Tri shorts will have a thinner pad than bike shorts so as to dry faster once out of the water, and also not get in the way while running. But the DeSoto 400 mile bibs are 100% bike short with a VERY nice pad (pro triathletes like Emilio DeSoto spend a lot of time on the bike and want comfort too!). I like these better than the high-end ($200+) Pearl Izumi's I have. This is my 3rd pair of DeSoto's - the first is too big now that I have lost some weight. Decided to get the graphite since I already have the black