[Closed] Lycra Wearers: How tight should bib tights be?

oofft didnt need to see that in the morning

those do look a touch on the tight side....

Hairy legs and lycra? What are you doing.....

Seem not far off what mine are like. So long as they're not see through, no problem...

Well heloooooooo sailor! :-*

I've had the same with some 3/4 tights - they were also pretty tight, especially around the legs, where they don't seem to take into account for some of us with the bigger legs.

Seems that the uber priced brands such as Assos et al have different sizes within sizes for this very thing. I think.

>mindbleach<

Hairy legs and lycra? What are you doing.....

I'm hairy all over. Like a real [s]monkey[/s] man should be.
If I shave my legs I'll look like I'm wearing furry boxers.

Do DHB use 'Italian' sizing? Don't own any bib tights, but I have compression tights, which (obviously) are tight, but not stretched, and my bib shorts always feel tight standing, but not noticeable at all on the bike, again, tight, but not stretched. I would guess that if the lycra is stretching then I'd be going with it's a bit small, but smaller is better than too big. Do they feel ok if you're sat in a riding position? If so, I reckon they're ok.

Seems that the uber priced brands such as Assos et al have different sizes within sizes for this very thing. I think.

Yeah these are very much at the budget end (£40) to satisfy my curiosity.

If I decide to come out of the closet during daylight hours then I'll get some more upmarket ones.

Skin Tight or tight enough to tell if you have been circumscised

It wont last long as they will stretch anyway

If I shave my legs I'll look like I'm wearing furry boxers.

Like the piccie wasn't bad enough. I think I just did a little bit of sick in my mouth.

But seriously, I look similar albeit with a slightly larger tum that requires hiding/holding in place with a tight top. You really wouldn't want to encounter me when out and about togged-up in riding Lycra...

Thread reported to mods 😀

Skin Tight or tight enough to tell if you have been circumscised

Hang on, I'll get a close up and you can tell me...

OMG pissing myself..they are fine by the way there meant to be tight got to say your brave posting that on here

your dining area is in a right state (not a euphamism).

your brave posting that on here

When you're blessed with a body like mine it is only polite to share it. 😆

your dining area is in a right state

That's it tidy. You should see the rest of the house!

2 year olds and fine dining do not mix well.

They are fine - DHB 3/4 are sized perfectly ime.

No point in buying Lycra and having it flap around like err shorts... is there?

Oh and don't post up any more pics like that before the watershed 😉

I'd want the fabric to be stretched but still have some give. If it's full stretch surely that's too tight? Can you fit a pair of socks down the front? Can you bend over and grab your ankles? Post up another pic in this position please 🙂

If it's full stretch surely that's too tight

I wouldn't say it's at full stretch - but it's certainly stretched tight.
Other lycra I've worn has been considerably looser (e.g. MT500 lycra shorts)

Can you fit a pair of socks down the front?

Always do. The general scrotal area is fine - it's mainly across the thighs and calfs that feel tight. Also I can feel the shoulder straps pulling down.

Can you bend over and grab your ankles?

Pffffttt... I'm a 37 year old desk jockey. I can't even do that sober.

Have you got on the bike with them yet?

My bib shorts are bloody uncomfortable when standing up but sublime when i'm on the bike, only got one pair so nothing to compare it to!

Have you got on the bike with them yet?

Nah, the missus dragged me to bed as soon as she saw me in them.
(also I didn't want to get them dirty cos I'm thinking of returning them)

Seem okayish when sat in a bike-like position - but still tight. Also they seem to bunch a bit behind the knees but that may just be because they are cheap.

Tight but not too tight, I think snug is the word
Let's face it the only reason for wearing lycra is comfort so....
Are they comfy to ride in?
yes keep em
no [s]diet[/s] bin em

They are not see through enough, there are no frilly lace bits and you are not wearing high heals.

What exactly is the point of the photo?

I want a refund.

How tight are they when you're not sucking in your gut 😉

GrahamS - bravest poster of the year!

I ought the identical tights in the same size after reading the size guide on Wiggle and yes I thought they were a bit tight. After a fe washes they loosen up a little but care needs to be execised with the crown jewels

Just avoid this particular brand, unless you want to look like the Terminator after a sex-change.

[img] [/img]

I ought the identical tights in the same size after reading the size guide on Wiggle and yes I thought they were a bit tight.

Think it's worth going up a size while they are still new then FOG?

I'm concerned that the next size up (XL) says it is for a 41 inch waist which sounds massive, but if it gives me a more comfortable leg then may be a good plan.

Just avoid this particular brand, unless you want to look like the Terminator after a sex-change.

Is it me or does he have a bad case of cameltoe?

Well so far guys (As the standard of STW goes) quite sensible and disappointing. Where are all the 'good' and 'bad' fit pics? 😀 I'm ill at the mo and need cheering up

I prefer my bib tights to be excrutiatingly tight and painful.. I take a M/L but always buy an XXS..
Hot chilli sauce on the chamois too.. 😳

My theory on bibs is, if you have to extract the pad from your arse hole at the end of the ride, then the shoulder straps are probably a bit tight. (I have some Assos bibs that do this. Quite unpleasant).

as junkyard says, lycra gets baggier with use/washing/time so "sock tight" would become baggy in no time.

Having mixed results with my first forays into roadie kit and bibs. Got some Pearl Izumi Select (cheaper range) bibs in small, seem to fit okay, straps possibly a bit tight (no experience to compare them too but they pass the Pedalhead "floss" test 😯 ) but the actual shorts bit feel perfect. So splashed out on a pair of higher end Pearl Izumi Elite bibs, again size small, and I couldnt even get them over my knees 🙄

Fair play on posting the pic, any haterz should put up or shut up 😛

"Bad case of cameltoe" is putting it mildly. It's definitely more of a growler than a mumbler. 😯

Just remember that this is never a good look:

[img] [/img]

that reminds me, I must pick up some new potatoes

Dear god no

Whenever I see that photo the first thing I see is their mismatched helmets.

*raises an eyebrow*

I've gone by the size guide Prendas gave me when I bought my first pair of bib shorts

It goes along the lines of:
"The waist size is pointless, that bit can stretch as much as you need it to. The size you need is in the height and leg length."

Followed that with the 2 bib shorts and 2 bib tights I have, and right enough they've coped with me dropping from 95 kilo down to 68 and back up to 75 as well as daytime bloating fine.

So, if the shoulder straps are digging in then you're probably a size too small.

IF they are feeling a bit tight on calves and thighs double check whether they are meant to be compression tights, and then don't worry about it, again that's a stretchy bit designed to be worn for leg sizes between Rasmussen and Hoy.

with lycra it should all be under a bit of tension. Unless you were the modle for the makers they won't be perfect but thats why its stretchy. If in doubt, which means you might buy either size, go down. It will always fit whereas if you go up it my be baggy which is wrong. thicker fabric has more potential to bunch behind the knee as do simpler designs which tend to be the cheaper ones. My DHB 3/4 bibs have given good service for perhaps 100 days a year for at least 4 years. without a doubt the only piece of clothing that gets more use are my wellies and then are not any longer lasting.

You ned to add some arm warmers to complete the look 😉

[i]Whenever I see that photo the first thing I see is their mismatched helmets. [/i]

I try not to look that closely, tbh.

"man uses size doubts as excuse to post pic and gets away with it"

shame on you!

Graham, I find lycra bib shorts to be pretty tight at first - they gently ease off on the fitting a little bit - but if they are really tough to get on, and constrict blood flow (!) then may be time to trade up.

It's difficult to get sizing right on bib shorts, totally. I got a pair from Morvelo; almost impossible to get on. Traded up and they're still, ah, neat. But it hopefully encourages me to keep off the pies 🙂

My Enduras were pretty tight when first purchased, have now eased to 'fitted' if that makes sense. You just don't know really until you trade up and they flap about.

Am I wrong in still having lycra in my 50th year? 🙂

[b]** UPDATE ****[/b]

In case anyone is interested. The XL bibs arrived today and are a much better fit. (Still skin tight but less taught and thankfully less prone to leg hair poking through)
Good thing too as I got to test them out in the snow on the way home. 😀

So there you have it. 6'2 (188cm), 34-36 waist, ~90kg, big legs?
then ignore the official size guide and go for XL.

GrahamS.

Just been through exactly the same thing myself. Though I'm only 6' with a 32-34 waist.
Ordered a L going by their size guide, tried them on and there was hairs sticking out of everywhere 😯

XL seems much betterer.
Seriously no one needs to see my hair sticking through lycra. 😐

I was gonna go for some dhb bibs as well, not sure on the sizing now! What size would be best for me at 5'9" ish with a 29" inside leg and 32" waist?

Dunno but I'd be tempted to go one larger than their size chart suggests. The dhb stuff always seemed to be sized quite small (gets mentioned in a few reviews). By their size chart the XL should be huge on me but it's fine.

You can always return it if there is an issue - the wiggle returns process went very smoothly for me.

I tend to run on the warm side and have an hour road commute, how warm do you find these? Would you wear a pair of baggies over the top or just these? I currently have some padded 3/4's which I wear under waterproof baggies when the temp starts to drop.

I tend to run on the warm side and have an hour road commute

ditto on both counts. I ran them last night under a set of old MT500 baggies and a riding jersey plus jacket on top. Was fine. Mind you it was snowing!

I have the eVent baggies so similar bag of bones. Its not snowing down south just cold. I'm not sure I or the general public for that matter are ready for the whole lycra and nothing else experience so I may go with baggies all the same lol