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I ride between 60 and 120 miles a week and wear plain workout shorts with no padding. I own Pearl IzuMI and 2 different types of Terry cycling shorts. I hate them all and feel like they make the rides More uncomfortable. I am getting ready for a 2 day 150 mile ride and thought I would see if anyone had any recommendations for lightly padded shorts that protect rather than bulk? I am definitely feeling the rides after 20+ miles.
Thanks!
You might like triathlon shorts. The pad is pretty minimal.
Which Pearl Izumis are they? The chamois in the Select ones is really bulky, and I can certainly see why people would find the Elite shorts bulky. (For me, it compressed nicely after the first few rides/washes.) I own a pair of the Pros, but I can't comment. To be honest, the more expensive the shorts, the less bulky/diaper-like the padding, for the most part, and this is pretty true among all the brands I've tried.
I like the Pearl Izumi Elite In-R-Cool shorts (I rode a century in them with no issues), but if you already have those, that's not a helpful suggestion. You might look into the Sugoi RS shorts (again, needs to be washed a couple times, I think), Louis Garneau Neo Power, or possibly triathlon shorts.
These reasonably priced Terry shorts work well for me on rides where I don't want a lot of padding (i.e., short rides):
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodTY_610016.html
I personally like the additional padding of the Sugoi Evolution shorts on longer rides, but not everyone cares for that.
If you like thin, try Terry's Bella shorts. They continue to be my favorites for all but the longest rides.
IME, my best shorts have been those that felt way too bulky for the first dozen rides or so, and then compressed after riding and washing. Most shorts with a thinner chamois don't seem to "pack down" into a dense, supportive pad. Again, IME and YMMV.
Castelli's KISS-3 chamois is very nice too, though personally their shorts are not the best fit/fabric for me. +1 on the LG Neo Power. I can't stand a thick chamois.
Off the beaten track, look at Boure: http://www.boure.com/1650.html
Triathlon shorts may be thinner, but they're also more narrow. That doesn't work for me. The Boure short has a wide, thin chamois.
you might also want to look at aerotechdesigns.com. their standard riding shorts are quite thin and their touring shorts are only a bit thicker= I have done 60 in the thinner and 100 + at a go with the touring shorts ( added advantage, handy pockets on both sides and drawstring waists). also wild colored shorts with minimal padding if you don't mind being known as a "loud" biker."