How to Pee in Bib Shorts: The Eternal Question. Or, at least, the eternal question when you first get in a pair and think, WTF?!
If you haven’t swapped your bike shorts for a set of bibs, what are you waiting for? Bib shorts stay in place better and feel more comfortable (no waistband digging into your belly as you pedal). Unfortunately, they also can be a bit intimidating for new riders, and often, bike shops don’t have many options available for women. Still, if you’re riding a lot, switching to bibs is one of the best decisions you’ll make!
However… The biggest question I hear when riders consider swapping to bib shorts is, “How am I going to pee?” And, to be honest, it is a bit trickier in bibs than it is in shorts. But there are a few hacks and methods that can make it easier! Here are my personal favorites that pros and amateur riders shared with me when I wrote “Saddle, Sore: Ride Comfortable, Ride Happy.”
The Squat-and-Pull
This is the method most pro racers opt for. It’s not the best one for your chamois, since it does involve putting a lot of stretch into your shorts, but it gets the job done. Simply squat low to the ground (hidden from sight, of course), and pull one leg of your shorts up and over to the side, getting your chamois out of the way before you let it go. This method is probably the messiest/most likely to end with pee on your shoes, but it works in any shorts. (Note: a baby wipe makes this a lot less yucky, so if you’re often stopping mid-ride to pee, bring one along.)
The Bibs-Designed-for-This
There are now a ton of great bib shorts on the market, from Velocio to SheBeest to Giro to Sugoi (just to name a couple) that offer different pull, zipper and snap configurations to allow you to drop your shorts. Velocio’s bibs used to zip down the back and now simply are more elasticated so you can pull so you can pull your shorts all the way down, Giro and SheBeest offer halters that can be pulled off without taking off your jersey, and Sugoi has a snap configuration on the front suspenders to pull them up and over. But don’t settle for shorts just because of this feature, look for a pair that’s truly comfortable for you! (I cannot recommend Velocio enough. It’s so worth dropping the $$ on their bib shorts, they’re super comfy and last FOREVER!)
The Take-It-All-Off
If you prefer to hit up actual restrooms, then you probably have a few seconds to take off your jersey and pull down your shorts. But the best pro tip here is to swap any half-zip jerseys for full-zip versions so the jersey comes off like a jacket for on/off ease. Otherwise, you’ll be dropping stuff on the floor (and in the toilet) as you struggle to pull a jersey over your head.
The One-Shoulder
This method looks a little TLC-in-the-90s, but it works pretty darn well. Under your jersey, leave one suspender of the bibs down for your ride. Then, when you need to go, you just pull down and over. Like the Squat-and-Pull, though, this adds wear-and-tear to your shorts, especially the suspender elastic. And some people eschew this method because the shorts get slightly out of place when not being held up evenly on both shoulders.
In short, play around and find what works for you, but comfort on the bike—in your nether regions and on your stomach—is well worth a bit of a hassle when nature calls.
And learn about this and SO MUCH MORE in the book, “Saddle, Sore: Ride Comfortable, Ride Happy.”
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