@tspoet, so are you suggesting (per your non-cycling friends) that you can "see everything" even with new shorts? If so that's good to know. Do they mean that the fabric is actually see through? Or that the spandex is so tight that you see all the contours of the body (on men this might be more noticeable given their frontal "package"). I regularly wear spandex capris to the gym and to run and you can see every ounce of fat on my body, but you definitely cannot actually see through the fabric.
Fortunately for me I wear plaid mountain biking shorts when I ride. Lol