I am not a triathlete nor aspiring to become one, so I really just bought these shorts because I needed some decent cycling shorts and they were some of the least expensive on Amazon. I commute work on my bike, but have been trying to do longer rides on weekends and thought these would help ease some discomfort I feel doing more than 7-8 consecutive miles. Having never owned or worn cycling shorts before, I was really amazed by these. The material is substantial but feels amazing against the skin. They have strategic mesh parts that keep them breathable and help moisture escape. And they are soooo comfy! I have thick thighs and my complaint about wearing bike-style shorts (or shorts in general really) is that they always ride up. It seems a standard feature on true cycling shorts, but the grippy strips along the hem of each leg really do keep them in place! I made almost no adjustments during a 15-16 mile ride. They are also short enough for me to wear under skirts & dresses w/out really being seen, but long enough to cover most of my thighs and look good (avoiding a muffin-top situation on your legs), and I'm 5'11". I know the padding isn't substantial in these b/c they are tri shorts, but it wasn't quite enough for me. I probably also need to invest in another saddle for longer rides but that's a separate issue. I love love love these shorts and if they ever drop to $20 or less again, I'm getting all of the other colors and I would highly recommend doing the same! Totally worth it for such a high-quality product!