Bike touring is used to describe so many different realities that it isn't easy to make one's mind on this kind of question.

To put it in context : I am back into cycling after a very long hiatus. Last fall I was riding 90 Kms every other day, and a couple of centuries (miles) without biking shorts. (Heavy bike, Brooks saddle). Without any difficulty other than very tolerable " rear-end tenderness ".

This past month, my wife and I did a shakedown tour in anticipation of this summer. SFO->LAX over 10 days. She developed a mild tenderness in her knees (she's strong, but had very few hours in the saddle before, so no surprise here) and I've developed "a sensitive groin".

My wife will probably see a physiotherapist to make sure that this is just a mild inflammation of the tendons and that some rest and spinning in lower gear will do their magic.

I've purchased biking shorts and tried to educate myself on the issue or soreness, hoping that time will do it's magic.

In the meantime, my wife told me that she's watched the movie " Inspired to ride " (documentary about Trans America unsupported race). Her reaction involved several instances of " they are crazy ". She also said that at least one of the riders was bleeding from the groin, and that most of the competitors ended up with damaged nerves in their wrists/hands. Obviously, this event is not your average tour (riders covered something like 300 miles per day) but it demonstrates that there are limits to the idea of having a professional to fit your bike such that it'll be comfy as a couch.

Reading about saddle induced soreness I learned that road racers all wear (extremely expensive) padded shorts and chamois cream. They ride something like 5 to 6 hours every day.

In this forum I came across several comments saying, in essence, that touring in regular pants was perfectly OK.

Things may vary across individuals.

My actual question is something like - how do you detect that you are spending too much time in the saddle for your own good, and that the discomfort you are feeling is a warning sign that if you don't slow down you may end up with a debilitating injury?