Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Disclaimer: I only express my personal experience. Many EBR members may differ. End of Disclaimer.
Until recently, I have been totally sold on padded shorts/bibs, or chamois (have you noticed how many French terms are there in the cycling world?) Since 2013, I have been made to believe I needed to wear chamois for comfort of my backside. Yet, I went for a longer ride just several days ago just wearing jeans; to my surprise I felt so comfortable in my good and carefully fitted saddle. Indeed, I felt so much better without chamois that I repeated the attempt, going for a long ride in regular shorts. Guess what: It was for the first time in many years I could feel how comfortable my saddle has been; and I didn't need to stand on the pedals after some km ridden to allow my ass rest for a while
And think of it: I have suffered padded shorts for so many years without any real reason, just driven by marketing. Let me elaborate a little bit.
I strongly believe wearing padded shorts or bibs is justified in the case of road cycling, specifically racing. Road bike saddles are very narrow and elongated; the roadie takes aggressive forward riding position, riding in the hoods or in drops. His/her backside is located high, and the buttocks hang on both sides of the seat. Such riding position means the roadie is seated on their crotch. And that is how the padding is sewn into the shorts. It is thus understandable the crotch needs to be protected against hard seat. There is also sweating: sweat needs to be absorbed, and chamois is good for that. (I might also understand skinny riders who are missing tissue in their bottom).
The typical riding position of the rest of the cycling crowd is either moderate or relaxed. Buttocks often just rest on the seat. With such riding positions, chamois plays no role; instead, it is exerting pressure on the crotch (especially on the private parts), and can lead to skin sore, abrasion, and even to inflammation. So many bike seats are meticulously designed for ride comfort: ventilation, sophisticated shape, gel, springs or elastomer inserts, multiple layers etc. All these design features are negated once chamois is worn by the cyclist.
I say, it is about my personal experience. In my case: "No" to padded shorts for my future rides.
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It is perhaps a matter analogous to "clipless pedals/shoes". I think any competing roadie would ride clipless to get some edge in the race. For the rest of us, platform pedals are more convenient and safer...
Until recently, I have been totally sold on padded shorts/bibs, or chamois (have you noticed how many French terms are there in the cycling world?) Since 2013, I have been made to believe I needed to wear chamois for comfort of my backside. Yet, I went for a longer ride just several days ago just wearing jeans; to my surprise I felt so comfortable in my good and carefully fitted saddle. Indeed, I felt so much better without chamois that I repeated the attempt, going for a long ride in regular shorts. Guess what: It was for the first time in many years I could feel how comfortable my saddle has been; and I didn't need to stand on the pedals after some km ridden to allow my ass rest for a while
And think of it: I have suffered padded shorts for so many years without any real reason, just driven by marketing. Let me elaborate a little bit.
I strongly believe wearing padded shorts or bibs is justified in the case of road cycling, specifically racing. Road bike saddles are very narrow and elongated; the roadie takes aggressive forward riding position, riding in the hoods or in drops. His/her backside is located high, and the buttocks hang on both sides of the seat. Such riding position means the roadie is seated on their crotch. And that is how the padding is sewn into the shorts. It is thus understandable the crotch needs to be protected against hard seat. There is also sweating: sweat needs to be absorbed, and chamois is good for that. (I might also understand skinny riders who are missing tissue in their bottom).
The typical riding position of the rest of the cycling crowd is either moderate or relaxed. Buttocks often just rest on the seat. With such riding positions, chamois plays no role; instead, it is exerting pressure on the crotch (especially on the private parts), and can lead to skin sore, abrasion, and even to inflammation. So many bike seats are meticulously designed for ride comfort: ventilation, sophisticated shape, gel, springs or elastomer inserts, multiple layers etc. All these design features are negated once chamois is worn by the cyclist.
I say, it is about my personal experience. In my case: "No" to padded shorts for my future rides.
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It is perhaps a matter analogous to "clipless pedals/shoes". I think any competing roadie would ride clipless to get some edge in the race. For the rest of us, platform pedals are more convenient and safer...
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), and I definitely prefer padded shorts 'most' of the time. I have many pairs, from the thin '1 hour' style that simply provide some good moisture wicking and minimal padding, up to the '3 hour' gel diapers. The 3 hour gel boxer-brief style being my preferred choice for my work commute, and I commute 25kms each way on a mid-sized but comfy gel seat and suspension post. I only ride 2-3 days a week generally (I'm a 4 on-4 off shift worker), and can often miss a week due to west coast storm cycles, so I don't always have the luxury of keeping my butt hardened to the conditions. With this combo, it simply doesn't matter. 
Then we reached the river crossing, it was insane!!! It was only about 20 feet across but it was about 4 feet deep from the water running off the hills...we had no choice but to push the bikes through it! The moral is never wear jeans to go cycling, Stefan!
