Bike Short Padding

[Number 7]

so i got my first road bike a little less than 3 years ago, but due to a short cycling seasons (got my bike late in the summer), and life (planning a wedding, getting through comprehensive exams in grad school) getting in the way, this year is going to be my first "real" season for cycling.

so i've been looking around at bike shorts, and i have seen great variety in the amount of padding. what's everyone's opinions on how much to pad shorts? do they each have pros and cons?

thanks!
7

[Nanci]

I think everyone likes something different, and I think they like different chamois for different things, _and_ I think people's opinion changes as they try different shorts.

I used to love my Primal Wear shorts, which had a kind of primitive chamois, not too thick, comfortable in terms of not giving me diaper butt and sticking out or not molding to my butt, and also not bunching up.

Then I got the Trashy Cat Black Satin shorts, which have an Italian chamois, with different amounts of padding in different areas, very anatomically shaped, (think keyhole, sort of, rather than figure eight) and I thought it was going to be too stiff, but I LOVE it. So I wouldn't buy a new pair with anything else. I _would_ like to try a gel chamois someday.

The actual cut of the shorts makes a difference, too. The more panels they have, the better and more supportive they fit. So if you want more relaxed shorts, then get less panels.

I also feel better about my legs with a longer inseam- maybe I will go shorter if I lose some more weight, but then there'd be more sun exposure and less muscle support...

Good luck!

Nanci

[CorsairMac]

I have several pairs of the Sugoi shorts and the Performance Century shorts - both gel and non-gel and love all of them. I've ridden several centuries in the Perfomance Gel shorts and I've never had a problem with saddle sores and I don't use Chamois Butter. But like Nanci said - it's truly a personal thing and you might have to try several pairs before you find whats right for you.
Let us know what you get tho - we're ALways interested in hearing what other women are wearing. (or at least I am - sorry about speaking for everyone else! LOL)