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Just wondering... There are times when i wish i had regular bike shorts... i.e.. evening rides without a shirt.... and yet i really like my Swiss made bib shorts.. but i've been contemplating getting a skin suit. Has anybody got all three.. and what do you prefer?

And maybe i should ask... What do you think about skin suits?

I have regular bike shorts and bib. The bib shorts keep the short and everything in place while riding but the I prefer regular bike shorts. Much more comfortable when not riding and yes you can ride shirtless too

I don't know what a skin suit is.

When I mountain bike, I wear baggies with a lycra underlining:



When I roadie, I typically wear bib shorts with a racing shirt over it. I like the little pockets in the back for air and snacks.

Whatever you wear, avoid red.

BTW, I also have worn skin suits but on for triathlon races

I only wear bibs for regular training rides on the road and on the mtn bike. Non-bib shorts just never seem to fit comfortably. Skin suits are strictly for racing; I think they look dorky on guys just out for a training ride--kind of over the top for the purpose.

If by skin suit you mean the a bib that you generally wear under your wetsuit for Tri's, I would say I can't think of any reason why you'd wear one for just riding. They are generally much much tighter with less padding in the short. It sounds to me like you're fetishizing bike wear, which is a totally different discussion.

I've worn bibs and shorts. Frankly I can't figure out the difference. They're both equally comfortable for me. If I had to choose one I'd choose shorts just because they're easier to get in and out of. Bibs are generally a lot more expensive. And if you need to do #2 ...

gwuinsf said It sounds to me like you're fetishizing bike wear, which is a totally different discussion.

thats the impression I got too.

Reminded me of this guy that messaged me once saying he really loved cycling too and over the course of the short coversation realized he owned a lot of cycling wear but no bike (not saying thats the case here - just reminded me of it)

I like the bibs for longer rides. They basically act as compression wear for the lower back and abs and for me it makes a bit of difference on the 2 + hour rides.

uoft23 said

gwuinsf said It sounds to me like you're fetishizing bike wear, which is a totally different discussion.

thats the impression I got too.

Reminded me of this guy that messaged me once saying he really loved cycling too and over the course of the short coversation realized he owned a lot of cycling wear but no bike (not saying thats the case here - just reminded me of it)

Hmm, I wonder if that's the same guy who kept IMing me and wanted to see me in my cycling gear. All my bike shorts have a built-in chamois that looks like you're wearing an adult diaper... maybe he's into that!

I also thought the OP might be fetishizing bike wear; wasn't sure if I should answer this thread seriously or just post pics of hot biker guys.

Wear regular and bib shorts, but with a shirt for each. not much material in the shirt, but still be a bit more protected when sliding on the roadway...

endo saidWhatever you wear, avoid red.

LOL! Talk about a mixed bag(s)...

OMG guys.... Look i wear Assos bib shorts all the time.... they are looking a little wore now....but they are such a perfect fit, they're just great. The reason why i started this thread is i've seen a few guys riding around here with skin suits and yes they do look sharp... and i'm thinking "hey just run it by some guys that use them and find out whether they like them. I am going to get a non bib type short for riding to the beach. It's been 7 years since i bought a pair so i know there has been some improvement.

Thanks for the remarks...

Geez i didn't get the fettish thing when i asked about the Vibrams....lol
By the way since i've been running in them i found an improvement in the cycling. I'm only doing 40k rides every other day now.

Hey Jessi so you're not into skin suits for a normal 40 to 100k ride? Thanks for your comments there.

I wear regular bike shorts. I've tried bib shorts as I've heard they're more comfortable, but I haven't found a pair that I like and that fits better than the Pearl Izumi bike shorts I've always used.

Save the skinsuit idea for when you're actually doing a time trial (a specific type of racing) or track racing. Apart from the time trial stages (where they are riding aero time trial specific bikes) none of the riders in professional races wear skin suits. They have no utility for your normal training rides on your road bike and will just look stupid.

Triathlon skinsuits are different altogether, but again, save them for when you're actually racing.

The debate about shorts vs bibs is ongoing, but is really just about your own personal preference. Neither is superior to the other if it feels good and does its job.

The above post is exactly right. Save the skin suits for time trialing, wear what you like on regular or training rides.

I only wear Castelli Aero and Body Paint bibs, but those are my preference. I like the fit, seam quality and the compression they offer. I have some old shorts I'll wear when I hop on my indoor trainer and they feel weird to me--I'd never wear them out on the road.

Just for the love of god, guys, please replace your shorts when they're so worn they become sheer. I like a sweaty ass crack as much as any guy here, but there's something wrong about having to stare at one in a paceline when you're behind some guy whose shorts are about as concealing as a screen door.

Bib Shorts are difficult to fit well. There is a issue of "Girth" not what you might think it is the measurement from the front of the throat down the front between the legs and ending at the nape of the neck. All sizing is pretty uniform but everyone is built a little bit different. Try on alot of different styles and brands you might find the one that fits you best.

Bibs for me! Pearl Izumi Attack for every day riding and their Elite In-R-Cool for longer events.

I just wear bike shorts and a nice t-shirt. It makes me feel cute. ^_^

hahahaha, I googled skinsuits and this is what I got

endo saidWhatever you wear, avoid red.

Oh goodness, Polish team...

synestheticxserenade saidI just wear bike shorts and a nice t-shirt. It makes me feel cute. ^_^

Same, a decent shirt that "breathes" works for almost any serious rider. Unless you are a pro or riding competitively, you begin to look like one of those dorks wearing Lycra and cycle team gear that I so often pass on my bike.

I wear cycling shorts and jersey on the road bike. I never had bibs because it just seems like the extra fabric around my midsection would make me hot. I'm probably wrong. The jersey provides the pockets for the spare tube, tire irons, air cartridge, and cell phone, and food stuffs on longer rides.

On the mtn bike I wear liner shorts with a chamois and baggy shorts over top, and a cycling jersey. Again it's the pockets in the jersey that provide a place for the cell phone and other incidentals. I do have a small saddle bag on the mtn bike for the spare tube, etc.