Having been a normal NL resident cyclist for years I never had anything specific to wear when out on the bike. This is because my bikes were used for going to work, the supermarket local tours in fairly flat perfect cycle paths with little effort, but since I have been out on my mountain and road bikes, it is clear I need a tad more padding than my teeny saddle provides.
My first
attempt was actual shorts with a liner and a waist. I felt cut in half. They
are baggy mountain bike shorts with a separate pair of padded pants for
underneath. If I ignore the being cut off at the waist part and just think
about the shorts themselves, they are great. They have big side pockets which can
fit a map. They are baggy enough to protect me from bushes and other things
which would scratch me. The problem was that I really didn`t like the tight waist of the padded
liner/underpants. So I looked further.
I then bought
my first pair of actual bib shorts. I chose some on special offer from a
webshop but I made sure I picked a make I recognised and respected (GORE). They
are womens specific with zips to allow you, theoretically, to be able to
use the toilet without totally disrobing. Many people will advise trying
them on first - this not a bad idea :) - I didn't. There are a few things to
say about these. But first here is a picture of the GORE Power 2 Lady shorts.
They have
zips at the join between the top mesh bib and the bottoms and a small hook to
join the vertical straps together. The features are then - the chamois, the bib
top, zips, thigh grips.
Lets
start with the chamois - I really don't like this one, I felt sore from the
start. I have read that as we are all individual the same level of padding can
have a great or lesser effect and it is
safe to say these are not for me. Next we have the bib top – that’s fine I
suppose apart from the hook thing. I don’t like the way it make everything tight
when connected and you get a little open space underneath – and when not connected
the straps are very wide. Then we have the zips…oh dear. I am sure there is a
technique but I dont get it. Finally the thigh grips, they are broad and hold
the cuffs well – so plus points for the grips, lots of minus for the rest. I accept
that I may be wearing the wrong size but at 73kg and 178cm tall, the XL should fit
– no? It fits my legs, and body but the zips???
Anyway,
then we come to the Odlos. Again I bought XL and these are BRILLIANT. The padding
is fantastic, the zip at the back works!!!! and the thigh grips are great. A
perfect bib short – if you ask me. The picture below shows the rear zip.
Fantastic invention. They are Odlo Galibier Bib shorts and I now have 2 pairs because
they are just so comfy.
 |
| Rear vertical zip |
I have
seen Specialized have a rear magnet connection
which a friend thinks are great, different to Zips and the horror of the rear
hooks! (my lack of rear facing vision makes that an impossibility) or worse
still the single over the head down the middle strap. Perhaps for small women
but not for me.
My next
post will be my opinion of two Castelli brand bib shorts which was my next
adventure into getting things to fit me.
