Originally Posted by
Marcus_Ti
A) Hygiene
B) The point is to eliminate all seams that can cause chafing. Remove the pad from shorts and what do you get? Seams that chafe.
+1
Well, I'd say "mask" or "hide" instead of eliminate. The seams in the lycra remains. But there is no longer any seams directly between body and saddle.
Padded bike shorts has never been about providing softness.
It's pretty much all about providing enough deformation to allow the near-unavoidable seams directly between body and saddle to sink in and functionally disappear.
I can ride reasonably comfortable in a few sets of flat seam running tights and compression underwear.
But for longer rides, or several daily long rides in a row, I sure appreciate the purpose madde clothes.