I am where the OP was 9 years ago; "really getting into cycling this year". After about 6 months, I have finally developed some strength and endurance, and lost enough fat in my ass to look OK in a pair of tight fitting bike shorts. I have been wearing a lightweight pair of regular everyday shorts, with Under-Armor breathable underwear. The saddle (a men's Serfas Gel Reactive) of my road bike (bought used) is now starting to crumble the foam inside it, so it is time to replace. So spandex bike shorts and a new saddle are now my shopping list. I ride for fun and exercise; not for competition.


My questions:

Some of the new saddles I am considering have a ventilation slot along the middle. If I get snug bike shorts with a crotch pad or crotch liner, does that defeat the purpose of the ventilation slot? I see many other riders that have a significant amount of padding built into their shorts, such that it looks like they are walking around carrying a load of doodoo in their adult diapers. I often use my bike for small errands around town, going into stores, etc. so I would be embarrassed to have that look, so any padding I want would be in the saddle. Some shorts have a thin chamois crotch liner to prevent chaffing, but does that extra layer defeat the purpose of the vent slot? (I am in southern California where temperatures are often in the 80-90 deg range.)


Other saddles I am considering have a channel/groove along the center line to relieve pressure on the pelvis. That groove then makes the overall thigh-to-thigh width of the saddle wider, increasing the chaffing. True or false?


Should the covering of the saddle be "slippery" enough to let the spandex fabric of the shorts slide across it, or should it grip the spandex and let the inner surface of the shorts rub on the skin?


Do most male riders wear a jock strap?


Thanks for your help!