I always wear the tight stretchy cycling shorts when I ride except for when I just pull out the uni for a quick goof around ride.


Yes they make a difference. They hold things in place so I don't have to worry about sitting on the bits I don't want to sit on. They help prevent chafing that you can get from leg openings in the tighty whities. For long rides they are very important.


The shorts need to fit snug. One problem is that people get the shorts too big so they are too loose. The shorts are worn next to the skin (no underwear). For the padded shorts you can put Chamois BUTT'r on the pad to further reduce chafing or skin irritation.


There are lots of different styles of padded shorts. Different brands have different shapes for the pad. As you spend more you get a different material in the pad. You'll have to experiment and find what fits you and suits you best. You can also try unpadded shorts that are the same tight stretchy style. The unpadded shorts are often used by triathletes and runners.


I often wear loose out shorts over the cycling shorts. You just want to find outer shorts that won't bunch up when you sit on the seat.


If you have a Supergo or Performance Bike nearby you can get an inexpensive pair of cycling shorts to try before going with a $50+ pair.



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