My first pair of cycling shorts had that real leather. I made the mistake of pursuing a career in business for about 10 years and let my riding go by the board. When I came to my senses shorts were using artificial chamois and I tried several and found the thinner padding was actually more comfortable. What clifton said was what I had intuitively arrived at. Those gel pads caused chafing and weren't comfortable after a couple of hours. I have heard so many good things on this board about the Assos I'm going to have to give them a try. Right now I'm using the Performance Elite II bibs because I really like that pad. It's well shaped and not too thick or thin. Supposedly has an antibacterial quality built in.

I have always heard good things about a well used Brooks. I've never had one. My saddle has tended to get more minimal every time it gets replaced. The peritoneal channel brought in in the last 10 years is a big improvement. Just for grins I mounted an old Selle San Marcos I used to love on a bike that came with a cheap stock Specialized and it was OMG how did I ride on this brick! I put the Specialized cheapy back on and the nice old Italian saddle back on the shelf. I have used a couple of generations of Fizik saddles that have worked pretty well for me.

It's a critical contact point that is a confluence of clothing, saddle and bike fit and adjustment. Nobody can ride anymore than their ass can handle.