I have both and mostly prefer tri shorts. On my tri bike I definitely prefer tri shorts. On shorter rides on my road bike I still prefer tri shorts. The only cycling shorts I have are two pairs of Canari cycling shorts. They were pretty inexpensive and they’ve started to be uncomfortable and I suspect the padding is compacted and worn down. Any recommendations on some good cycling shorts?
I can’t recommend good shorts, but can recommend some inexpensive shorts that last a long time that I like: Pearl Izumi Quest.
If you’ve got money to throw at it, then Rapha and Assos both do a very good cycling short, but you can certainly get something nearly as good for a lot less money. I’ve had pretty good experience with Santini as a decent blend of comfort, durability and price.
And yes, have also found that the optimum shorts vary depending on ride length, position and saddle. Used to have a Profile Tristryke saddle on my tri bike, that had a very padded nose and I preferred a thin chamois as a result. On a traditional pointy-nosed road saddle with minimal cushioning and a normal road position I definitely prefer a thicker chamois. Now have cut-off Adamo saddles on all my bikes, and find on shorter rides or races where I’m pretty much continuously sitting right on the edge of the saddle, that all my shorts are pretty comfortable, even the cheap ones. On longer training rides where I sit up a bit more then a good pair of cycling shorts still makes a big difference though.
Male or female? I, as well as a lot of women I know, wear Terry bike shorts. If you like your tri shorts, you might like their chamois. It isn’t thick or lumpy (excuse me–“contoured”) like so many of them.
If you want to go tri shorts the pad in DeSoto Riviera is very comfortable. I have friends that use them for their everyday riding shorts. I’ve been racing LC in them since they came out.
I like the pad in DS 400mi bibs/shorts for my riding but for some it’s just too much bulk and go with the Riviera.
Male so those shorts may not work for me
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I do have a pair of de soto tri shorts and I think the padding on those is great
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I think this pad is great.