Originally Posted by
Racing Dan
Can someone please explain why, since for ever, the padding is in the shorts and not in the saddle?
Most saddles do have some degree of padding.
But, the reason some padding goes in the shorts is to conform to the body. Padding in shorts follows your sitbones, padding in the saddle does not.
I have a feeling it is purely tradition from a time when the saddles was just a stiff piece of leather. like a Brooks.
Not really. In the old days, the chamois was just a piece of leather, which the legs could glide on rather than chafe against the wool of the clothing.
People riding leather saddles in the old days (and many today) just developed hardened butts.
There shouldn't be all
that much padding anywhere, whether in the saddle or shorts. A little bit can be useful to take the edge off for an unhardened sit bone.
But you want as little as necessary for sitbone comfort. Any sinking-in compresses tissues that you don't want to compress, and too much padding can collect sweat, or bunch up and chafe.
Personally I Really dislike padded bike shorts with the cream and sweat
How thick padding are you using? The chamois is intended to wick and prevent chafing. If it's accomplishing the opposite, then you have good reason to change things.
and high maintenance.
What's "high maintenance" about them? Most of them are rated for washing machine use on gentle settings. Taking care of my cycling attire doesn't seem much more difficult than other clothing.