Thanks for the opinions! I guess I'll spring for MTB shorts and try them sometime in the near future, although I kinda resisted cycling shorts before since I didn't like the squishy feel of a gel saddle and I expected padded shorts to be similar feel. I am currently using several bikes with old leather saddles (a Brooks B17 and a Sella Italia Condor ) which are both reasonably comfortable in their "worn in" states (but my commute is only 13 kilometers each way).