![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
A cycling pad, also known as "chamois" or "bikepad" or "Fondello" (Italian), Peau (French) is a protective insert that is applied in cycling shorts with the main purpose[1] of protecting the groin from the friction of constant and prolonged saddle contact. Cycling pads were developed at the beginning of the 1900s and were exclusively made of deer leather up until the 1980s, when technical fabrics were introduced, and allowed for enhanced performance.[2]
The first high-tech thermo molded cycling pads date back to the early 1990s; gel inserts also make their first appearance and are used in addition to polyurethane foams.
It is only in the year 2000 that the chamois is produced with an elastic technology, which allows the pad to move with the cyclist's body. This technology acts as an elastic interface between the cyclist's body and the saddle. These few square inches are subject to the pressure of most of the body's weight. For this reason, it is essential for a cycling pad to be capable of protecting the body from the compression the body exerts in contact with the saddle and from chafing in the inner leg area.
In the 2000s chamois designers began to design female and male specific cycling pads. The male-specific cycling pads feature deeper channels, while the women specific cycling pads feature wider areas, taking into account the relative anatomical differences.[3]
The cycling pad is the functional component of the entire cycling short. Its functions are:
There are different types of chamois[6] that are intended for different purposes:
Furthermore, there are specific pads designed for special cycling disciplines such as triathlon, mountain bike, cyclocross, crono time trial, and indoor cycling.