I've only been on a bike for 5 months now ,but for 4 of them I thought I was dying every time I rode over 15 miles....it burned when I peed ,I was rubbed raw. I thought it was the stock saddle on the hybrid bike I've been riding ,but I got a pair of pearl Izumi short attack shorts ,and now even riding the stock saddle feels good. I wear them under something...I looked for the shorts with the biggest thickest padding.
So yes...don't skimp on the shorts.
Suzie