Fit is the number one thing to think about when buying bib shorts.

Fit can depend on a number of factors like the cut of the shorts and the shape of the person wanting to wear them, but fundamentally there are a few things that will apply to everyone. Also keep in mind that these shorts are meant to be ridden in, which means that they might not feel all that comfortable when you’re standing around in them, but can feel totally different when you’re on the bike.

The first is tightness. The shorts need to be skintight. That doesn’t mean compressively tight (though some shorts are, to good effect), but it does mean that there should be no movement of the fabric next to the skin. The more movement there is, the higher the chances that something’s going to rub and that’ll cause all sorts of unwanted irritation. This goes for the chamois, too. It should sit flush against the skin and should move about as little as possible whether you’re sat in the saddle riding hard or doing your best Contador-esque out of the saddle dance. The less extraneous movement there is between shorts and skin, the more comfortable the shorts will be.

With the bibs section, you want something that fits snugly but isn’t too tight. It’s funny how something that only seems a little tight at the start of the ride can feel like a real weight on your shoulders at the end of a long day. Similarly, you’ll want them to be made out of something that won’t rub your shoulders too much (although if you’re riding with a baselayer, which should almost always be the case, then it won’t matter as much). You also want them to be wide even to distribute pressure and avoid bunching up, when they’ll start digging into your shoulders.