> There are just so many other variables, not least of which are wind, fitness, and just how energized you feel on a particular day. <

Oh geez, tell me about it. Here the wind forecast is usually 10-25 mph and it definitely varies more than that with various lulls and gusts. It is pretty consistent most of the year about the direction though (ENE). I have 57 potential stops for traffic light. I don't count stop time, but slowing down, etc, has a major effect.

> Though I value speed, I also ride with heavy tires and rims, fenders, front and rear racks, etc., and figure it's just up to me to overcome that extra weight. <

We think alike, though so far I've avoided fenders and a front rack. I got Armadillo tires recently because of a problem with flats and they are heavy.

> A 17-19 mph average moving speed is a pretty decent clip, but I'm sure most of your improvement has to do with your increased fitness, and you'd stay about the same if you went back to platforms. <

Well, I'm not going 17-20 yet. I can almost always average 16-17 on my normal runs unless I'm not pushing at all. I might need to try the platforms again and see what happens (assuming I can separate out the variables!).

> Well, I'm always on roads, but conditions vary a good bit. Generally if I'm going to be hitting something that will cause bouncing, I can see it in advance and rise slightly off the saddle <

I have some stretches that have rough pavement that make it tough to just rise out of the saddle for a specific bump.

> I've always figured it's just the constant pressure that causes soreness <

I was thinking of the one time I rode wth regular shorts (and a bathing suit). It wasn't so much a general soreness. It felt more like bruises - so I figured it was because of bouncing.

> Oh, and my touring bike came with 700x28C tires, but I switched them to 700x38C, because the 28s just made rough roads too jarring; not for my rear specifically, just overall. <

Oh, well, mine had 32 or 34s, but I had them put on 25s because I wanted the speed. Now I have 23s. That might account for a lot of difference.

> I've done several rides of 75-80 miles without padded shorts and no ill effects. <

Neat! I might try it tomorrow (if it doesn't rain). I'll take my bike shorts with me in case it is a problem so I can change when I come back if necessary.

> My work commute is short (3.5 miles), but I'll do a trip around 20 miles each way about once a week. <

I walk to work (0.25 miles). I usually ride before that for a 25 mile trip. Since it is summer and school is out, I have made a number of longer trips. In fact, for the past three weeks I've ridden about 40-44 miles on Sunday. This includes a 5 mile climb up a hill in addition to my normal hills. Then two days later I've ridden 48-54 miles. Then I do two more normal 25 miles runs to finish out the week.

> I would definitely be wary of riding a long distance with swimming trunks jammed and bunched inside lycra...I think I'd ride with no shorts before trying that! <

Well, that isn't what I would normally do. Typically I only go to Waikiki Beach, but yesterday I just felt like seeing if I could make another long run. If things got bad, I could always change out of the trunks or grab a bus. I have no reason to do it again - it was just a test.

Bob