Alright cyclists, we need to talk about the elephant in the room: how to stop cycling from hurting your backside. It’s basically a right of passage for new riders: heading out on your new road bike for the first time only to get a mile or so down the road and experience the dreaded saddle soreness. All of a sudden, you’re wondering if all the cyclists in your life are A) sadists, B) have weirdly numb butt cheeks, or C) know a secret you’re not in on. The answer to all day long comfort on the saddle? Cycling bib shorts!
Unassuming, but game changing for your comfort levels on the bike. A good pair of cycling bib shorts combines a well-engineered chamois, a snug (but not uncomfortably tight) fit, and breathable fabric that moves with you. Get those three things right and long days in the saddle become significantly more comfortable. The miles become something to look forward to rather than survive, and those big dreams of all day adventures are back on the agenda. But how do you find the perfect pair of cycling bib shorts? In this article, we’ll talk you through what bib shorts are and why you need them, the key features to look out for and how to get a comfortable fit.
What are bib shorts and why do they beat regular cycling shorts?
Cycling bib shorts have specially designed shoulder straps, rather than a classic waistband. And that ‘bib’ is the single biggest advantage. The shoulder straps hold the shorts firmly in place without a waistband. That means nothing digging in and chafing all day when you’re tackling long climbs and big sportives. And it also means there’s nothing to bunch up or roll down. Next level comfort: unlocked.
Bib shorts also keep your lower back covered when you’re stretched over the bars, and they stay put through the full range of movement as you push the pedals. Keeping everything right where you want it – because no one wants to accidentally moon the rider behind them!
If you’re riding for more than an hour at a time, switching from regular shorts to padded cycling bib shorts can make an instant difference to how comfortable you feel on the bike.
Fun fact: Bib shorts don’t just unlock better comfort. Sports science research has consistently found that waistband pressure around the abdomen can restrict breathing mechanics during sustained cycling efforts: a problem bib shorts eliminate entirely. Sitting and breathing comfortably = better performance. Go get those Strava segments!
Why do bib shorts have a chamois pad?
First up, what even is a chamois pad? The chamois is a padded insert sewn into the seat of the shorts. Its job is to reduce friction between skin and saddle, manage moisture, and distribute pressure evenly across the sit bones during long rides. Put simply: it’s there to keep you comfy.
Modern chamois pads use multi-density foam, with typically two or three zones of different firmness. The sit-bone zones are firmer to support your body weight. The areas in between are softer to allow movement and avoid pressure build-up at sensitive points.
Anatomy of a chamois pad: it might look simple, but a chamois pad is actually pretty high tech to hit that sweet spot between support and minimising excess fabric to reduce chafe.
Chamois design has evolved considerably: the flat, single-density pads of the 1990s have given way to anatomically sculpted panels engineered for specific riding positions, from upright commuting to aggressive road racing geometry.
What chamois pad thickness do I need?
Chamois thickness is typically measured in millimetres and falls broadly into three categories:
- 3-5 mm (thin): Best for warm weather, high-cadence riding, and experienced cyclists who have fully adapted to the saddle. Minimal bulk, maximum feel.
- 6-9 mm (medium): The most versatile range. Suits most road and gravel cyclists across a range of distances and conditions.
- 10 mm+ (thick): Designed for long sportives, touring, or riders who are still building saddle tolerance in their first months of cycling.
Good to know: Chamois thickness alone does not determine comfort, so thicker doesn’t necessarily always equal better. Foam density, anatomical contour, and the quality of anti-bacterial treatment have as much impact on ride quality as raw millimetre count.
It’s important to match your chamois choice to your ride type. A thick pad during a warm, fast crit race for example could cause hotspots and friction leading to saddle sores. Likewise, a thin pad on a 150km audax isn’t going to offer enough support to keep you comfortable all day long. It can come down to your individual anatomy (such as sit bone width) and preference too. It can be trial and error, but once you find a pair of bibs with a chamois pad that’s just right, you’ll never go back!
How should bib shorts fit?
This is the most important question when buying bib shorts, and getting the right fit is something a lot of riders accidentally get wrong.
Bib shorts should fit like a second skin, so embrace the tight look! They need to be snug everywhere: legs, seat, straps. There shouldn’t be any loose fabric that can bunch or rub. If they feel baggy in the changing room, they will feel worse in the saddle.
Key fit checks before you buy:
- Leg grippers: Should sit around mid-thigh without leaving a red ring. Silicone grippers should hold without cutting into your skin.
- Bib straps: Should hold the shorts firmly with light, even tension. Not so tight they restrict breathing during hard efforts or make it uncomfortable to reach the handle bars.
- Chamois position: Should align naturally with your sit bones and stay there through your full pedal stroke. If possible, sit on a bike in the fit position to check.
- Crotch depth: Enough to prevent the chamois being pulled away from the body, but not so generous it droops.
Sizing varies meaningfully by brand. Our men’s cycling bib shorts and women’s cycling bib shorts come with detailed size guides. Check the measurements carefully and take up to date measurements of your own – don’t just guess and use your usual clothing size!
What the experts say: Bike fitting experts agree that cycling shorts offer optimal comfort when there is no relative movement between the fabric and the saddle. Meaning a correctly fitted bib short moves as one unit with the rider, eliminating the friction that causes hotspots and saddle sores.
What fabrics are used in bib shorts?
The main body of almost all performance bib shorts uses compressive Lycra, a nylon-elastane blend that provides muscle support, aerodynamic benefits, and active moisture management.
What to look for when shopping for cycling bib shorts:
- UPF rating: Most performance bib fabrics offer UPF 50+ sun protection, important for summer riding – particularly during long days out.
- Compression grade: Lighter compression suits endurance and long-distance riding. Higher compression suits race-focused or interval efforts.
- Flatlock seams: Stitching that lies flat against the skin rather than raised, reducing friction. Essential in any short you plan to wear for more than two hours.
- Mesh panels: Ventilated mesh on the straps and upper legs improves airflow significantly on warm days. That’s more important than many riders realise.
Good to know: Lycra fabrics with an elastane content of 18-22% typically retain their compression and shape significantly better across repeated washing cycles than fabrics with lower elastane content.
How do I care for my bib shorts? How to wash and dry your cycling shorts
Look after your bib shorts properly, and they’ll look after you… or something like that. It’s important to take care when washing and drying your cycling bib shorts to keep them in great condition. The chamois is the most delicate part of the shorts. Get the laundry process wrong, and you can destroy the chamois by compressing the foam, compromising the anti-bacterial treatment and taking the ‘comfort’ out of your go-to comfortable cycling shorts. Disaster!
To make sure your cycling bib shorts last ride after ride, make sure you:
- Wash at 30C. Hot washing degrades both the chamois foam and the elastic in leg grippers
- Turn inside out before washing to protect the outer fabric and compression panels
- Don’t use fabric conditioner. It clogs chamois fibres and destroys moisture-wicking properties
- Air dry. Tumble dryers are hard on chamois pads and performance fabrics – so don’t be afraid to hang your shorts up with pride.
- Wash after every ride. Bacteria from sweat breaks down chamois treatments quickly, and this can contribute to saddle sores.
A quality pair of bib shorts, properly maintained, will last at least two to three seasons of regular riding.
Are bib shorts worth it for beginners?
Absolutely! You don’t have to be an experienced cyclist to deserve comfort on the bike. In fact, we reckon beginner cyclists are far more likely to keep cycling if they have a good pair of bib shorts! The upgrade from basic padded shorts to a proper pair of bibs will do more for saddle comfort than almost any other equipment change, including a new saddle.
Top tips for beginner cyclists choosing their first bib shorts
- Resist the temptation to buy shorts with the thickest pad you can find. More padding doesn’t always equal more comfort.
- Invest in a good quality cycling bib short with a well-engineered chamois pad – it’s worth it.
- Never wear underwear under your cycling bib shorts! Bib shorts are designed to be worn directly against the skin. Seams from underwear cause friction and negate the entire purpose of the chamois. It’s time to go commando my friend.
What the peloton says: Most cycling coaches and experienced club riders recommend that beginners invest in quality bib shorts before upgrading other components. The comfort and confidence gains from proper kit are going to make a much more immediate impact versus marginal performance gains from equipment changes. Get comfortable, get riding and you can start unlocking those ‘extra 1%’ gains later.
Stolen Goat cycling bib shorts
Here at Stolen Goat, we’ve literally spent years refining our bib shorts to make sure our range has something for every type of rider. Our Endurance Bib Shorts are perfect for those big days in the saddle – we’ve tested these personally on a 464km ride and they performed extremely well. Our Every Day Ibex bib shorts are the go-to choice for your regular rides, designed for superb comfort up to 4 hours in the saddle. And for those hard efforts, our Ibex Advanced bib shorts have been precision engineered to offer comfort and performance when you’re pushing the pace.
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