My context is the whole comment chain, including the original question. I’m trying to make an informed descision and see what other people do, vagina-having, or no.

Bike shorts are close fitting like underwear anyway, except that they’re also really expensive, so it is not comparable to going commando in my mind. As other people in the comments have said, bike shorts tend to get soaked with sweat also, so they’re going to be damp either way, though they are a wicking material. The commenter mentioned wearing underwear over pads or menstrual products, which I’m still trying to understand if the underwear is as a protective barrier, if it helps the pad stay in place better, or both. Because as a protective layer to contain leaks, it is similar to what I’m trying to do.

I’m interested in protecting my shorts from body fluids to help them last longer, which is different from the “feeling uncomfortable” and “visibly showing” part of what you’re saying, so I am seeing the difference in what you’re saying. It might be worth it to someone for those reasons, regardless of protecting the shorts.

Since you don’t wear padded bike shorts though, I still haven’t heard first hand if anyone makes a trade off between the advantages of wearing underwear under them, vs. the friction cost.