Stupid road bike questions

1. What are bibs for? I can’t work out what the benefit is over padded shorts. Will I suddenly realise about 40 miles from home one day that bibs are far more comfortable or something?

1) They tend to not move around as much and are just more comfy. Also in the more bent over roadie position you don't get a gap between bum and bottom of top.

2) Just get road brands. The ones on sports pursuit are pretty good quality. But get some bibs, there really isn't a downside unless you are a lady in which case going to the loo is more annoying.

3) No they probably mean bicep. The arm warmers go up that high, and that's where the gripper stuff is.

1. They're more comfortable

2. Don't buy ones that are too small and forced to overstretch to "fit" you

3. No, it means your bicep circumference.

1. What are bibs for? I can’t work out what the benefit is over padded shorts. Will I suddenly realise about 40 miles from home one day that bibs are far more comfortable or something?

Bibs are padded shorts? Just without a waist band, so when you've already ridden 100km and got three more passes to ride you don't  A) have a bit of bloody elastic round your stomach and B) have to stop and pull them up, again. When i started riding, i had braces instead. Bibs hadn't been invented. Or at least, no one in Yorkshire had seen any.

2. Related to the above, how can I tell which padded shorts it’s acceptable to wear without baggies (assuming purchasing online)? NOTE: I do not want to show the world my bare arse through semi transparent shorts.

Anything of a decent price and brand in a dark colour won't be see through, but, as with saddles, a lot of it is down to personal preference, see whats comfy. You can wear baggies if you want, but they aren't much cop for bigger/faster rides. And depending on the particular baggy model/brand, they might be bloody horrible if it's hot or rainy.

3. I really like the commitment to not having a rucksack roadies have so I’m looking at arm warmers. On this size chart, it says to measure my bicep. Do they mean my forearm circumference? (Told you these could be stupid questions).

No, they, errrr, mean your bicep...

Mostly what Ewan said but I'll add...
1) you don't get the constriction round the waist from the shorts waistband when bent over, but the big thing is not having a draught on your back when the jersey rides up. (I wear bibs off road too under my baggies)

2) Any new, black, lycra should be fine. Unless you're sponsored to wear lairy shorts, they should be black. If they go a bit see through a couple of years down the line, but the pad is still OK, then demote to MTB use under baggies. Rapha Core works well for me, but YMYV...

3) Bicep - they go up pretty much to armpit level.

1. Bibs are carefully designed so the straps activate special pressure sensitive areas on your shoulders that trigger your urge to visit the loo. Or at least that's the effect they have on me, but then they're comfy for the next few hours.

2. Stuff to wear under baggies is usually sold as a liner short, rather than a bib.

3. Again, yes the bicep. Though for lots of roadies anywhere on the arm will give the same measurement 🙂

 Though for lots of roadies anywhere on the arm will give the same measurement 🙂

And for some, the thigh won't be far off either.

1. What are bibs for? I can’t work out what the benefit is over padded shorts. Will I suddenly realise about 40 miles from home one day that bibs are far more comfortable or something?

They prevent your arse crack showing without needing a belt that get's uncomfortable after the hypothetical 40miles. You can get decent bib-less shorts. But they're a solution looking for a problem and do tend to need hitching up every few miles.

2. Related to the above, how can I tell which padded shorts it’s acceptable to wear without baggies (assuming purchasing online)? NOTE: I do not want to show the world my bare arse through semi transparent shorts.

Old shorts go transparent over time. You need a polite clubmate to tell you when it's time for new ones.

Related point; buy the correct size. They're meant to be skin-tight, not tight tight. Over streched ones don't last as long and thus go see through.

There's also a growing trend to just wear a race suit, a short and jersey one-piece that means you don't need the bib-straps. Not quite a skinsuit, but a similar idea.

3. I really like the commitment to not having a rucksack roadies have so I’m looking at arm warmers. On this size chart, it says to measure my bicep. Do they mean my forearm circumference? (Told you these could be stupid questions).

No they mean bicep. You tuck the grippy seam into your jersey sleeve. Not like those weird compression ones runners wear.

TBH though I'm not a fan. I'd just get a decent set of winter jerseys, summer jerseys, LS jerseys, base layers, and a windproof gilet. You only need arm warmers on long rides starting on cold mornings when you end up running the whole gammut from teeth chattering to suncream.

Ditto leg warmers. 3/4er Roubaix shorts are cooler on a spring mid-day than leg warmers are warmer in the early morning (because you just get a cold thigh/arse as summer shorts aren't warm).

I tend to wear bibs when MTB'ing with baggies on top - far more comfy than normal padded shorts. Planet X bibs and Decathlon's are good and not expensive.

Arm warmers, don't bother. Just a faff.

Appreciate the answers! Only in roadbikeland would I have XL biceps but I'll take it 💪

save some cash and just wear your elbow pads

You don't wear baggies over the bibs - you're riding a road bike. As someone said buy new ones when they get thin. You know they're too thin when the old ladies in the tea shop gasp cos they can see your chipolata (I'm sure the missus didn't tell me so as to cause me max embarrassment)

The other question i've never got a clear asnwer to is - if you are doing the roadie shaved leg thing - where do you stop? back sack n crack?

You don’t wear baggies over the bibs – you’re riding a road bike.

All your roadie answers to all your questions in one handy place

The rules

Yeah, I wouldn't worry about arm warmers, you'll hardly ever use them. 99% of the time it's either warm enough for short sleeves or it's not.

Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about arm warmers, you’ll hardly ever use them. 99% of the time it’s either warm enough for short sleeves or it’s not.

See I used to think that about both arm and leg warmers. But they're brilliant! Starting off on a cold morning, put them on and then when it warms up later on in the day you take them off and they roll up super compact.

Also good for big mountain rides where you want short sleeves for climbing but then long sleeves for being up high.

Or just get up later and go out when it's warmed up a bit 😉

I'm just wearing light trousers and jerseys when it's bit nippy... my face and upper body is causing way more drag than any respectable clothing is

Unless you're wearing baggies I'd just go for bibs. You can wear bibs under baggies of course but the friction tends to ruin them. In terms of comfort, I honestly can't tell much difference to be honest and I've done massive rides in both, though if you're going full roadie the bibs will edge it a bit.

They prevent your arse crack showing

This is possibly the biggest advantage. Aside from not looking like a builder after work, you also don't get a stream of water running down your crack when it's raining.

Yeah, I wouldn’t worry about arm warmers, you’ll hardly ever use them. 99% of the time it’s either warm enough for short sleeves or it’s not.

Tell me you're not a morning person without telling me you're not a morning person 🙂 I'm not either, but the only time I have ever used arm warmers and indeed the reason I got them was riding a long way to work on spring mornings where it's chilly to start with but warms up nicely later. I have never used them since because I am never out riding early enough to have to deal with this phenomenon out of choice. However if you're a Sunday morning 6am century type they might be invaluable.

Re bibs, it's entirely a matter of preference. No waistband is nice. I don't have a problem with the back slipping down (at least not after the first few Kms (not miles)) but skinny types do. My bibs are generally a bit more comfy but the downside is sweaty straps so sometimes it's nice to be strapless in warm weather.

Also if you're tall and skinny you may find that the size of bib shorts that fits your bum and thighs doesn't have long enough straps so they are tight on your shoulders.

Bib shorts keep your bits up nicely and stop you getting a knacker squashed between leg and saddle. I always wear bib shorts. Baggies over them, unless road (when they become irritating) or when it's really hot.
Oh, and the singular of biceps is ... biceps.

Not bicep.

The other question i’ve never got a clear asnwer to is – if you are doing the roadie shaved leg thing – where do you stop? back sack n crack?

Not at the short line 🙂

What kind of build are you? Many brands have very different ideas of fit!

"if you are doing the roadie shaved leg thing – where do you stop? back sack n crack?"

Just above the leg gripper line. That hair is there for a reason.

Off road, bibs under shorts is great, only one band around the waist. I gave up on arm warmers, always falling down (Roadie physique and no wasted upper body weight). But I like a long-sleeved base/compression layer and a jersey over the top. Also useful for keeping the sun off in my case.

1. Bibs are carefully designed so the straps activate special pressure sensitive areas on your shoulders that trigger your urge to visit the loo. Or at least that’s the effect they have on me, but then they’re comfy for the next few hours.

An effect which increases the later you are running.

The other question i’ve never got a clear asnwer to is – if you are doing the roadie shaved leg thing – where do you stop? back sack n crack?

Not at the short line

Was once traumatised in a gym changing room by a chap flaunting his furry shorts after a shower.....

Arm warmers are ace, discovered them far too late.

Shaving wise…everyone is different! All gone for me!

Saccades
Arm warmers are ace, discovered them far too late.

Why? you evolved into a T-Rex ?

1- Bibs are basically the same as plain old lycra shorts but with built in braces to help hold them up and importantly keep the pad I position.

2- They get translucent as they get older, I've been know to stick my arse out in front of a mirror to see if my pasty bum cheeks are showing through an older pair yet, once they get to that stage they've still got plenty of life left as undershorts on the MTB.

3- I think they mean your bicep, it's normally the widest part of your arm, they stretch though so it's not a precise thing.

Worth mentioning that 'The Rules' posted up there ^^^ are supposed to be a joke. I say this because IMO the joke is stretched a bit to far to be funny any more - this gets compounded by the folk who sort-of-jokingly-but-sort-of-not like to bring them up at regular intervals. Most people really don't care about them.

[Was once traumatised in a gym changing room by a chap flaunting his furry shorts after a shower…..]

Might have been TiRed 😜

I'm obviously gonna have to be braver this summer if I follow woodster's recommendation

Personally I find arm warmers really useful- if you're out for more than an hour or two in Spring or Autumn (and especially if you go out early in the morning) the temperature changes can be pretty dramatic, even more so on hilly rides. So, anything that is a layer that can be removed or added as needed is beneficial imo.

I also sniffed at arm warmers, knee warmers and cycle caps, but it turns out that after 100+ years of experience, those roadies know a thing or two.

Most people really don’t care about them.

And far too many people who still quote them *really* don't seem to get that they're a very poor piss take.

(Christ, i can still getting the original set of 10 or 12 "rules", via some viral e-mail thing. Must be well over 25 years ago now. Probably before the guys who run the rules website had taken their stabilsers off.)

Don't listen to these fools. The Rules are law.

Also, I would advise shaving from just above the ankle to about 5" above the knee, otherwise it takes too long and starts to eat into training time.

Unless you're competing on the road, there's no need to shave.

I used to shave the legs when racing TTs - there's an undeniable benefit, reduction in drag worth quite a lot. But if you're just riding for the joy, no need imo.

Some blokes like the feeling though, but that's a different topic...

In the spirit of the OP's request for other questions:

4) Road pedals/Shoes - would I really benefit from them?

I kind of like the Pro cyclist ethic of gleaming white road shoes matched with honed physique and, yes shaved legs, while riding up a beautiful Alpine pass. But the reality is that my boring slightly grubby black mtb shoes with SPDs seem to do a perfectly good job in the potholed muddy lanes of Dorset and let me walk around coffee shops, pause by a farm gate to faff/change a layer, etc.

I use arm and knee warmers loads, but I do a lot of long distance riding so often start very early and ride into/ through the night. Kit I can easily add, remove and store is invaluable.

As for shoes, I've switched back to spds after many years using road pedals, and can't detect much if any difference in performance. As you say, shoes you can walk in and use on all of your bikes are useful. MTB or gravel race shoes are plenty stiff enough.

"Road pedals/Shoes – would I really benefit from them?"

Maybe a tiny bit, but if you're riding casually, then probably not worth worrying about.

Road shoes are lighter. They do feel nicer, the larger cleat/pedal interface feels firmer/stiffer/more connected.

I use MTB shoes on the road through the winter, mostly becasue I'm using my gravel bike with road tyres on, and can't be arsed to switch the pedals. I do notice more flex in the sole.

I don't notice much difference between SPD and road clipless (Look Delta). The Looks are more secure, but they are top end pedals which are 'period' with my two classic road bikes. The other three bikes, cX and two MTB all have SPD. I'd probably switch to all SPD if the road bikes were newer, but keeping the 'vintage' look.

All my SPD shoes are stiff soled.

1. What are bibs for? I can’t work out what the benefit is over padded shorts. Will I suddenly realise about 40 miles from home one day that bibs are far more comfortable or something?

- I used to get less stomach discomfort when riding with bibs, but I think now that sports drinks was the cause and waistbands just added to the discomfort. Now I don't use either.

2. Related to the above, how can I tell which padded shorts it’s acceptable to wear without baggies (assuming purchasing online)? NOTE: I do not want to show the world my bare arse through semi transparent shorts.

- FWIW I ride in fitted XC/gravel type 'baggies' w/o padded shorts 100% of the time whatever bike. YMMV but a comfy saddle, slim-fitted light (cool) fabric baggies and for long rides a dab of chammy cream under sports boxers is good. The type of discomfort I got on longer rides was caused by chammy pads, not alleviated by it. Pad-free riding isn't as comfy of course but it's fine and for some of us but it just doesn't turn into the same level of discomfort. Not saying it's the way to go for everyone, just that lycra shorts aren't as crucial as cycling culture seems to believe.

Bibs are much better - I've had crippling bellyache from waisted shorts on longer rides

[Biceps. It's called a biceps (well, biceps brachii). Each has 2 heads, hence the name. See also triceps etc]

I do use armwarmers ... in the garage on the turbo in winter (thinnish jersey, fleecy armwarmers FTW)

you might be on to something there
i havent had issues riding padless on a standard MTB ride up and down, but soon into it started wearing liner under shorts
I find that 40 odd miles in on gravel type rides stuff starts to get a little raw.. might be caused by the liner + moisture.. only tried cream the once so hard to say if it is the solution for me, also don't want to be 20 miles from home to find out i do need a pad

Being built with scrawny arms, I find the knitted arm warmers stay up much better than the kind which use a silicon gripper.

I've always used SPD pedals but equally have always had a sneaking suspicion that they make little difference. I think to realise their benefit you are supposed to adjust your pedalling style to very lightly "pull" on the upstroke...which I am sure 90% of people don't actually do.

Lots of Trainerroad sessions try and drill this technique into you when on the turbo but I'm not sure in my case if its ever really translated to my outdoor road rides....maybe some short easy ones.

That said, sometimes on really nasty short steep climbs it is quite useful to pull as well as push on the pedals when you're just desperately trying to hustle the bike over the top of the climb.

"might be caused by the liner + moisture.. "

- that was my experience anyway. High end shorts have more breathable pads but they're still more of a problem in that respect than 2 thin layers of wicking, non-cotton fabric. I get the best blister-free comfort from 2 thin pairs of hiking socks and riding in sports boxers and thin baggies seem similar provided the fit is good. Chammy cream in small doses is the majority of the prevention for me on a long ride, not a pad. All FWIW anyway, perhaps a bit OT.

I've been told by a work colleague that this ^ is mind bleach stuff so I'm out : )

Shaving - IMO the only reason to shave is if you like the look/feel of it. Sure, you can make up other reasons like aero/massage/road rash but you fundamentally have to *like* it. Embrace doing something jsut for the aesthetics - taking some joy in your own appearance is something that nobody can take away from you. Obvs if you don't lke leg shaving then don't bother.

MTB vs Road pedals - road pedals feel a bit nicer / more secure but it's not night and day. If you're just starting out and looking at making your bike a nicer place to be then I'd think about fit, saddle an tyres before worrying about pedals.

Sure, you can make up other reasons like aero

It's actually once of the most effective things you can do for aero benefits, it's something like 15w saved at 25mph (someone racing). Substantial.

FWIW I hate shaving, the feel and the look.

On the road clip-in pedal thing, I think it depends on the shoes and the pedal. Stiff road shoes and Shimano road SPDs definitely feel a shedload more stable and direct to me, particularly if you're comparing them to off-road, non-platform SPDs used with a slightly more flexible trail shoe, maybe less so if you habitually use very stiff-soled XC race shoes.

I like arm-warmers. Just adds flexibility to your clothing system, particularly useful on long rides in changeable conditions, ditto lightweight, windproof gilets.

Loose clothing on road bikes seems okay until you find yourself screaming down the Galibier and your loose shorts, jacket etc start vibrating and flapping in the wind, there is a practical reason for fitted roadie stuff. and don't get me started on flappy baggies when pedalling.  That said, I'm fine with whatever anyone else wants to wear, but it still looks all kinds of wrong to me. Likewise, if you're going to wear super s****, race-style Lycra with fey floral patterns and stuff, at least have the decency to be blindingly fast with it...

I don't shave my legs, but I'm not very hairy anyway. If I had hairy legs, I'd maybe consider it for the summer if I were riding on the road a lot.

Where it all gets ambiguous, in my book, is what you choose to wear on a 'gravel' bike, where the gammut seems to run from people in full-on mtb trail kit through to elite roadie race lycra and, of course, check shirts and comedy beards.

Question: do you wear road stuff on a gravel bike?