Cycling pants pads make them more uncomfortable?

[Patrick Moore]

I rode the other day in the Rapha knickers I rediscovered hanging in my closet. There are very nice, but have a thin pad in them which for me just causes chafing — I wear snug bamboo-derived cloth boxer briefs underneath that are generally “invisible" while riding. They are fin when wearing them under regular shorts or cycling pants with no liners or pads for at least 30 miles (more than that and I wear the IOMerinos if I remember to put them on).

I haven’t worn shorts with pads for 25 years. Is this common? Are Rapha knickers meant to be worn commando? I can’t imagine that they are; they fit like regular clothing.

Thoughts?

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[Patrick Moore]

I take that back; I wore Kuchariks with real chamois — "invisible" while riding — on a few group rides but replaced them with the ioMerinos. I haven’t worn lycra shorts with “diaper” pads since about 2000.

On Fri, Feb 27, 2026 at 9:20 AM Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:

… I haven’t worn shorts with pads for 25 years. Is this common? Are Rapha knickers meant to be worn commando? I can’t imagine that they are; they fit like regular clothing.

[Jim Schultz]

i have never worn anything other than poly blend underwear and regular poly shorts/pants for my rides, long or not. I've got Riv MUSA pants for cold weather riding, and chrome shorts for warm weather. I must be anatomically lucky in that I can be in the saddle all day without a chamois and not suffer any consequences. I've done a 300k brevet like this and people are horrified. i just think my brooks saddle is swell.

[Guy Jett]

I bought a couple pair of the Andiamo riding undies from Rivendell early this year.  They're lightly padded and make some difference on my longer rides.  I wear  aboxer brief, the Andiamos, and shorts or longer pants depending on the weather.  But not all the time.  Ages ago I rode with cheap to middling cycling shorts but, with a long-use Brooks Pro it's rare that I feel I really need them.

GAJett

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[Will Boericke]

All shorts with pads are meant to interface with your undercarriage with no intermediary fabrics.

Will near Boston

[Elisabeth Sherwood]

I don't know about the old-ish Rapha cycling bottoms, but I can attest that the new-ish ones (last couple years?) are AWFUL -- way thicker pad than anything I've ever seen in any other bottom, and no give or flexibility.

Hard pass!

Liz

Washington, DC 

[Guy Jett]

I know.  And earlier cycling shorts I wore commando-style.  

But now, by my personal equation, I like the extra layer.  Hasn't rubbed me wrong yet, but everyone needs to find what works best for them.

GAJett

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