Biking shorts vs Tri shorts

I wear only tri-shorts even if I'm just going biking.  They have a much smaller pad and dry out quicker.  I've found that if I'm in my aero position I don't notice the smaller pad at all, and, in fact, find regular biking shorts uncomfortable at this point because of the amount of padding.

As others have stated, less padding.  A friend of mine is training for a marathon and brought the wrong shorts to work, his biking shorts.  He decided to go ahead with the run and after wards said it was like wearing a diaper!

Most of my training is in Tri-shorts or suit and race in a tri-suit.

I train in bike shorts and race in tri shorts with different type pads depending on the length of the triathlon.

It is a comfort thing and what you like. Many tri shorts have almost no pad. All tri short pads dry fast and not like bike shorts that hold water and tend to be bigger.

I got my first tri shorts about a week ago for my first race weekend after next.  I have been training in them to get acclimated to them so there isn't any surprises on race day.  I must say...I really like them a lot.  Previously I had just been training in your avg gym shorts.  I know what I will be asking for for christmas!!!

You thought I was gonna ask for more tri shorts, didn't you...   Of course not, I'm gonna ask for a new Cervelo tri bike! 

(hey, one can dream...)