Ask any rider what ruins a long ride and the answer is rarely the legs. It is the saddle contact. After a few hours, the difference between a good pad and an average one is the difference between enjoying the last climb and counting the kilometres.
That is why, when we developed our cargo bib shorts, the pad was the first thing we decided on.
What a pad actually does
A cycling pad, or chamois, sits between you and the saddle. A good one does four jobs at once:
- Distributes pressure. Your weight rests on your sit bones and soft tissue. The pad spreads that pressure so no single point takes all the load.
- Absorbs vibration. Road buzz and gravel chatter travel straight up through the saddle. Foam takes the edge off, ride after ride.
- Manages moisture. A pad that holds sweat gets heavy, warm and uncomfortable. Breathable foams and fabrics move moisture away from the skin.
- Reduces friction. Every pedal stroke moves you slightly on the saddle. A smooth, seamless top layer stops that movement from turning into chafing.
Foam density: single, dual or multi
Not all foam is the same. Pads are built from one or more densities:
- Single density pads use one foam throughout. Simple and light.
- Dual or multi-density pads combine firmer foam where your sit bones press hardest with softer, thinner foam where you need flexibility and freedom of movement.
Thicker is not automatically better. A pad that is too thick can bunch up and move. What matters is the right foam in the right place, shaped for your anatomy and the way you ride.
Men's and women's pads are different
Men and women have different anatomy and different contact points with the saddle. A women's pad is shaped differently, often with a different width at the sit bones and a different cut in the centre to relieve soft-tissue pressure. That is why we offer separate men's and women's cargo bibs rather than one unisex design.
Fit matters as much as the pad
Even the best pad won't work if your bib shorts are too loose. The pad needs to stay in place, so a snug, compressive fit is essential. A few rules of thumb:
- Bib shorts should feel firm when you stand and natural when you're on the bike.
- Ride without underwear: extra seams cause friction.
- Wash after every ride to keep the pad hygienic.
- A chamois cream can help on long days, but a good pad and the right fit come first.
Not sure about your size? Each bib short has a size guide based on height and weight, or email us at hello@lotusdivision.com.
Who makes our pads
We work with two Italian pad specialists who have spent decades on exactly this problem.
Elastic Interface
Elastic Interface started in 2001 as part of the Italian cycling apparel brand De Marchi and grew into an independent pad specialist, today part of CyTech, based in San Vendemiano near Treviso. Its pads are used by cycling brands in more than 40 countries.
Teo Sport
Teo Sport, based in Montebelluna, Italy, has been making cycling pads and accessories since 1978. The company prototypes in-house and builds pads for road, gravel, MTB, triathlon and indoor riding, using techniques from classic stitching to thermoforming on machinery it designed itself.
Working with specialists like these means our pads are built on decades of research into comfort, materials and anatomy, not on guesswork.
The Lotus Division cargo bib shorts
Our cargo bibs combine that pad know-how with the rest of what we believe a good bib short needs:
- A dual-density pad with a lightweight, anatomical structure for road, gravel and MTB
- Performance compression fit
- Two integrated side cargo pockets for your essentials
- Breathable, quick-dry recycled Italian fabric
- Made in Europe