When it comes to cycling, your comfort and confidence in what you are wearing is far more important than any other cycling metric. The last thing you want is to wear clothes that you don’t feel relaxed in and make you anxious because you think people are looking.
Therefore, can you wear normal shorts over cycling bib shorts?
You can wear standard shorts over the top of padded lycra cycling shorts together, and they won’t impact your bike ride. It will make you feel more comfortable than tight lycra cycling shorts alone, and you still benefit from padded cycling shorts underneath.
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When Were Cycling Shorts First Used?
There is nothing wrong with wearing padded bib shorts to protect your bum from saddle soreness and then wearing a regular pair of baggy shorts over the top to make you feel more comfortable.
In fact, most new cyclists start this way until they build up confidence and understanding that the majority of other cyclists wear lycra clothing.
In truth, from 1930, every cyclist wore woollen cycling shorts without padding, onto extremely hard leather saddles. This trend continued until about 1980 when the first lycra bib shorts were introduced into the cycling world.
Meaning that for many years cyclist didn’t wear lycra shorts when cycling and continued to break multiple world records.
Feeling comfortable whilst riding your bike is probably more relevant than distance and speed, especially when you’re new to cycling. If wearing baggy shorts gives you the confidence to ride your bike outside on the road, that is better than not riding.
Ideally, you want to wear waterproof or water-resistant shorts that are somewhat breathable over the top of your cycling shorts.
If you wear cotton or wool shorts, the shorts will become saturated and heavy if it rains. If you sweat a lot, these types of shorts will just absorb all of the moisture.
Are There Benefits Of Cycling Bib Shorts?
Now there are some benefits to just wearing lycra cycling shorts alone. The main advantage is all to do with speed and distance travelled for the same energy expelled on the bike.
That means if you wear a pair of cycling shorts without shorts over the top, you will find that you would be approximately 2km faster for the same effort. Implying wearing baggy shorts and baggy clothes can slow you down.But only by 5%
Furthermore, lycra cycling shorts are intended for comfort on the sit bones and to prevent chafing around the top of the thighs and bum.
They are great for reducing sweat buildup and keeping you cooler for longer. They have a waterproof barrier stopping them from getting heavy when wet.
Adding an additional layer above your cycling shorts reduces some of these benefits. But you will still profit from the padded material in the bum area of the cycling shorts.
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Consider Wear Mountain Bike Shorts
A great alternative to cycling bib shorts and wearing standard shorts over the top is mountain bike shorts. Most mountain bike shorts will be padded in the correct areas under your bum but will be baggier than a typical cycling short made from lycra.
Mountain bike shorts are an excellent way to build your confidence in wearing cycling shorts without the really tight lycra shorts making you feel uncomfortable.
Mountain bike shorts, however, can become quite expensive, but they are more robust, better weatherproofed, and comfortable compared to regular sports shorts or long trousers. They generally come in longer lengths to your knees, and you can also get full lengthed trousers.
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Can You Wear Long Trousers Over Cycling Shorts
Generally, the same rule applies to wearing normal sports shorts over cycling bib shorts, where if you feel comfortable wearing long trousers over the top of your lycra shorts, they will work perfectly fine.
However, be mindful of baggy trouser legs because they can become a snag hazard, especially around your crank and pedal section of your bike.
Furthermore, if you wear cotton trousers and it rains, the cotton will hold a lot of the water and make your pants a lot heavier. You will get cold very quickly, and the added weight will make your pants drag down.
This really isn’t ideal for cycling, especially if you are a long way from home.Alternatively, you can carry waterproof trousers that you can put on if the weather suddenly turns. Again when it comes to comfort and confidence, if you prefer to wear long trousers and still benefit from the padding of a bit short, there’s nothing wrong with wearing them together.