THE BEST CYCLING BIB SHORTS

While researching this story, I was sorting through some old gear I've been meaning to donate.

- Dan Chabanov

THE BEST CYCLING BIB SHORTS

Going through team kits and cycling clothes from years past was a fun trip down memory lane and also a tactile journey through just how much and how quickly bibs have changed. What began in the early 1900s as a hand-knit wool garment with a leather pad sewn into it has evolved into a multi-panel, computer-designed, a high-tech-material-padded miracle.

The use of synthetic materials for cycling clothing is now well into its fifth decade, and this progress has been most noticeable in bib shorts. Pick up a pair of shorts that are a few years old and compare them with a current high-end pair from a brand such as Assos, Velocio, or Rapha. With features like increased compression, lightweight yet comfortable padding, woven instead of knitted fabrics, and laser-cut leg openings with no seams or grippers, this latest generation of garments increases comfort by helping the bibs stay in place and eliminating friction points like seams.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

THE CHAMOIS Although the word "chamois" comes from a type of leather made from European mountain goats since the 1980s virtually all bicycling chamois have been constructed of synthetic materials. A chamois adds padding to make rides more comfortable and reduce chafing in sensitive areas. A better chamois is often the most obvious benefit of spending more on bib shorts. Cheaper bibs often use thicker, softer material to provide comfort, but these less-dense cushions can "bottom out," negating the desired effect of a chamois. For this reason, high-end bibs typically use lower-profile, very dense padding.