cycling shorts/ bib shorts

I want to buy some half decent shorts to protect my delecate bits.

Can anyone give me some suggestions?

I basically know nothing about what im looking. I assume cheap ones suck but what makes the expensive ones so mega?

There are no single pair of shorts that are great for everyone.

I've had some horrible ones for £40, great ones for £50 (a present). The most comfy I have at the moment are some generic Condor branded ones picked up for ~£10 in the shop a few years ago.

[EDIT] I've never understood the point of bibshorts.

It's all about the chamois inside the bibs.

Generally more expensive shorts will have more panels (or some sort of variable weave equivalent to extra panels) which should theoretically give a better fit. You get a decent idea of fit by trying them on over your pants, but unfortunately finding a chamois you like is a bit more hit and miss.

The attraction of bibshorts is that they don't rely on elastication at the waist to hold them up, so tend to stay positioned better and pinch less at the waist. I am a bibshort convert for this reason. Despite being on the skinny side I used to find that shorts really pinched at the waist or worked themselves down as I rode.

I'd echo Greenbank's point about cost too. Just try on everything you can get your hands on and don't upgrade for the sake of "features". The only thing you can't tell in advance is durability, but we're talking about lycra here, so a £100 pair of shorts is unlikely to last five times longer than a £20 pair.

I've had all sorts over the years, but you won't wear them unless they fit properly. So try on first. Different chamois suit different people too, so don't assume a massive thick pad is going to be more comfortable. Bit like saddles really.

My favourite at the moment is also my cheapest:
http://www.gbcycles.co.uk/p/32399/Sportful-Tour-Bib-Shorts

If they don't have a Kuku Penthouse, just say no.

Oh, and like Jimmy says bibs are much more comfortable.

Anyone tried the Santini bibs with the max2 pad?

P.S. good to see that the Sportful ones have a "chammy". That word takes me back

^ Always makes me think of Shami Chakrabarti. Shorts with a good human rights record?

anyone know a brand/ model with particularly loose straps?
i.e. for the abnormally tall/ fat

IME Inverse with the mesh uppers. The straps aren't necessarily any longer than typical, but they are very floppy and stretchy. I could probably wear mine with the straps going over the top of my head and still not have a wedgie. YMMV.

^
http://en.inverseshop.com/cycling-bib-shorts-aereo-fluorescent-yellow

?

Yeah, I think that's them. Mine are custom club kit ones, but they look to be the same model.

Has anyone tried the Endura shorts with varying leg lengths? Wondering how much longer the long is than the standard?

Bibs all the way, as far as possible won't go back to normal shorts again, so much more comfortable and better fitting.

They are like saddles though, one set of bibs will be one riders grail, another's hell.