Not racing shorts, but training shorts…what’s your favorite…I still have yet to find a pair that is cushy enough where you need it and I’ve never tried the gel kind…I’ve used everything from the $30 cheapies to $100+ bibs. Let me know what works for you!
I really like the Garnaeu carbon ion h-flex bibs. Spendy but they are by far my favorites for long rides. They have a slightly thicker supportive fabric and a great pad. They have no leg grippers which I’ve come to prefer. Garnaeu tri stuff kind of sucks, but the bibs are a wholly different construction.
None. Tri shorts only.
Years of experimenting have taught me that padded shorts don’t work on my bum.
As personal as a saddle, I guess.
Trial and error.
I really like hincapie shorts! For me the padding is much softer than others that I have tried.
I wear Jaggad Arrow shorts. Actually I now wear everything Jaggad but the arrow shorts are really nice. I’ve spent 3 hours in them and they are pretty comfortable but it’s all personal preference especially when your bent over in the aero position.
I own four pairs of Pearl iZumi P.R.O. shorts, and am probably going to pick up another couple when summer starts. They are life-changing.
Desoto 400 Mile Shorts. Worth every penny.
Do yourself a favor and never try Assos. If you do, you will become a prisoner enslaved in the bondage of paying $180+ for the shorts so good they forgive a million sins.
Seriously though- do stay away from the gel padded shorts as the pad provides excellent cushioning but very poor breathability and moisture management.
Consider the highly regarded DeSoto 500 mile short and the Assos brand. These are expensive, but they are worth it. They are also a more viable option to buying a new saddle every three weeks.
I resisted for years, thinking that there could be no good reason to spend $150+ on bibs. However, last year before doing a 12 hour TT, I was desparate and finally broke down and dropped a fortune on a pair of Assos. Definately a step above all the other shorts I own as far as comfort goes. I still cringe when I think about spending nearly $200 on a pair of shorts but you sure do appreciate them a few hours into a long ride.
Rapha…nuff said
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Desoto 400 Mile Shorts. Worth every penny.
These are bar none the best shorts I have ever owned. I just bought 3 pair of the new version with the compression. I will never buy anything else again.
DeSoto 400 mile bibs, no question. Just got some 09’s thinking they would be as excellent as my previous ones from 4 or 5 years ago (yes, they hold up VERY well)- and Emilio and his crew somehow figured out how to improve on what I thought was the best cycling short ever made.
And in the event you don’t love them, DS has a no questions asked return policy…you’ve got nothing to lose but a sore taint.
my silly answer is these:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swoo/3318216738/
I know my other crush, so I won’t post that one. 
Desoto 400 Mile Shorts. Worth every penny. X2 and then some.
Are you asking for bike shorts on a road or a tri bike? Not the same answer.
If you have been looking around for quite some time, your issue may not be because of the bike short but could be because of the saddle or the fit or the saddle and fit.
Fred.
my bike teams’ Champion Systems bibs are sweet. don’t know if they are available for ind’l sale. they have nice muscle compression, nice chamois, cooler bib straps. have previously had good luck with garneau. best i have used are Assos from a previous sponsor. best materials, best cuts, but so expensive that i think i cried after a particularly bad crash. best of luck,
seamus
I really like both my Craft Pro bibs and my Capofroma CSS bibs. At times I almost don’t want to wear them because I don’t want to wear them out…
No question the Assos stuff is great - but once you go down that Swiss road, everything else pales … I also like the really soft Hincapie pads that another poster mentioned.
Do yourself a favor and never try Assos. If you do, you will become a prisoner enslaved in the bondage of paying $180+ for the shorts so good they forgive a million sins.
I’m scared to try Assos for that very reason. Same with Rapha.
I like my PIs, and Giordanas as well. I tried the DeSoto 400mi bibs and really didn’t like them. Emilio was great, sending me a different size and ultimately giving me a full refund. Awesome company, and tonnes of people love the shorts - I just didn’t like the way the bibs felt like they were pushing down/forward on my neck.
Hincapie all the way.
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