And throughout all this, there is the VERY significant factor of different padded bike shorts on riding comfort.
Until I got some fancy assed bike shorts, I didn't think the difference would be that much, but it does.
So my C17 with very good quality padded shorts that FIT ME well (another factor too, individual body shape that one brand of shorts may favor) works pretty good on my "faster" bike, ie harder riding, and sometimes standing sprints--which means LESS weight on seat over a ride.
The leather ones still get my nod over long "touring power output" rides, and day after day rides, for accumulative butt comfort.