Padded cycling shorts and bib shorts
The chamois pad might be the single most important piece of cycling gear after your bike. Get this wrong and you'll know about it 50 miles in.
Bib shorts stay put better than regular shorts and avoid the waistband dig. Yes, they look weird. Yes, going to the loo is a faff. But the comfort is worth it.
Look for quality chamois pads – Elastic Interface and Cytech are the names to know. A good chamois will last hundreds of washes; a cheap one won't survive a season.
Your bike deserves the same care as your kit. Laka's collective cover is fair, flexible, and built for cyclists.