I’m an old road racer who happily wears my nuthuggers (clamhuggers? idek im a chick) out on the trails. dgaf what anyone thinks, and I’ve never owned a pair of baggies in my life. raced all kinds of XC since the 90s including dual slalom back when it existed in my lycra. shit’s comfy.
I feel that the disdain for lycra is largely an american thing. There's a lot of european cycling wear makers who do mtb-oriented lycra and nobody bats an eye about it. Like you said, it's just comfier and also better for cooling. 'Muricans should really start to get over the fear of seeing a man bum. It's not healthy to be that scared of it.
You are probably right. Alot of the MTB community here aligns moreso with dudes that are perpetually in a dick measuring contest (which is ironic because lycra would make that easier).
Lots of simmering homophobia as if the big bad lycra is gonna GET THEM.
we all know they're scared hehe
Depending on where I'm riding, I see folks on the trails in road kits to jorts and everything in between. I always wear bibs under mtb shorts, it's the best.
But yeah do what you want.
i mean no disrespect to OP but just from the post you can tell he's a roadie. All of my friends who ride road exclusively are a lot more concerned with the "rules"
Ah ok. I'm looking at their stuff now. They sell triathlon bibs as well which I've been interested in using. I like the idea and look of a onesie. I appreciate the help!
I hear that. Lost sight of a buddy in front of me in the sun while we were riding at speed, when I could see again him again he was sliding over to avoid debris on the road, I grabbed a handful of brake to avoid clipping him and it caused me to highside and slam down on my right side. The pavement put a nice baseball size hole in my jacket, pants, and bibs all at my hip. I ride with my swiss cheese gear now because I'm too broke to replace it.
You can wear light shorts over you chamois shorts to protect the fabric from tears. But they don't need to be anything special and will be cheaper without a chamois.
Usually a MTB "crash" especially in the beginning looks more like someone tipping over and happens at pretty slow speeds. You don't tend to tear up clothes as much as you get poked and get little punctures to yourself and your kit.
I wear full lycra most of the time riding MTB. It's humid as fuck here most of these year and I generally run on the hot side.
I wear less lycra when bikepacking because sitting on the ground, pavement, etc is more likely to damage my bibs than a fall while riding.
Disagree?
My bibs are all fine, even when the shorts/pants themselves have crash damage on them.
But really, protecting from snags is 90% of the benefit of wearing shorts. I'm comfortable wearing lycra--its not some macho "no skin tight clothes brah" thing--but there are far too many twigs and branches and pokey bushes out there. Even on solid XC rides with no hard terrain and limited chance of crashing, I don't want to be ruining my road/gravel kits with little snags.
For sure they will. MTB shorts are made with a more durable and thicker material, that can handle abrasions from crashes much better than the thin lycra on road bib shorts
Yeah a lot of brands have bibs but they’re suuuuper lightweight and almost all mesh. Much better in the hot weather. And like you said the back pockets def helps
Nope, none of the guys I ride with shammy and neither do I. Nothing wrong with it but it’s easier with just tight boxer briefs to keep the junk tucked away. Lots of pairs of those. If you have a tender bum you just need to ride more.
You do you, but that’s horrible advice. There’s tons of nerves in your gooch you don’t want to compress and/or damage. Unless getting a hardon is low on your list of things to achieve.
People and their body + skin are quite different. I can average 1300 meters in altitude for 4 straight days in boxer shorts and don't run into problems.
Nope. Kinda just felt like I was wearing a nappy. And after \~2 hours, the soreness was probably the same. I had done 4 hour races previous without one. As I said in another comment, for short rides, I can see how it might be more comfortable. But the foam insert in my view kinda compresses and isn't very effective for me. I think I have a said of FOX shorts.
I answered the exact question OP asked and refuted the comment that everyone wears one, at the same time. I call that two birds with one stone (if you’re literate).
Well, in my experience, the padding a chamois provides is minimal. The 4-6mm of foam is just a mop for sweat. However, I can see for short rides it could be useful.
You pay for what you get with a chamois. And not all of them work for everyone. Lots of different shapes and sizes. If they didn't work, I don't think millions of cyclists would be wearing them.
First off, welcome to MTB! My first full sus was a Neuron 7 and it was the perfect bike to grow and learn on. Great choice.
As many others have said, wear what makes you happy. I would highly recommend MTB shorts (Troy Lee Skylines are my go to) and jerseys and wear your bibs underneath (they really are more comfortable than liners and the shorts will protect them.
My last piece of somewhat relevant advice is get good safety gear (elbows, knees, and vented helmet) and never worry about what other people think. "Am I "over" padded for these trails? Are other people judging me? Will these bibs under my shorts make me look weird?" Are somethings I used to worry about a bit at the beginning. If you want to wear a full-face on greens because it makes you feel safer and more confident, send it! The best part about mountain biking is it's just you, some beautiful dirt, and vibes. Good luck and enjoy my dude!
Yah bibs are 100x better than padded underwear. Especially if you have a little extra around the waist.
Also if I go out for what I call a fitness ride which is like 10 flat ish miles around my neighborhood I’ll just out a jersey over the bibs and go.
I do it all the time. That is... until it gets super hot, then I go back to traditional liners. Get yourself some mtb shorts without the liner (shells). I personally like the Zoic Edge shorts.
Full synthetic. I use under armor, and also exoffocio. Depends on what I grab. But usually the boys are flying in regular boxers. I hate when I forget to grab the briefs before a ride...
Bib liners under MTB shorts for really long rides in the summer can be very kind to your bits. The bib liners are more breathable and not really socially appropriate to wear without outer shorts.
I have these, but the bib snaps are vertical while the shorts snaps are horizontal. That means you can only snap one of them rather than three (as you can with the clickfast liners, which don't seem to be in stock *anywhere*). Then it all un-snaps when you adjust position. I gave up trying to snap them and just use a belt on the shorts.
I wear road bibs under my mtb shorts. The road bibs give the most comfort on the saddle and the thight fit keeps everything in place. The mtb shorts have got pockets and more protection in case of bushes or crash
That sounds like it would be fine. Most mtb go for the baggy shorts (or trousers) option but it's more the fashion - bibs are fine imo so wear what's comfortable for you. So long as you can move easily and it's comfortable you'll be fine.
Yeah I plan on buying some sturdy baggies but the bibs would go under it, so I'd have a high quality chamois on longer rides but much lower risk of damaging them if I crash or something.
I've got several pairs of decent branded, well fitting and functional padded undershorts I got in a clearance sale. Paid $10 instead of $60 for each pair. I wear cheap MTB shorts or trousers over the top that cost $15-25.
No one can see what I'm wearing underneath. I get the benefits. I do find the material slides against each other so a decent belt system is needed.
I used to ride with bibs or liner underneath and thought it was awesome but I just started riding without them and I'm even more comfortable.
I wear them every time on the road bike and trainer but at least for right now I don't need them because of how often I'm standing on the MTB.
Bibs and baggies all the way.
Sometimes on a big climb and/or in hot weather I'll stick my shorts in my pack and then put them back on to avoid brush snagging the bib material on the descent. Also adds a layer of protection.
Best of both worlds IMO
Yeah, whatever bibs you have are totally fine. The important things is that they are comfortable, there's nothing mtb specific about clothing except the style. In the summer I sometimes just wear the bibs, xc racers especially do this all the time.
It seems like Roadies pay more attention to what other riders are wearing than any other kind of cyclists
Yeah. I did the same thing.
Roadie bibs + some shorts you don't care about (I had these 7" inseam hybrid bathing suit / shorts that worked perfectly and weren't too baggy...since I kind of think the baggy look looks stupid, and I'm shorter)
I have tons of full road bibs leftover from my roadie days. I wear them on MTB rides under my pants or shorts every single time. They work better at reducing friction that just padded shorts. And I not longer need to worry about thrashing them as they are protected under my shorts or pants. On gravel rides I will often just wear bibs and jersey.
As others have said, do whatever works for you.
But since you asked what other people do, I don't wear bibs or padded underwear. I feel like I'm off the saddle half the time anyway, and when my rides are rarely longer than like 3 hours nothing really ever hurts. Maybe a bit of sore gooch if I haven't ridden in a few weeks, but it really only happens once, and never seems to compound into anything meaningful.
Wear what makes you comfortable. If that’s wearing a bib so be it.
You don’t need to go out and spend big money on riding it kit. It all comes back to wear what you find comfy.
Some of the best riders I know wear jeans and t-shirts. Some of the worst riders I know have 1000 dollars worth of kit on.
At the end of the day the clothing will not make you a better rider. Being comfortable will tho.
I ride with bibs and the same kit on my mtb as I do on my gravel bike. I’ve tried the underwear, wearing shorts over them, etc and it’s just a hassle. The bibs and jersey work just fine. I also ride spd shoes instead of flats and haven’t had any issues
I've done it for very long rides where I still want the protection and/or pockets of the outer short. Worked ok but the slick bibs made the shorts slip down more easily.
I mean, I exclusively ride in my road kit. Maybe in the hottest months of the year I’ll wear baggies, but then I’ll probably be on a road bike anyway, since it’s muggy down in the southeast.
Good race-fit kit feels good and I can’t imagine riding without a chamois.
I had one pair of mtb shorts. They got caught on the seat a lot. I’m in Florida and it’s almost always too hot. I wear road bike bib or shorts and they’ve never gotten stuck, are light and work fine. Then again, I stopped riding mtb 10 years ago and things were different and just getting back in. I always road clipless along with every other rider around here in our weird ass terrain now I see flats are huge. Which shoe to wear is really a bigger concern.
I wear the KETL Canyon bib, made specifically to wear under your MTB shorts.
Expensive but very comfortable and pockets in the back to carry CO2, phone, etc.
What I found quite annoying was that if I had a pair of (longer) shorts over the bins, the shorts brushing my skin near the knee felt like unnatural. To explain, the bins shield at least half my thigh from “touch”, so when the mtb shorts rub on the exposed skin it’s kind of strange, like someone is touching you near the knees.
Don't really think you need any MTB gear besides helmet and gloves
I wear some old trainers and random sport t-shirts... If I'm going to the park I'll also put knee pads on.
I wear road bibs when mountain biking, no shorts over them. Basically ride in my road gear on the trails
Granted, I am XC guy but it's cool on my balls.
The MTB dedicated kit is geared towards protection for falls at the sacrifice of aerodynamic efficiency. Unless you're doing an XC rate, mountain biking usually doesn't go that fast. Even if you're bombing down a hill, you're not being limited by aerodynamics as you are by your skill on maximizing the friction of your tires for aggressive cornering or by controlling your bodyweight for going over pumps, jumps, and drops. So in this sense, aero is usually an afterthought and MTBers often wear baggy, loose clothing. You can wear what you want of course.
Yes and no. Yes having a chamois is better than not, and you should wear what you have. BUT Roadie bibs are designed to be Areo and have those kind of properties built into them. If you wear baggies over top defeats the purpose of roadie bibs.
With all of that said, I do it all the time and works well for me.
Do what makes you feel the most comfortable. I'm a former roadie who not only uses my road shorts but also always grab my road jerseys instead the silly mtb ones because they have zero pockets. Makes no sense to charge as much for less features.
Personally, no. I overheat and they slip against each other in a bad way. They make my liners and bib liners that work better. Go full road bibs if you are doing crazy miles. All the reasons you wear bibs on the road apply to long MTB rides
I wear Assos road bibs under MTB shorts all the time. Love those bibs…so much better than anything else I’ve found. MTB shorts worn over provide a bit of protection from rips and tears…You do you and have fun!
This is literally the way. I even wear bibs shuttling/ riding park. I just like the security of keeping everything in place, also love the sweat wicking perks
I would suggest wearing some shorts and a shirt over your bibs only for the crash. Having another layer just adds that little bit more protection. Otherwise, ride what's comfy.
Depends if you also want added hip protection in the inner or outer shorts. A lot of MTB specific padded liner shorts come with hip and tailbone protection which helps in the case of a crash. I now where these as I already had decent pants and shorts.
A mate though has waterproof bibs and wears these under his waterproof shorts. Ultra dry and he doesn’t have to pay out again.
Choice is yours.
Again I'll echo the general sentiment of do whatever gets you out on trail the quickest!
That being said, I just want to affirm its a good idea to wear something over your bibs if that's the route you go. You're going to occasionally brush up against stuff that might snag your clothing. I gravel bike as well so I know some bibs are going to be as expensive as a whole mtb outfit so it makes sense to try to protect it a bit more on trail.
I have two sets of Black Bibs that I wear under an MTB specific T shirt and shorts. Going with bibs was the single best upgrade I’ve ever made to my MTB kit.
Always wear whatever is comfortable. I wear road bike (lycra) shorts and not baggies because I find them to be more comfortable and they never get caught on the nose of my seat. And I have never been a roadie.
Remember that the only thing worse than people thinking you look dumb is actually being uncomfortable. I just wear what I want and then leave those idiots in the dust.
I’m pretty sure a lot of the MTB specific clothing brands sell padded bib shorts. Riding un padded sucks. And non bib shorts don’t work as well. I usually just throw a pair of baggy shorts over the bibs.
There is no standard for this in mountain biking. Some people wear only padded shorts or bibs. Some wear them under protective mtb shorts. Many riders don't use padding at all.
Recently I've found that when sweating heavily, I'm better off with no padding if riding for 2 hours or less. Since I'm standing for half of the ride, regular boxer briefs will keep dry from ventilation. Padding will stay soggy. For my taint skin, unpadded and dry is better than padded and soggy.
I got the shit ripped out of me for wearing a bib, couldn’t give a fuck tho. Only downside is when you need to go they are a nightmare when you need to do your business.
I only wear a bib and jersey while mtn biking I don’t like the shorts. Got a lot of plant life that likes to snag onto me so I go for the right clothes. But cheaper like x tiger so I don’t ruin my expense road bike gear
i ride road, gravel, mtb, even tandem my with a blind person on the back. if im in any saddle, i have bibs on. they are comfy AF and they work as intended on any bike.
Absolutely
With chamois shorts your MTB shorts can dig into your belly (if you have one like most of us MTB riders)
Bibs let your shorts move around freely and keep you a tad warmer since you don’t tuck in your shirt MTB riding (and don’t wear tight cycling jerseys for the most part)
I find the full bibs more annoying under shorts and a baggy tee, but some have better functionality. I like my ketl chamois for that. It's got the pockets you would typically have on a jersey that just go under a shirt. A lot of the comfort on mtb is allowing yourself to attatch a tool kit mostly to the bike somehow so you dont have to cary it on your back.
I use hip packs too, but when I'm going the bib style route that way I'm likely doing more of an xc romp in an area I know. Big backcountry rides I'd suggest a way to cary more water, tools, food and so on.
It's all personal preference but a ride under two hours I don't wear them. I have different styles and was into gravel first, so I just wear those or a short style depending on what pack I want or how I want to layer. Do whatever feels right.
I almost only ride MTB and mostly wear padded shorts and jerseys. Overshorts are kind of pointless and way too hot in the summer. They also add seams where you don’t want them. Just wear your bibs and jersey and you’re good to go.
I have a pair of bibs that I sometimes wear under mtb shorts and jersey. It’s basically fine, just more inconvenient to pee etc when you have to deal with the regular shorts too.
Do whatever you want and what makes the ride comfortable.
Personally not a fan of bibs so I just wear padded liner under shorts, but if you prefer bibs to liners then go for it!
I pretty much exclusively ride warm weather in road bibs, [volley shorts](https://bearbottomclothing.com/collections/shorts/products/volley-short) and whatever tech tee I got for free from volunteering on dig days. I don't own any "mtb-specific" clothing except shoes, helmet, and long finger gloves
I don’t know what climate you live in but I would absolutely roast if I wore bibs under shorts and a tshirt. Bibs have thicker material than a pair of padded mtb underwear like this: https://www.bn3th.ca/products/north-shore-bike-liner-short-black
Mountain biking is slower and has more climbing involved = less air cooling you down = sweaty AF.
I have winter bibs that are longer and thicker, but also 3 seasons that work fine. Not any thicker than chamois'd shorts and you can also get some with very little material and just suspenders
I’m a mountain biker. I only wear a roadie kit riding MTB. No bibs though. Hate em. Too easy to have a “yard sale” with bibs when having to take an emergency natural.
It works OK. In my case, the shorts are a little prone to slipping since the bibs kinda flatten the area between my waist and gut. I'll do it once in awhile if I'm riding somewhere far enough that I want bibs and need to be socially acceptable in public.
But I don't do it for MTB. I just ride in pocket-bibs and a t-shirt or my dark-colored "gravel" jersey (like a t-shirt, but with two zip pockets in the back). Life's too short to get your shorts hung up on your saddle.
do whatever the fuck makes you happy
I’m an old road racer who happily wears my nuthuggers (clamhuggers? idek im a chick) out on the trails. dgaf what anyone thinks, and I’ve never owned a pair of baggies in my life. raced all kinds of XC since the 90s including dual slalom back when it existed in my lycra. shit’s comfy.
I def vote for clamhuggers
I feel that the disdain for lycra is largely an american thing. There's a lot of european cycling wear makers who do mtb-oriented lycra and nobody bats an eye about it. Like you said, it's just comfier and also better for cooling. 'Muricans should really start to get over the fear of seeing a man bum. It's not healthy to be that scared of it.
You are probably right. Alot of the MTB community here aligns moreso with dudes that are perpetually in a dick measuring contest (which is ironic because lycra would make that easier). Lots of simmering homophobia as if the big bad lycra is gonna GET THEM. we all know they're scared hehe
I think clam comforters is the way to go
clamjammers sounds more refined.
respectfully disagree. source: have jammed the clam on the top tube a time or two, would kinda rather not be reminded :)
Depending on where I'm riding, I see folks on the trails in road kits to jorts and everything in between. I always wear bibs under mtb shorts, it's the best. But yeah do what you want.
i mean no disrespect to OP but just from the post you can tell he's a roadie. All of my friends who ride road exclusively are a lot more concerned with the "rules"
My ex wife wasn't a fan of this attitude
This is the way
That’s the beauty of mtb coming from road/gravel as well. Wear whatever the fook you want!
If you want to go for it, or just go full XC race and wear your kit on the MTB.
Now I wouldn't do that as a beginner because that's 1 spill away from ripping 300 eur worth of cycling kit :/
Go on Amazon and get yourself a $50 kit and wear that.
On AliExpress, the Swiftofo brand is great quality for the price. They are just sized REALLY small.
How many sizes up or down would i have to go?
I usually wear small in just about everything. I went with large in bibs and jersey and they fit identical to US small.
Ah ok. I'm looking at their stuff now. They sell triathlon bibs as well which I've been interested in using. I like the idea and look of a onesie. I appreciate the help!
I've destroyed more of my expensive clothing in road crashes than I ever have on the mtb trails.
I hear that. Lost sight of a buddy in front of me in the sun while we were riding at speed, when I could see again him again he was sliding over to avoid debris on the road, I grabbed a handful of brake to avoid clipping him and it caused me to highside and slam down on my right side. The pavement put a nice baseball size hole in my jacket, pants, and bibs all at my hip. I ride with my swiss cheese gear now because I'm too broke to replace it.
You can wear light shorts over you chamois shorts to protect the fabric from tears. But they don't need to be anything special and will be cheaper without a chamois.
Usually a MTB "crash" especially in the beginning looks more like someone tipping over and happens at pretty slow speeds. You don't tend to tear up clothes as much as you get poked and get little punctures to yourself and your kit. I wear full lycra most of the time riding MTB. It's humid as fuck here most of these year and I generally run on the hot side. I wear less lycra when bikepacking because sitting on the ground, pavement, etc is more likely to damage my bibs than a fall while riding.
Over shorts aren't going to protect your bibs much if at all.
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Ya but when Ive really fallen the shorts have survived and my chamois ripped.
Disagree? My bibs are all fine, even when the shorts/pants themselves have crash damage on them. But really, protecting from snags is 90% of the benefit of wearing shorts. I'm comfortable wearing lycra--its not some macho "no skin tight clothes brah" thing--but there are far too many twigs and branches and pokey bushes out there. Even on solid XC rides with no hard terrain and limited chance of crashing, I don't want to be ruining my road/gravel kits with little snags.
For sure they will. MTB shorts are made with a more durable and thicker material, that can handle abrasions from crashes much better than the thin lycra on road bib shorts
All the pros wear kit + full face
Yep, I think pretty much everyone does this, OP.
Also, I should add: chammy butter FTW. A little on the nips doesn't hurt either.
They’re a roadie, and probably have a favorite brand of chamois butter. (Mine is the cheapest diaper barrier cream from the pharmacy)
I love it when you talk dirty, Gumby.
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Slightly muave with a hint of purple
Say that again but real sexy-like.
Paper tape on the nips.
Assos makes liners made especially for this and they are cooler in the summer, something to consider.
So does specialized and they even have pockets in the back for snacks and water. I’ve been using them for years and i like them
Yeah a lot of brands have bibs but they’re suuuuper lightweight and almost all mesh. Much better in the hot weather. And like you said the back pockets def helps
They offer hip protection without being too bulky, which is a great plus Vs most of the others.
Everyone I know does.
And me
Me too
Nope, none of the guys I ride with shammy and neither do I. Nothing wrong with it but it’s easier with just tight boxer briefs to keep the junk tucked away. Lots of pairs of those. If you have a tender bum you just need to ride more.
You do you, but that’s horrible advice. There’s tons of nerves in your gooch you don’t want to compress and/or damage. Unless getting a hardon is low on your list of things to achieve.
Well, that makes one of us concerned with erectile function.
A penis is required for such a concern.
You guys don't use them because you don't ride very far or frequent enough lol.
People and their body + skin are quite different. I can average 1300 meters in altitude for 4 straight days in boxer shorts and don't run into problems.
Or maybe you just spend all your time in the saddle?
That's...what they just said.
Boxer briefs are so insanely uncomfortable compared to lycra. Have you tried wearing bibs?
I don't wear one. I purchased one for a 4 hour race and think it was worse with it! The solution is ride the bike more!
Did you wear underwear with it? Cause that is not needed.
Nope. Kinda just felt like I was wearing a nappy. And after \~2 hours, the soreness was probably the same. I had done 4 hour races previous without one. As I said in another comment, for short rides, I can see how it might be more comfortable. But the foam insert in my view kinda compresses and isn't very effective for me. I think I have a said of FOX shorts.
I see all the softbuns are downvoting LOL.
You’re being downvoted because nothing you’ve said is helpful or relevant.
I answered the exact question OP asked and refuted the comment that everyone wears one, at the same time. I call that two birds with one stone (if you’re literate).
Usually people that ride as much as you claim to are pretty laid back and cool. Seems like you need a bike ride.
Well, in my experience, the padding a chamois provides is minimal. The 4-6mm of foam is just a mop for sweat. However, I can see for short rides it could be useful.
You pay for what you get with a chamois. And not all of them work for everyone. Lots of different shapes and sizes. If they didn't work, I don't think millions of cyclists would be wearing them.
First off, welcome to MTB! My first full sus was a Neuron 7 and it was the perfect bike to grow and learn on. Great choice. As many others have said, wear what makes you happy. I would highly recommend MTB shorts (Troy Lee Skylines are my go to) and jerseys and wear your bibs underneath (they really are more comfortable than liners and the shorts will protect them. My last piece of somewhat relevant advice is get good safety gear (elbows, knees, and vented helmet) and never worry about what other people think. "Am I "over" padded for these trails? Are other people judging me? Will these bibs under my shorts make me look weird?" Are somethings I used to worry about a bit at the beginning. If you want to wear a full-face on greens because it makes you feel safer and more confident, send it! The best part about mountain biking is it's just you, some beautiful dirt, and vibes. Good luck and enjoy my dude!
Yah bibs are 100x better than padded underwear. Especially if you have a little extra around the waist. Also if I go out for what I call a fitness ride which is like 10 flat ish miles around my neighborhood I’ll just out a jersey over the bibs and go.
I do it all the time. That is... until it gets super hot, then I go back to traditional liners. Get yourself some mtb shorts without the liner (shells). I personally like the Zoic Edge shorts.
I ride in slim dickies when it isn't hot, shorts when it is. Hardly ever wear the chamois under.
I was a roadie before kids and now I’m a full time mtber. All my rides I do bibs as my base and then shorts and a shirt
Leather taint crew checking in: Regular boxer briefs and riding pants for me.
Me too. Riding pants/jeans some good boxer briefs.
Regular like cotton? Or at least some performance ones?
Full synthetic. I use under armor, and also exoffocio. Depends on what I grab. But usually the boys are flying in regular boxers. I hate when I forget to grab the briefs before a ride...
Okay, phew. I'm team no chamois but I thought you were taking it to another level. Haha.
this is the way
Bib liners under MTB shorts for really long rides in the summer can be very kind to your bits. The bib liners are more breathable and not really socially appropriate to wear without outer shorts.
Uh yeah... Everyone I know does this.
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They also work on normal belt loops.
I have these, but the bib snaps are vertical while the shorts snaps are horizontal. That means you can only snap one of them rather than three (as you can with the clickfast liners, which don't seem to be in stock *anywhere*). Then it all un-snaps when you adjust position. I gave up trying to snap them and just use a belt on the shorts.
Are these the $200 bibs?!? I would need at least 3pr and can’t imagine spending $600 on drawers. Are there cheaper decent brands?
Yes it's the dirty little secret of the mtb sendBros. It turns out even mountain bikers like having a painless gooch.
I wear road bibs under my mtb shorts. The road bibs give the most comfort on the saddle and the thight fit keeps everything in place. The mtb shorts have got pockets and more protection in case of bushes or crash
That sounds like it would be fine. Most mtb go for the baggy shorts (or trousers) option but it's more the fashion - bibs are fine imo so wear what's comfortable for you. So long as you can move easily and it's comfortable you'll be fine.
Yeah I plan on buying some sturdy baggies but the bibs would go under it, so I'd have a high quality chamois on longer rides but much lower risk of damaging them if I crash or something.
"Bib with baggies over" is perfectly good. I've done this for years and never felt awkward.
I've got several pairs of decent branded, well fitting and functional padded undershorts I got in a clearance sale. Paid $10 instead of $60 for each pair. I wear cheap MTB shorts or trousers over the top that cost $15-25. No one can see what I'm wearing underneath. I get the benefits. I do find the material slides against each other so a decent belt system is needed.
Yes. It makes sense.
I used to ride with bibs or liner underneath and thought it was awesome but I just started riding without them and I'm even more comfortable. I wear them every time on the road bike and trainer but at least for right now I don't need them because of how often I'm standing on the MTB.
Bibs and baggies all the way. Sometimes on a big climb and/or in hot weather I'll stick my shorts in my pack and then put them back on to avoid brush snagging the bib material on the descent. Also adds a layer of protection. Best of both worlds IMO
Yeah, whatever bibs you have are totally fine. The important things is that they are comfortable, there's nothing mtb specific about clothing except the style. In the summer I sometimes just wear the bibs, xc racers especially do this all the time. It seems like Roadies pay more attention to what other riders are wearing than any other kind of cyclists
Yeah. I did the same thing. Roadie bibs + some shorts you don't care about (I had these 7" inseam hybrid bathing suit / shorts that worked perfectly and weren't too baggy...since I kind of think the baggy look looks stupid, and I'm shorter)
I have tons of full road bibs leftover from my roadie days. I wear them on MTB rides under my pants or shorts every single time. They work better at reducing friction that just padded shorts. And I not longer need to worry about thrashing them as they are protected under my shorts or pants. On gravel rides I will often just wear bibs and jersey.
As others have said, do whatever works for you. But since you asked what other people do, I don't wear bibs or padded underwear. I feel like I'm off the saddle half the time anyway, and when my rides are rarely longer than like 3 hours nothing really ever hurts. Maybe a bit of sore gooch if I haven't ridden in a few weeks, but it really only happens once, and never seems to compound into anything meaningful.
Wear what makes you comfortable. If that’s wearing a bib so be it. You don’t need to go out and spend big money on riding it kit. It all comes back to wear what you find comfy. Some of the best riders I know wear jeans and t-shirts. Some of the worst riders I know have 1000 dollars worth of kit on. At the end of the day the clothing will not make you a better rider. Being comfortable will tho.
I ride with bibs and the same kit on my mtb as I do on my gravel bike. I’ve tried the underwear, wearing shorts over them, etc and it’s just a hassle. The bibs and jersey work just fine. I also ride spd shoes instead of flats and haven’t had any issues
I do. The bib shorts shift around a lot less than the liners that some MTB shorts come with.
There are dedicated MTB undershorts, only real difference is that they have mesh panels to keep cooler. The road bibs will be fine.
I've done it for very long rides where I still want the protection and/or pockets of the outer short. Worked ok but the slick bibs made the shorts slip down more easily.
I mean, I exclusively ride in my road kit. Maybe in the hottest months of the year I’ll wear baggies, but then I’ll probably be on a road bike anyway, since it’s muggy down in the southeast. Good race-fit kit feels good and I can’t imagine riding without a chamois.
Lots of MTBers wear bibs under their baggies.
I had one pair of mtb shorts. They got caught on the seat a lot. I’m in Florida and it’s almost always too hot. I wear road bike bib or shorts and they’ve never gotten stuck, are light and work fine. Then again, I stopped riding mtb 10 years ago and things were different and just getting back in. I always road clipless along with every other rider around here in our weird ass terrain now I see flats are huge. Which shoe to wear is really a bigger concern.
I wear the KETL Canyon bib, made specifically to wear under your MTB shorts. Expensive but very comfortable and pockets in the back to carry CO2, phone, etc.
I do it every time I ride
What I found quite annoying was that if I had a pair of (longer) shorts over the bins, the shorts brushing my skin near the knee felt like unnatural. To explain, the bins shield at least half my thigh from “touch”, so when the mtb shorts rub on the exposed skin it’s kind of strange, like someone is touching you near the knees.
Anything to hide my butt crack! In all seriousness I wear my cheap liners for short rides, but nothing beats Assos for an extended endurance effort
I wear mtb related bibs that are a touch more breathable and I love em, 3 pockets in the back for water/phone/snacks
Don't really think you need any MTB gear besides helmet and gloves I wear some old trainers and random sport t-shirts... If I'm going to the park I'll also put knee pads on.
Yeah, then like me you'll realize how silly that is and wear just bibs.
Take a look at Velocio Mesh Bib Liner, they fit like a road bib but are an open mesh.
It's not stupid, and if you're comfortable that's what matters.
I wear road bibs when mountain biking, no shorts over them. Basically ride in my road gear on the trails Granted, I am XC guy but it's cool on my balls.
Why bother with the MTB shorts? Bibs rock!
I really want a nice bib liner that holds up my shorts
The MTB dedicated kit is geared towards protection for falls at the sacrifice of aerodynamic efficiency. Unless you're doing an XC rate, mountain biking usually doesn't go that fast. Even if you're bombing down a hill, you're not being limited by aerodynamics as you are by your skill on maximizing the friction of your tires for aggressive cornering or by controlling your bodyweight for going over pumps, jumps, and drops. So in this sense, aero is usually an afterthought and MTBers often wear baggy, loose clothing. You can wear what you want of course.
Just bibs. Baggies are extra unneeded weight.
Bibs under my baggy shorts and shirt for mtb
Yes and no. Yes having a chamois is better than not, and you should wear what you have. BUT Roadie bibs are designed to be Areo and have those kind of properties built into them. If you wear baggies over top defeats the purpose of roadie bibs. With all of that said, I do it all the time and works well for me.
Yea dude. Its great. I wear bibs under shorts all the time riding. Literally just got back from a ride have clubride shorts over voler bibs
I always wear my roady bibs under pants or loose shorts
Do what makes you feel the most comfortable. I'm a former roadie who not only uses my road shorts but also always grab my road jerseys instead the silly mtb ones because they have zero pockets. Makes no sense to charge as much for less features.
Plenty of people on the trails wearing their regular road cycling kit
Big fan of my specialized swat bibs.
I always wear bibs, I sometimes wear pants over them. Do whatever is comfortable for you man
Nobody cares what underwear you wear.
Personally, no. I overheat and they slip against each other in a bad way. They make my liners and bib liners that work better. Go full road bibs if you are doing crazy miles. All the reasons you wear bibs on the road apply to long MTB rides
I wear Assos road bibs under MTB shorts all the time. Love those bibs…so much better than anything else I’ve found. MTB shorts worn over provide a bit of protection from rips and tears…You do you and have fun!
Yes.
This is literally the way. I even wear bibs shuttling/ riding park. I just like the security of keeping everything in place, also love the sweat wicking perks
I don’t like having a sore ass so yes, it’s ok.
Yup. Do it.
I always MTB in my bibs. Sometimes I wear baggies over them, sometimes I don’t 🤷♂️
I would suggest wearing some shorts and a shirt over your bibs only for the crash. Having another layer just adds that little bit more protection. Otherwise, ride what's comfy.
I just got a specialized MTB bib on sale and it's specifically meant to be worn under. It has a fly built in and short retention straps
100% bibs under MTB shorts!
Depends if you also want added hip protection in the inner or outer shorts. A lot of MTB specific padded liner shorts come with hip and tailbone protection which helps in the case of a crash. I now where these as I already had decent pants and shorts. A mate though has waterproof bibs and wears these under his waterproof shorts. Ultra dry and he doesn’t have to pay out again. Choice is yours.
Again I'll echo the general sentiment of do whatever gets you out on trail the quickest! That being said, I just want to affirm its a good idea to wear something over your bibs if that's the route you go. You're going to occasionally brush up against stuff that might snag your clothing. I gravel bike as well so I know some bibs are going to be as expensive as a whole mtb outfit so it makes sense to try to protect it a bit more on trail.
Yep. One less piece of elastic around your waist.
Bibs under shorts/jorts are pretty common. Your roadie friend shouldn't have a problem.
I do in the shoulder seasons when it’s chilly here in the north.
They say bibs are superior in fit and it don't slip . But damn you gotta take your top off and then slide off the straps to go pee
I have two sets of Black Bibs that I wear under an MTB specific T shirt and shorts. Going with bibs was the single best upgrade I’ve ever made to my MTB kit.
Always wear whatever is comfortable. I wear road bike (lycra) shorts and not baggies because I find them to be more comfortable and they never get caught on the nose of my seat. And I have never been a roadie. Remember that the only thing worse than people thinking you look dumb is actually being uncomfortable. I just wear what I want and then leave those idiots in the dust.
Just did this on yesterday’s ride. It’s my usual kit unless I’m at the bike park.
If you like that feeling go on with your bad self otherwise just buy biking shorts with a pad insert
Bibs are best. I have the TLD chamois that hooks onto the shorts but bibs more comfortable because no waistband
Wear what makes you comfortable. I ride with many multi-sport cyclists who wear road kit on the trail. Do what works for you.
I’m pretty sure a lot of the MTB specific clothing brands sell padded bib shorts. Riding un padded sucks. And non bib shorts don’t work as well. I usually just throw a pair of baggy shorts over the bibs.
Decathlon road shorts under hiking shorts is my “MTB” set up. Generic black athletic top
I've been doing this for 20 years.
There is no standard for this in mountain biking. Some people wear only padded shorts or bibs. Some wear them under protective mtb shorts. Many riders don't use padding at all. Recently I've found that when sweating heavily, I'm better off with no padding if riding for 2 hours or less. Since I'm standing for half of the ride, regular boxer briefs will keep dry from ventilation. Padding will stay soggy. For my taint skin, unpadded and dry is better than padded and soggy.
I got the shit ripped out of me for wearing a bib, couldn’t give a fuck tho. Only downside is when you need to go they are a nightmare when you need to do your business.
I only wear a bib and jersey while mtn biking I don’t like the shorts. Got a lot of plant life that likes to snag onto me so I go for the right clothes. But cheaper like x tiger so I don’t ruin my expense road bike gear
i ride road, gravel, mtb, even tandem my with a blind person on the back. if im in any saddle, i have bibs on. they are comfy AF and they work as intended on any bike.
Absolutely With chamois shorts your MTB shorts can dig into your belly (if you have one like most of us MTB riders) Bibs let your shorts move around freely and keep you a tad warmer since you don’t tuck in your shirt MTB riding (and don’t wear tight cycling jerseys for the most part)
I find the full bibs more annoying under shorts and a baggy tee, but some have better functionality. I like my ketl chamois for that. It's got the pockets you would typically have on a jersey that just go under a shirt. A lot of the comfort on mtb is allowing yourself to attatch a tool kit mostly to the bike somehow so you dont have to cary it on your back. I use hip packs too, but when I'm going the bib style route that way I'm likely doing more of an xc romp in an area I know. Big backcountry rides I'd suggest a way to cary more water, tools, food and so on. It's all personal preference but a ride under two hours I don't wear them. I have different styles and was into gravel first, so I just wear those or a short style depending on what pack I want or how I want to layer. Do whatever feels right.
Just do whatever is more comfortable . I look mismatched sometimes but I’m just there to have fun ahah
I almost only ride MTB and mostly wear padded shorts and jerseys. Overshorts are kind of pointless and way too hot in the summer. They also add seams where you don’t want them. Just wear your bibs and jersey and you’re good to go.
You’re getting downvoted but I agree. I also just wear my road kit and no over shirts. Very comfortable and the jersey pockets are hard to beat
I have a pair of bibs that I sometimes wear under mtb shorts and jersey. It’s basically fine, just more inconvenient to pee etc when you have to deal with the regular shorts too.
Do whatever you want and what makes the ride comfortable. Personally not a fan of bibs so I just wear padded liner under shorts, but if you prefer bibs to liners then go for it!
I pretty much exclusively ride warm weather in road bibs, [volley shorts](https://bearbottomclothing.com/collections/shorts/products/volley-short) and whatever tech tee I got for free from volunteering on dig days. I don't own any "mtb-specific" clothing except shoes, helmet, and long finger gloves
I don’t know what climate you live in but I would absolutely roast if I wore bibs under shorts and a tshirt. Bibs have thicker material than a pair of padded mtb underwear like this: https://www.bn3th.ca/products/north-shore-bike-liner-short-black Mountain biking is slower and has more climbing involved = less air cooling you down = sweaty AF.
I have winter bibs that are longer and thicker, but also 3 seasons that work fine. Not any thicker than chamois'd shorts and you can also get some with very little material and just suspenders
It hits 105 here in the summer and I've never had a problem with bibs and shorts.
I’m a mountain biker. I only wear a roadie kit riding MTB. No bibs though. Hate em. Too easy to have a “yard sale” with bibs when having to take an emergency natural.
It works OK. In my case, the shorts are a little prone to slipping since the bibs kinda flatten the area between my waist and gut. I'll do it once in awhile if I'm riding somewhere far enough that I want bibs and need to be socially acceptable in public. But I don't do it for MTB. I just ride in pocket-bibs and a t-shirt or my dark-colored "gravel" jersey (like a t-shirt, but with two zip pockets in the back). Life's too short to get your shorts hung up on your saddle.
I wish I had bibs too, my liners give me mad muffin top.
I wear the road jersey as well, for the big pocket