Jeans vs Chamois, why are jeans winning?

[Eden]

How long (time wise) are you riding when you are in your jeans - yes the mileage may add up, but the continuous time on saddle may be quite short when you are riding around town and making lots of stops. When you are riding to train you are sitting on your saddle for long periods of time without stopping.

From your description, I'd look to the saddle rather than the shorts. It sounds like you are having pressure, rubbing issues that don't become apparent until you've been sitting on it for some time. You may need a different shape/size, cut-out, non-cut out. Any saddle can feel OK for short periods of time, but start to show its shortcomings when you ride longer.

I personally find jeans to be extremely uncomfortable... I had a really short trip to take a few days ago (about 5.5 - 6 miles round trip) so I just hopped on my bike and rolled up my pant leg... I didn't like it one little bit...

[OakLeaf]

I'd guess either your shorts are too big, or the chamois is too thick. Shorts should fit like your favorite pantyhose - like a second skin - and lots of people, me included, want a chamois only for a seamless surface, NOT for chafe-inducing padding.

Other thoughts: Are you riding in the same position for both types of riding? When it's "commuting" are you on the hoods or tops, vs. in the drops when you're "training," putting your pelvis and soft tissues in a more forward position? Are you wearing the same shoes? (If not, that could change your distance to the pedals and maybe cause your hips to rock.)

[alice]

I don't (usually) wear bike shorts, so take everything I have to say with a grain of salt.

I've heard good things from my fellow padded shorts hating people around here about tri shorts- still a chamois, but no padding. If both of your pairs of bike shorts are padded, this might be worth a try.

Second, all of the things people have said above about time in the saddle, riding positions, stops, etc. probably have at least some bearing on your experience, even if you do have the wrong shorts for you. I could even see it being something to do with how hard you're working for those 20 miles.

Finally, even though you probably can't ride 300 miles in jeans, I just wanted to share for everyone reading that some people really do prefer to ride in jeans, and find it comfortable. My SO's "cylcing shorts" are a pair of knee length denim shorts. To each their own, I suppose.

[jlnc]

Anybody follow this blog?
http://www.sherylyvette.com/

She usually rides in fishnets, high heeled slingbacks, skirts and corsets. She rode her cruiser bike in the 5 Boro Bike tour this year all dressed up. I like her because she reminds me to enjoy cycling. (Sorry, not really related to the Jeans/shorts question...)

[TsPoet]

I ride a bent, so I'm not talking to the comfort issue, i think others have some good suggestions. But, I did want to re-iterate, you don't have to wear cycling shorts!
If you want to fit in, there are a number of jogging/fitness short or rowing short options that look just like cycling shorts but have little or no padding. These shorts will also likely be more comfortable on longer rides on your thighs and knees than jeans (I would expect).
I personally love rowing shorts, which have a little bit of a pad, more for modesty than anything else, and look like bike shorts. These are some of my favorites
http://www.jlrowing.com/

[sundial]

Anybody follow this blog?
http://www.sherylyvette.com/

She looks like a Betty Boop of the cycling world.

[KnottedYet]

I'm not a fan of padded shorts, either.

I am ok with tri shorts, but my favorite are plain ol' Under Armour compression shorts (7 inch inseams work best for my long legs). Also love the various gussetted pants and shorts that are out there. No nasty seam bump, and quite comfortable for riding. Diamond Gusset jeans and Rivendell's MUSA shorts/pants/capris spring to mind.

Diamond Gusset and MUSA are made in the USA.

(so are "Not Your Daughter's Jeans," for those of you who have cyclist's thighs and buns. Trek420 looks so good in hers that I'm going out to buy a pair for myself tonight!)

[jessmarimba]

I wear padded shorts most of the time but loathe 2 of the 3 pairs I have b/c they...well, they cause things to get smushed in funny ways. My favorite bottoms are a cycling skort with a "casual" chamois (probably b/c it's the thinnest of the bunch). But I'm pretty darn happy riding around in jeans too.