Lemond1985

Curt Schilling 2004 World Series Game 2 reference?

Myosmith

Padding is overrated

I do have a few pairs of cycling shorts with lightly padded chamois, but I often ride wearing tech-fabric athletic trunks under AeroTech multi-sport (unpadded) shorts. My saddles are either Specialized Avatar (the now defunct non-gel version) or entry level Bontrager SSR, so not a lot of padding there either. I rarely use any anti-chaffing products, except for long rides on hot humid days. Never had a saddle sore or significant amount of chaffing. I get a bit sore over the sit bones for the first few longer rides of the season, but by June, I can spend 8+ hours in the saddle with no problems.

Nothing wrong with a poly/cotton t-shirt either. I get by fine with the cargo pockets on the multi-sport shorts and, sometimes, a small bento bag. I reserve jerseys for group and organized charity rides. My avatar (photo, not the saddle) is a pretty good representation of my recreational/fitness riding attire (helmet is on the railing behind me).

Lemond1985

I get fewer people honking at me when I'm riding in street clothes, for some reason. Maybe they give me "street cred", I just don't know.

jadocs

I always wear bibs with chammy.

ironnerd

Being that I live in Georgia... that made for an interesting mental picture.

jadocs

Ha, sometimes I'll also wear a jersey!

zarbog

Interesting thread. Currently wearing padded liner under baggy cycling shorts, and any brand of dry-tech t-shirt. I can go two hours with this combination on my gravel bike with a serfas rx race ready saddle, and humming and hawing on how to improve comfort. 68 and just shy of 200 lbs.

bakerjw

All of my saddles are slotted leather and I wear 2 layers of Lycra with no padding whatsoever. 100 mile days are not a problem.

This all came about while riding the Tour Divide a few years ago. I got a severe heat rash that made it impossible to sit on a bike seat. The kind where you almost scream when it gets wet. In the postmortem analysis, I determined that sweat going down my back got into the padding and made a super saturated hot salt solution. When I ditched the padded bibs I started to feel noticeably cooler on rides. For long rides, I take a teri cloth rag folded into a vee and put it at the base of my back.
Last year on the Tour Divide, I had no hear issues at all. There was a minor blister by that was because I adjusted saddle tension a bit more that I should have.

memebag

I wear road cycling gear on my road bike. Clipless pedals, bib shorts with chamois, Lycra jersey, helmet, gloves. It's all there for a reason.

Loose Chain

I have never used padded cycling shorts. I do have bicycle type shorts, Lycra and or Lycra/cotton blends but no padding. I do wear a brief or such under. I found some microfiber low rise undies at Walmart that wears nice under unpadded Lycra shorts. A life long cyclist, including competition, I have never needed or wanted padded shorts. In cooler months I wear unlined athletic tights or some wool unlined cycling tights I have. I am 65, 5-10+ and 154 pounds.

Two bikes have cheap WTB saddles, three have the Specialized Avatar type, one has a Brooks B17N. I like the Avatars best, the Brooks (yes, it has been used plenty) the least and everything else is in between.
J

Outnumbered

I love my Lycra padded shorts even at 62. I also like the tighter lycra shirts as it is annoying to md at least the flapping of the t-shirt in the wind. I'm 6'2" and 200 lbs. My neighbors laugh but like most of us I wear what makes me comfortable.

CyclingFool95 

Bike shorts, with padding, usually Pearl Izumi, commando of course. I'll wear my road shorts under cargo shorts when out with friends or on my MTB.

freeranger

Haven't totally ditched padding--using Andiamo with regular gym shorts. Andiamo: https://andiamounderwear.com/

350htrr

I "ditched" padding for about 2 rides... When my first one wore out I threw it away and decided to ride without, two rides later I went and bought 2 new padded shorts... end of story...

BobG

I adapted to padded shorts for many years, found them okay when it was just a chamois. I tried the Jackson & Gibbons touring shorts with just a terry cloth liner but the gym short design was just too short. The current "maxi pad" style of racing tights is just too much of a wad in the crotch.

Recently bought padless baggy mt bike shorts and love them (padded liner is ad-on option). An added benefit, no more numbness at Mr Johnson! The maxi pad wad must have been causing that. Also like the added ventilation of loose legged shorts and long inseam that touches the knees. Above said, I haven't been on any 50+ mile rides to give them a test. I'm using a Brooks Cambium saddle which agrees with me.

Like others above, I wear synthetic T shirts as opposed to a jersey. I can't reach that rear pocket now anyway!

KraneXL

Goodness no. Once you go padded you never go back. I even have my padded undergarment for when I wear regular clothes.

bargeon

I'll give up my padded shorts when they pry my cold, dead . . . Well never mind. I'm keeping them.

GlennR

Sorry, went full "Tour de France".

I find bibs are the way to go and on long rides the performance fabric really helps keep my "man parts" relatively dry.



And with this saddle, some padding is a must.

rutan74

Have to say I was resistant years ago but once I wore the padded bike shorts I cannot go back. Even for my spin classes. Those padded bike shorts are a savior to me. I can see rides that are under 30 minutes, but anything longer, and yes I've done 3 century rides, one of which was 9 hours long, I could never have done those without the gel padded shorts. Gel'in baby.

Of course with a helping hand of butt butter also goes a long way for comfort. Once you get past the squishing on that first sit down, it's all good from there on for me.

Curious as to your shirt too. I'm 6' and 220 and I wear an XL in club cut. Race fit I would need 2X not XL. No use for me to even try and get into a race fit jersey even if it is listed as XL. Euro sizes also run smaller too as I have a jersey from Belgium and that is a 2X and fits fine.

I'd be lost without the jersey and the rear pockets, plus it doesn't roll up in back exposing the plumber crack which I have seen more times than I wish.

john

big john

I use Pearl Izumi shorts for everything on a bike, road, mtb, or touring. The synthetic chamois is thin and is important for moisture management, not just for padding. In 1990 I toured for 6 weeks and switched between natural chamois and synthetic and had no problems. Natural chamois has no padding and is for moisture control and to prevent chaffing. It just starts out like a piece of wood until you lube it up. When on that tour I used Vaseline lotion.

I have tried to ride in a tee shirt but I have to peel it off after. Cheap bike jerseys for all rides since that.

wobrien

I wear the bike shorts, bibs actually. If I don't wear the bike shorts then the seat kills me. If we wear the shorts then everything is fine. I do not wear a bike jersey unless I am on a really long ride and need to bring food or other stuff for a break, then the pockets help. 95%+ of my rides I just wear a shirt that wicks the sweat away.

SpinClassSara

I always wear the padded shorts but would be way too hot in a jersey. I tried a padded gel seat and kept slipping around on it - quite an abs workout !!!

big john

Too hot in a jersey? What do you wear instead?

KraneXL

This?

big john

That's cooler.