OK, but the comment I was responding to read "Padding is padding, and it's a bad idea for any serious cycling, touring or otherwise". That statement I found to be pretty absurd.

I would disagree with that too. Different cadence, pace, or terrain all warrant shifts in position. I tend to ride in an aggressive posture pretty much the same as on my road bike and also the same as what I used back when I raced. So maybe it is less true for someone who rides with a more upright posture.

Okay, maybe I'm a bit clueless here, but what is the motivation behind padded shorts in the first place? Certainly it can't be for comfort, can it? That seems to contradict the argument about bicycle seats affecting your...ah, reproductive areas. For me I've never used any special padding. My theory is tour in what feels comfortable, most likely what you are used to riding in. If you're not riding with padded shorts now, don't start for a tour.

Swim shorts are my favorite - lightweight, flat seams, pack small, dry quickly, nicely ventilated. I select ones that have a few pockets including one with a zipper. Swim shorts come in a variety of colors, patterns and lengths and are generally cheap. I pay about $10 a piece at Target. I ride over 10,000 miles a year and luckily have never felt - literally - the need for specialized shorts.

no

with the swim shorts, are we talking the ones with the "mesh" lining? I never tried it because it just seemed obviously uncomfortable, even with most of my bike trips to the beach. Wiill try it though.

I remove the lining from the swim shorts I use.

Yes, the swim shorts I wear have a mesh lining. The lining has never caused me a problem.

This is a very timely topic for me; I was just thinking about giving up on the cycling shorts as well. My chief area of concern is the lycra stretch fabric itself, more than the integral "Depends-like" chamois. When I finish a long ride in cycling shorts, the first thing I am inclined to do is shed the shorts. I am not sure why. The chamois is not damp overly, but I cannot wait to get out of the lycra. I was wondering if there is a pantyhose effect that lycra exhibits. Along this line I was wondering whether women find pantyhose hot or uncomfortable in the same way, and whether some have gone back to the days before plastic underwear.

"when I sit back down the pressure feels exactly the same, in exactly the same spots, because the padding is still in exactly the same place."

To me that is the advantage. You get blisters or saddle sores because stuff moves. The only issue is whether the padding is any good or not, if it has the right loft, and stay dry, etc... then it isn't a problem that is doesn't move. In the old days we had running shoes with minimal paddling, in some cases a lot like leather dress shoes. The solution to that wasn't a lot of moveable paddling either.

I don't wear cycling shorts generally, I just add the acrylic paddling to whatever it is I want to wear. And I don't, therefore, wear the underwear I otherwise would.

Well, you get bedsores because stuff doesn't move!

Fair point, though having spent 3 months in bed after an accident that doesn't seem to be an instant thing, like a blisters or saddle sores. I guess some stuff slips and slides and needs the peneten and other stuff stays put. As long as it works.

You can either spend all kinds of money on exotic saddles and padded shorts, or you can let nature take care of things by building up mileage gradually. If your behind is more than a little sore, back off for a day, then start again. Keep at it until you can ride as far as you want comfortably. Padding keeps your behind from adapting to riding long distances. I sometimes wonder, when people are "breaking in" their leather saddles over several hundred miles, aren't they also "breaking in" their own bottoms? My wife and I have ridden thousand mile tours twice on the stock Trek 520 saddles and light weight shorts without problems. We do use the ex-officio underwear and it makes a big difference. To those who favor padding, this is just my own biased opinion.

I agree wildandcrazy, you body adjusts the more you ride. I almost never use gloves or padded shorts-- just ride in street clothes. I have done single and double century rides however, and used padded shorts and gloves for those.

No I've never even tried a pair on! I wear normal pants or shorts. But I have a Brooks saddle. ;)

I toured about 5500 miles last year without padded bike shorts. Including a 6 week long trip across the US. I don't ride leather saddles. I think it's much more important to stay dry "down there" than to try and pad your butt when you're in the saddle all day. I'd rather let the tissue over the sit bones get caloused up. It makes for a few tender days early in the tour, but it beats wearing a wet diaper all day, every day.

I rocked some Chrome knickers commando-style on my trip this past June. They have a minimal liner, more to prevent chafing than anything, and they worked well. Note that I also ride a Brooks.

I find that I am the driest with Pearl Izumi Ultrasensor shorts and the wettest in "regular" shorts. In addition I find that if wet the Ultrasensors are pretty comfy and dry very quickly.

I think being conditioned to the saddle and a riding posture that carries the bulk of my weight on my legs is the biggest factor for saddle comfort for me.

How would they work in high temps and humidity..too hot or not a problem?

Just checked out your site...very nice resource Thanks! What kind of GAP trousers? Like in the GAP store brand or an Asian kind of apparel?

The only time I do not ride with cycling shorts is when I'm doing quick local errands. Anything over about miles or any longer than 30 continous minutes and I'm inclined to suit up.

It is interesting to think that when I was a kid and would be on and off the bike all day all I ever wore were jeans or regular shorts. I didn't have my Brooks then either.

I think my regulal road bike saddles would be death without the riding shorts.

I used to swear by my Pearl Izumi UltraSensor padded shorts - but now I find they hurt. I now have a Brooks saddle, and I found the edge of the pad on my padded shorts cut in really badly. I didn't notice that on my old saddle.

I started this tour with three different kinds of shorts - my PI UltraSensor shorts, baggy padded cycling shorts from J & G, and some merino wool "running" shorts (unpadded) from Ibex. Within a first few days I had decided the PI shorts had to go. I now still have the J & G shorts and my Ibex wool - but have found I only wear the J & G ones on my off days while bumming around.

So- my conclusion?? Merino wool running shorts are the way to go!

I love my bibs when doing fast rides on the road bike, but for touring, errands and most commutes (on a B17 and in a more relaxed riding position) nothing beats a pair of merino wool boxer briefs (I like Devold) and cargo shorts with a gusseted crotch (I like Railriders). No chamois to retain moisture and keep the boys all bunched up like sardines, easier to wash each day/night while on the road, more durable, more normal looking to the civilized folk we interact with on the road who have spandex phobia (or rednecks with homophobia).

I bring a couple pair of padded shorts with me when I tour. Some days I wear them, some days I don't, and prefer to wear my zip-off pants, or a pair of beach or basketball shorts instead.

When it's hot, I definitely prefer to wear something beach shorts or basketball shorts rather than cycling shorts.

This is going to sound completely off the wall and I only mention it because I found the combination to be comfortable... I tried a LOT of different things and this is what I came up with. Nylon shorts over Joe Boxer cotton/poly "thong" style underwear. Yep butt-floss thong underwear. Keeps everything in place and cool. I also have a well broken in Brooks saddle.

I"ve tried the butt floss, but it didn't work all that well for me. It's better than the padded shorts, but the merino wool was better. That being said - I do have two pairs of thong underwear in my pannier, just in case...