Women’s Bike Bibs — Women’s Triathlon Suits — Where to begin?

[OneEighth]

Hills are your friend. Except when they’re not.
And, yes, I do actually have something useful to add. I’ve found that bibs are like every other article of clothing in that different manufacturers have different theories on how people are shaped. So, try things on and see whose theory fits you best.
My other bit of advice you probably already know (think back to my comment at the end of happy hour) and applies to any bike shorts or rowing trou.

[elcee]

I don’t do triathlons, but aren’t the pads on tri suits thinner than those on bike bibs? So tri suits work for both running and cycling, but won’t be as comfortable on bikes as pure bike bibs.

[CCrew]

@elcee 18147 wrote:

I don’t do triathlons, but aren’t the pads on tri suits thinner than those on bike bibs? So tri suits work for both running and cycling, but won’t be as comfortable on bikes as pure bike bibs.

They are. The suit itself is more like the material as in a skinsuit used in time trial. You actually keep them on during the swim also obviously, unless you want to give the whole world a show in transition.

TYR makes some of the best women’s stuff. But tri suits are not bike bibs, there’s a lot of difference.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/triathlon/c0-atsport_04.html?gclid=CMOL-IaSuK8CFUPf4AodfXwxkw

[acc]

CCrew I agree completely with you about TYR. They have high-quality, beautifully designed selections that fit more people besides teenage girls.

The chamois is probably not an issue. The short triathlon is not going to bother my sit bones too much. I ride almost every day so going 10-15 miles is not going to bother me even if I choose something without padding.

I’m worried about the heat. Wearing a jersey on a bike is fine, there’s always a breeze. But what I’ve discovered coming off the bike is my “running style” doesn’t seem to create any breeze and I cook like a lobster in a pot after the first mile.

As for the bib shorts, men swear by them. Why shouldn’t I have the best equipment just like the men?
There appear to be different clasps in front and varying degrees of exposure in the back. I’m just trying to sort all of that out before I put down close to $200.

Thank you for your help. I appreciate it.
ann

[CCrew]

@acc 18152 wrote:

As for the bib shorts, men swear by them. Why shouldn’t I have the best equipment just like the men?

I guess I’m unclear Ann.. Are you looking for women’s bibs, or a tri-suit? Bibs are going to be problematic during the swim. Men certainly wear bibs, I much prefer bibs over shorts but on the bike, but even with a jersey on over top the swim portion water is going to come in the top and really has nowhere to exit. It’s all about minimizing drag, and for Tri I can’t see where bibs are it. Trisuit yes.

[Tim Kelley]

Bibs and a tri-suit (or tri-shorts) serve two different purposes. I wouldn’t recommend using bibs for a triathlon because the chamois is much thicker and will soak up a ton of water and will probably end up chafing on the bike and run. The reason tri-suits/tri-shorts have a thinner chamois is so that they will dry quicker and not get in the way as much during the run. Running in bike shorts (bibs, or otherwise) is like running in a diaper, and it makes your butt look big.

If you feel comfortable riding without padding for 10-15 miles then just go without anything and use whatever running gear you already have. If you do feel compelled to buy something, tri-shorts paired with a lovely BikeArlington bike jersey would make an excellent combo.

Personally, I have a one piece tri-suit that I invested in several years ago and have used for many races, all the way up to the half-ironman distance. (At full IM distance there are changing tents so it makes it easy for quick clothing changes.)

[Dirt]

Both Bonzai and TSFKAC (The Shop Formerly Known As Conte’s… aka Freshbikes) both have very good Tri and women’s clothing choices. Both have experienced sales people that know their stuff. Bonzai in particular has a couple of women triathletes on staff that can talk to you about things. Might be a good place to at least start your investigations. I’ve found both shops extremely helpful when I’ve got questions or need something specific. Both are very fast with special orders if they don’t have a color/style that you want in stock.

[Megabeth]

I have the tri-shorts and I like them. Good enough for a shorter bike ride and the pad dries out pretty quickly and doesn’t suck up half the lake/pool/ocean, etc.

Also, honestly, for those last minute “gotta go” moments, easier to get them off than bibs.

However, on the longer rides (bike only) I love my bibs. There’s no waistband annoyance.

[acc]

Sorry for the confusion. I have two separate issues.

One: Bib Shorts
The bib shorts were on my mind yesterda because I saw a man flying around Bull Run without his jersey and I was reminded of them.

Two: The Triathlon: “I have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear.” I’ll head over to one of the local shops today or tomorrow and see what they have to say.

Thank you again.

ann

[Tim Kelley]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]932[/ATTACH]

[dasgeh]

I’ve done a few tris — olympic and sprint distance. (Not quickly, just finished). I could see wanting to invest in the bike gear to train, but I’ve never understood the appeal of bib shorts. I’ve never tried them, but they seem fussy and hard to get off during, um, nature breaks. Sorry I can’t help there.

As far as what to wear in the tri, plenty of ladies wear a one piece swimsuit for the swim, then throw on shorts for the bike/run, especially for a sprint distance. I tried running in my swimsuit and chaffed in places I don’t like to chafe, so that wasn’t an option for me. I’d recommend doing a few “bricks” of swim-run and swim-bike in the swimsuit-shorts set up early in training, and if it works for you, increase your distance. If that continues to work, awesome. If not, try to borrow/buy a tri suit. Personally, I wouldn’t bother with 2-piece tri stuff (shorts/top) because things ride up or down and get weird, especially when wet. Oh, and most of these tri suits are made for warm weather (just ask the salespeople).

Finally, once you know what brand and such you like, http://www.theclymb.com/home has pretty great deals on this stuff. It’s one of those limited-time deal sites (though I just went on and they have a ton of “events” right now).

[acc]

Those truly special moments I’ve been having lately, the ones that involve tossing the bike and beginning to run, convinced me there’s no way I’m “running” in a bathing suit. There is not enough Vaseline in Costco to make that possible. But 4″ shorts are best worn in combination with over the knee boots if you know what I’m sayin’ so I’m left with six inch shorts and some sort of legally acceptable top. I’m done with one piece suits of any kind, except for the Forever Lazy Suit and if I wore that I’d probably drown. All in all, drowning at the beginning would at least spare me suffering through the rest of the race. I decided TYR had the type of “costume” that worked the best for me. Sadly, everything priced to sell is sold out. If you want to buy this sort of alternative wear, winter is probably best.

The bib shorts have been ordered but I’ll let you know. They sound awfully complicated. Zippers here and there, a clasp in front, it makes my head spin. With my luck the zippers will burst about 35 miles from home and I’ll provide the evening’s entertainment all the way back.

Thank you again, I learned a lot from these exchanges.
ann

[dasgeh]

For anyone looking for a trisuit or wetsuit, the Clymb has 2Xu at the moment (for 4 more days!), with a pretty good selection. If you use this link, I get a bonus (thanks!)

[Tim Kelley]

@dasgeh 20847 wrote:

For anyone looking for a trisuit or wetsuit, the Clymb has 2Xu at the moment (for 4 more days!), with a pretty good selection. If you use this link, I get a bonus (thanks!)

Is it just trisuits and wetsuits, or is there other 2XU gear on sale too?

[dasgeh]

@Tim Kelley 20850 wrote:

Is it just trisuits and wetsuits, or is there other 2XU gear on sale too?

Trisuits, wetsuits, singlets, shorts, tops… Here’s the list, for those who don’t want to sign up just to see it… And the link, again, in case you want to throw me a bone.

Men’s R:1 Race Wetsuit
$229.98
Retail: $467.00

Men’s ST:2 Sleeveless Team Wetsuit
$139.98
Retail: $299.00

Men’s Super Elite Endurance Trisuit
$119.98
Retail: $250.00

Men’s Compression Trisuit
$89.98
Retail: $195.00

Men’s Compression Trisuit
$89.98
Retail: $195.00

Men’s Endurance Trisuit
$74.98
Retail: $160.00

Men’s Endurance Trisuit
$74.98
Retail: $160.00

Men’s Endurance Trisuit
$74.98
Retail: $160.00

Men’s Comp Trisuit
$57.98
Retail: $130.00

Men’s Comp Trisuit
$57.98
Retail: $130.00

Men’s Compression Tri Singlet
$64.98
Retail: $130.00

Men’s Compression Tri Singlet
$64.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-a051ac84261bf145b45be3365c3f15358ee3f178

Men’s Comp Tri Singlet
$37.98
Retail: $80.00
Grid-b661322e058d0c74039f27dea1970ac6e6050af9

Men’s Comp Tri Singlet
$37.98
Retail: $80.00
Grid-d644465463b79fca72a55b672bf3d33fe986a21c

Men’s Endurance Aero Tri Singlet
$49.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-28e8f673f870f99eb2765ea6fabc0754324805b8

Men’s Endurance Aero Tri Singlet
$49.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-0ee8497f633dee4cccc103e65c1964760beafd09

Men’s Endurance Aero Tri Singlet
$49.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-cde5b9db5d9786491ab82225367bab0e445b814a

Men’s Active Tri Singlet
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-c91bec618877f37e708784d9ab351793ce58458e

Men’s Active Tri Singlet
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-ec4eff2d1e16c05664d0662d0e1ffb700a337253

Men’s Active Tri Singlet
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-77221d9e85ffc723fff4d50a93fe887157b1dea9

Men’s Compression Tri Shorts
$64.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-47bebcee0a19b219209c89bebc7ebe6ab4ef35a5

Men’s Compression Tri Shorts
$64.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-03764260eb9396087691530dcb5315f0490591ef

Men’s Endurance Aero Tri Shorts
$49.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-0eeb267fd3be1d7701937940b98a774b94dc207b

Men’s Endurance Aero Tri Shorts
$49.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-927bfb946b90205fe299d833b9269e8f464e7b57

Men’s Endurance Aero Tri Shorts
$49.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-0f8ab7d4dd1f01d4142c82d3863fdf1ce79e1588

Men’s Comp Tri Shorts
$39.98
Retail: $85.00
Grid-20faaca7d23f596143355c25f54ceb871b35da60

Men’s Comp Tri Shorts
$39.98
Retail: $85.00
Grid-54388bf3efa239008a0551d2c33daaea8c134da7

Men’s Active Tri Shorts
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-21f71996e626213b9068bae8bcae8940123efec0

Women’s R:1 Race Wetsuit
$229.98
Retail: $467.00
Grid-3c2bb9c0ae9b5edad99af6f79d77f1ca4d7ea305

Women’s T:2 Team Wetsuit
$154.98
Retail: $311.00
Grid-b295b8b9f5f95006ad5e4dbede3315fd9888e5cd

Women’s ST:2 Sleeveless Team Wetsuit
$149.98
Retail: $299.00
Grid-32daad3c49963eccdcca83e525c157c16fe0b5ff

Women’s Compression Trisuit
$89.98
Retail: $195.00
Grid-a997db330db459c89ef6c74cc9abd1e648f647de

Women’s Compression Trisuit
$89.98
Retail: $195.00
Grid-271255ad7f3c3dc76799a6e24c5cb37928dcb175

Women’s Endurance Trisuit
$79.98
Retail: $160.00
Grid-f9fef67527f7cfa2e7e888b70c7fc99a98f505d7

Women’s Endurance Trisuit
$79.98
Retail: $160.00
Grid-b58e455c60d6bc3b91f109d4068e79e796ba9d74

Women’s Comp Trisuit
$59.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-f0bde3d73dbac835d077427a78639c6344829f99

Women’s Comp Trisuit
$59.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-79fd6476957d2ab86c62566e9daff0ecf1698a1c

Women’s Compression Tri Singlet
$59.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-725024fce7937ae9eb38954f207a11cc45048631

Women’s Compression Tri Singlet
$59.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-e6d6d428d3bbafdacbc972f9e29175b67d672338

Women’s Comp Tri Singlet
$39.98
Retail: $80.00
Grid-112a1f03dc05e76f77797b057bd6903ddfc8c21c

Women’s Comp Tri Singlet
$39.98
Retail: $80.00
Grid-06bc1ccc9bc20131205ca3955106f5c40341698e

Women’s Active Tri Singlet
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-d225b6fdb99ceb14e44df4e12a4b875c6549f745

Women’s Active Tri Singlet
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-df06d7fbf9446112905b7cf9fb21ea4fef3293cd

Women’s Tankini Tri Singlet
$89.98
Retail: $200.00
Grid-c62981691e96fcd2c39581a0b649a7c6c3de6c88

Women’s Endurance Tri Singlet
$54.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-0f619dfee8895eb49ad890f6bc0fd6720eb93027

Women’s Endurance Tri Singlet
$54.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-b134834a6d99d6dc622acd5115f61d1b0fd46b79

Women’s Endurance Tri Singlet
$54.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-f7706f70a99c00176d0a88ebb8a7ed8bbfeca423

Women’s Femme Tri Singlet
$44.98
Retail: $90.00
Grid-0cd45b65cd2c2109462985609459eec58d354c61

Women’s Comp Tri Top
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-44c8083719473b6d04349e0d0f1bea2169eb3964

Women’s Comp Tri Top
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-f43f230043e5978fde6e75e855506e94df4bb9b6

Women’s Femme Tri Top
$26.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-4c0e60cdc14e40ea0396431e9e7b887d22502508

Women’s L/S Run Top
$14.98
Retail: $90.00
Grid-0a43919c9d4533082ad561081dfb824d7db08782

Women’s L/S Run Top
$14.98
Retail: $50.00
Grid-9cf358d33b76ed56b206fa1a1b2bf9fedb6f8033

Women’s Compression Tri Shorts
$59.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-2d33f4f4793d49b5a5e29fa2c5e62cb8b18815ab

Women’s Compression Tri Shorts
$59.98
Retail: $130.00
Grid-333854cbb14dae3a548ebc06c699ff9120cccd68

Women’s Endurance Tri Shorts
$54.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-5c186defd142139a4d0716f0879568516933d86a

Women’s Endurance Tri Shorts
$54.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-b1bbe7817b33190d59a6c0b7c97f7ebba4e7475b

Women’s Endurance Tri Shorts
$54.98
Retail: $110.00
Grid-8de22b7128de48739811710aeef53fd6acb5f686

Women’s Active Tri Shorts
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-0ccd1ce0da98c65091286ba4568d49f78bb0144b

Women’s Active Tri Shorts
$29.98
Retail: $60.00
Grid-286bf7e69a5ff249cad80fd9b534434985837867

Women’s Femme Tri Shorts
$44.98
Retail: $90.00
Grid-d6e5efbffb5f7fab03a77a14dc006b8458b98dd2

Women’s Comp Tri Shorts
$39.98
Retail: $85.00
Grid-2c283cafad19a2214e1273a8444cf4c19b858818

Women’s Comp Tri Shorts
$39.98
Retail: $85.00
Grid-17e4c3c36a128bae85f1ede91893ef4a3e6b2837

Women’s Femme Hipster Shorts
$34.98
Retail: $75.00
Grid-1472ae094d8d51e1474901f148ed2f0cd64b52c4

Women’s Active Run Shorts
$17.98
Retail: $55.00
Grid-6131d2f65fe2522bd710801f7c0a41d5fe53103f Newgridview_soldout

Men’s T:2 Team Wetsuit
$144.98
Retail: $311.00

[Author]

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