Originally Posted by
Allegheny Jet
Sure, but she's getting paid to look like she's not suffering.
Many modern saddles are little more than a tiny piece of carbon fiber supported by a couple titanium rails. If you want padding, you have to supply it yourself in your shorts.
In the past, padding was either between the leather top and the plastic shell or integral with the tensioned leather. The chamois was simply for moisture and chafing control.
Why the change? Maybe because moving the padding to the shorts allowed a lighter saddle, so the weight weenies would have something to brag about? How many weight weenies include the weight of their shorts in their calculations?