Padded Bottoms - Necessary?

[OakLeaf]

My top choice is no longer made. They're an '80s vintage pair of Terry shorts, and the chamois is just a layer of fleece. No one could possibly consider it "padding."

My next favorite chamois is the one in the Etxe Ondo Very shorts. They're not my absolute favorite shorts overall, but that chamois puts them near the top of my list.

Almost as good for me as that one - and a much nicer pair of shorts overall - is the one in the LG Neo Power shorts. It looks thick in the picture, but up against my parts it doesn't squish or insulate me from the saddle at all.

I've never found a pair of workout/running shorts with a gusset the right size and shape that the seams don't chafe on the bike. I'd be happy to wear something like Knott does if I could find a pair that works for me.

HTH. It's really an individual choice.

[sundial]

At the start of the cycling season I find myself reaching for bike shorts with the chamois. As my sit bones get acclimated to riding I find myself going longer distances without the chamois. Someday I hope to ride tons of miles perched on top of my saddle sans chamois.

[ultraviolet]

My top choice is no longer made. They're an '80s vintage pair of Terry shorts, and the chamois is just a layer of fleece. No one could possibly consider it "padding."

Have you looked at any tri shorts? All of my tri gear has a chamois that appear to be just a piece of fleece--some Zoot, some Louis Garneau. It might be something worth investigating if you like a minimal chamois.

[OakLeaf]

I've looked at tri shorts, but they all seem to be super-short. Same thing for "spinning" shorts. Then they ride up my legs. That's why the Castelli Provocante shorts - another one with a nice chamois - aren't at the top of my list. Do you know of any tri shorts that have leg hems more like cycling shorts - 8" or longer?

[Artista]

I've looked at tri shorts, but they all seem to be super-short. Same thing for "spinning" shorts. Then they ride up my legs. That's why the Castelli Provocante shorts - another one with a nice chamois - aren't at the top of my list. Do you know of any tri shorts that have leg hems more like cycling shorts - 8" or longer?

I had the same impression that tri shorts were typically pretty short. I just checked TE & it appears that they have a few styles of 8" tri shorts. Maybe these are relatively new. Here's the link http://www.teamestrogen.com/product/...-c118-c14.html

[ultraviolet]

Do you know of any tri shorts that have leg hems more like cycling shorts - 8" or longer?

I'm pretty sure TYR makes a short with an 8" inseam (model name might be Splice), and SkirtSports also has "multi-sport" shorts with an 8-inch inseam. And I've seen some Orca shorts in a local store that look longer than most tri-shorts, but I don't know any specifics about those.

Men's tri-shorts also tend to have longer inseams. Depending how you're shaped, those may work for you.

[ultraviolet]

Out of curiosity, I checked what TE had to offer and found some CW-X tri-shorts with a 10-inch inseam and fleece pad.
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCW_135805.html

They also have 8-inch shorts from TYR, SkirtSports and Zoot.

Hope that helps.

(ETA: I didn't see Artista's reply above. Oops.)

[mariacycle]

In between my last post and now, a non-TE friend suggested I look at tri shorts instead of regular cycling shorts, I'm definitely gonna give them a try. Went out in just compression shorts today and could see where they would start getting uncomfortable.

I think I am sitting wrong, too...

[OakLeaf]

Cool, thanks! I might have to try a pair of those Zoots. Not that I really need new shorts right at the moment