range of views on clothing choice and many other subjects.

Currently I'm wearing Lusso Terra bib shorts or tights. These are the best I've ever owned. Quality, fit, and pad are perfect for me. Add to this a pocket on each thigh and one the full width of the back and these are, again for me, perfect. My jersey pockets no longer bulge and I can very comfortably carry phone, bananas and waterproof in said pockets.

I can't imagine wearing anything other than cycle specific kit if I'm to feel comfortable on rides between 50 - 120 miles, 4 - 9½/10 hours ride time.

I always wear padded cycling shorts and bike jerseys and find anything looser not comfortable. But that does not mean I am not open to the notion that there may be something better. But the few times I ride around my neighbourhood if trying the bike out after a refit I find it is not comfortable just wearing shorts with no padding, so I adhere to the padding for the long rides.
I have ridden a number of Audax 400K's (254 miles) - 21 hours+ - and was quite happy with padded shorts. But I will say, I think we look quite ridiculous as grown men wearing tight shorts contouring our lower bodies. I had a friend who would ride Audax with regular shorts on top of his bike shorts. When I do my next bikepacking adventure I might do the same. It is no wonder drivers honk at us showing our bums with such lack of modesty - particularly when the shorts thin out. I had another Audax friend who's shorts were paper thin and riding behind him was definately a case of riding 'Behind' him- made even more so when female companions made a point of saying so.

 

[PaulSB]

@blackrat in our group the saying goes a true friend will tell you when you need new shorts!!

 

[Baldy]

. I had a friend who would ride Audax with regular shorts on top of his bike shorts.

I do this as well. Mountain bike shorts over padded shorts. I tried the button in padded knickers but didn't find them very comfortable. The two together seem to work OK. They can get a bit hot in summer. I'm getting to old and fat to wear just bib shorts.

 

[ColinJ]

I had forgotten that I own a pair padded bib-tights. I had pairs in the past which had worn out, but this pair look in good condition.

I have been wearing Ron Hill Tracksters on top of undershorts recently. I will try the bibs out next time.

I think that this might be a pair that I bought when I was obese. If so, then they won't fit me properly now (which could explain why they had got lost at the back of a wardrobe). I bought that pair to fit my then huge waist, but that meant the legs were way too long.

I am curious now... I will go upstairs and try them on!

 

[blackrat]

@blackrat in our group the saying goes a true friend will tell you when you need new shorts!!

Perhaps so, but if 'friends' told us when we were embarrassing ourselves and others, we'd all end up with no friends.

 

[ColinJ]

I am curious now... I will go upstairs and try them on!

Hmm - they actually fit me quite well! The legs are about 3-4 cm too long but I can just roll down the surplus. That would be covered by my overshoes anyway.

The material is not particularly thick, so more suitable for autumn/spring rather than winter, but... The pad is fairly minimal and I just found a pair of not particularly thick bib 3/4s which also have a minimal pad. I think wearing the 3/4s as undershorts would give a nice warm combination with a comfortable degree of padding. I will test that out on my next chilly ride.

 

[esoxlucius]

I just wear padded shorts usually. When the temps drop I'll put my padded bibs on but still wear my padded shorts over the top!! So I have double protection!!!

Feels great, it's like sitting in my comfy armchair at home. All I'm short of whilst riding is my tele and a brew!!

 

[Punkawallah]

No I don’t need a different saddle nor do you. At your speeds I imagine you are very up right, where as people going faster will be lower and more aero. So completely different positions on the saddle.
Have you ever watched any cycle racing, if so you might notice the complete absence of Brooks saddles.

No Brooks saddles, but lots of padding?

 

[Webbo2]

No Brooks saddles, but lots of padding?

Padded shorts come in various levels of padding, maybe you should go in a shop and see what they are before you keep telling us why we don’t need them.

 

[Webbo2]

Just watching adverts on the telly, those of you who don’t like wearing Lycra as you find it too revealing. Have you tried Tena pants, the inconti pants, they have degree of padding and you never need stop for a wee.
I’ll get me coat.😉

 

[Webbo2]

I have had an epiphany moment as I have just remembered my time as a triathlete at a time when it was the fashion to wear through out the race swimming trunks and a cut off vest top. So you just put your wet suit on top of those, took it off rode your bike and the same on the run.
I do remember trying to harden up my neither regions by going out on the local chain gang in my trunks to much derision from my hard co roadie friends.
Also wearing said outfit I did get hypothermia in one race which wasn’t a great experience at the time but is great bull shitty story when enhanced.🤣🤣🤣

 

[Punkawallah]

I have had an epiphany moment as I have just remembered my time as a triathlete at a time when it was the fashion to wear through out the race swimming trunks and a cut off vest top. So you just put your wet suit on top of those, took it off rode your bike and the same on the run.
I do remember trying to harden up my neither regions by going out on the local chain gang in my trunks to much derision from my hard co roadie friends.
Also wearing said outfit I did get hypothermia in one race which wasn’t a great experience at the time but is great bull shitty story when enhanced.🤣🤣🤣

The prospect of wearing ‘budgie-smugglers’ for the rest of the tri was why I went to running shorts :-)