Cycling bib shorts

The core of any road bike bib shorts is the seat pad. It should prevent your buttocks and seat bones from being harmed on long tours. Seat pads in high quality road bike bib shorts feature a smooth surface. The build-up of the different foam materials or gels is found on the bottom side, facing the saddle. Perforated foam materials enhance the breathability of a seat pad, which is especially pleasant on hot summer days. Of course, the surface of the seat pad should feature a bacteriostatic treatment and a seamless finish.

The more performance oriented a cyclist, the more they appreciate a material in their road bike bib shorts which will support muscles. Dense Lycras with compression effect prevent early fatigue in muscles by enhancing the blood flow and hence metabolism. The same holds true for wide elastic band leg grippers in bib shorts for road biking. Not only do they keep the shorts well in place but they also have a compressing effect.

Another important aspect is aerodynamics. State-of-the-art road bike bib shorts are tailored to the seated posture, bent down low. The Lycra material is either very smooth or it features structures with aerodynamic effect (e.g. dimple structures as in a golf ball). The cut with reduced number of seams additionally optimises the air flow. The few existing seams are either very flat or lasercut hems are used. In addition, this construction with minimalistic seams makes road bike bib shorts very friendly to your skin as chafing is prevented.

The more high-end road bike bib shorts get, the finer the bib becomes. Always according to the motto “as much as necessary but as little as possible“ the bib should support the shorts but neither cause overheating nor disturb aerodynamics or cut into your skin. To achieve this, perforated, soft elastic bands are used in combination with a moisture wicking mesh back panel. The straps in women’s bib shorts for road biking either run more to the sides or are designed as a single strap in the middle of the chest.

For less ambitious road cyclists or for your short training tour in the evening, though, bib shorts with classic features in the lower price segment will suffice.