Hi all,

Looking for a half decent pair of roadie shorts – non-bibs.

I currently mainly wear Planet-X 365 Bibs, which are great, but want another pair for warmer days, and when the bibs are in the wash.

Any recommendations? Looking to spend under than £30.

Also looking for a generic base layer for cooler days, to be used on road and MTB, and hikes etc. Not a thermal, something like a HH Lifa. Similar budget to above.

If they are from a vaguely sustainable/eco-friendly company, even better.

Thanks,
Duane.

Depends on your definition of half decent, but suspect you’ll have trouble finding anything that remotely fits that description the right side of £40

Have a look at tennoutdoors stuff – well made and great prices

here

I buy castelli, sportful, rapha, etc, as i like nice roadie clothes when spending hours in the same position, but there is deminishing returns the more one spends. If I was looking at your price range, decathlon, but the 520 or 700 stuff, not the 500 or lower stuff. The higher end decathlon has features like seamless straps or laser cut thigh grippers

Ditto Tenn, decathlon or look at the DHB stuff at Wiggle

Merlin own brand ones for that price point

Have a look on prendas, you may get something end of line but probably more like 35 40 ish but would definitely be good quality

+1 for Merlins @£20

Bought a few pairs as my staple commuter shorts.

Tenns are too short in the leg/ride up, plus I’ve tried FDX/Chinese/Sports Direct and non of them compare.

Decathlon stuff is good.

I’ve got some DHB Wiggle ones and recently brought some Castelli as the DHB are getting old but I find the DHB ones far more comfy than the Castelli.

I’ve yet to buy cycling shorts as individual items, but as far as padded liners go that come with baggies, by far I prefer the Funkier set over the Endura.

Another fan of DHB shorts here. As for base layers, I like the planet-x 365 ones.

Funkier far and away the best cheap roadie clothing imo. Well made, comfortable and I find the pad decent whereas most of my cheap bibs the pad is shite.

Those who have suggested Tenn are right on the money. I have a pair of Tenn bib shorts and unlined long tights for spring/autumn, and have had for two years. Both have been excellent with a good chamois. And their stuff will be well under your budget.

Funkier stuff is good despite its low cost .
My current go to short are some of there bibs even though I have some high end Spesh & casttelli

^^^ yep, I have loads of tenn stuff, as do my kids. All good quality and very comfy.

Mountain warehouse base layers are the best I’ve owned and cheap as chips. I paid £6.

I’ve ridden rides like the Etape in BTwin 700 series bib shorts, same pad as the 900 series. Think they’re about £40. And they do various base layers up to about £25 for the aerofit one with a windproof chest panel. I got one of the those in a sale for £13 and its one of the most versatile items of clothing I’ve ever bought.

Craft Active Extreme long sleeve base layers are currently £22 at Wiggle.

I’m not sure how much the dhb ones are on wiggle these days but I’ve had 3 pairs of three nke for mainly commuting duties and you can’t go wrong with them. Good level of padding without being too chunky and they’ve all washed well.

Many thanks all, played it safe and bought some dhb shorts, will decide on base layer soon!

https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/madison_isoler_mesh_long_sleeve_baselayer-ID_69352?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq_3Fic_A1QIVT5PtCh0wBgEXEAQYAiABEgIiuPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Also check out Polaris. I’ve a few items from them now and they’re all great vfm. Regular sales so buy at the right time to save even more.

The dhb stuff has impressed me alot.

I’ve had assos and castelli

Dhb have features that punch well above their price point

Another vote here for some funkier kit. Great budget bibs

To add bad experiences.

Altura kit sizing is all over the shop. And the fit is horrendous…not sure what body shape they based it on.

Also those recommending Tenn….what shape are you. I ordered some as they seemed good value. They got sent straight back as they looked to be cut for some sort of short bottom heavy Martian. Baggy on the bottom.but I could barely get the bibs up over my shoulders…….

I use these Campri base layers. ~Ok so it says thermal but they are perfect. Very similar to HH type material.

And they certainly meet the ‘budget’ criteria. I’ve got loads in all different colours.

Virtually all vests are the damn thing with small variations to justify price and name. Get something close fitting. “Thermal” is a word best used by M&S and means sod all. Ignore it.
Base layers are something you put on bare wood before it gets another coat of paint. Another silly modern word for vest.

Is my long sleeved “base layer” a vest then?? 🙄 😆

Someone has base layer confused with base coat

DHB….Lusso

+1 for Polaris. It’s become my go-to brand because it just works, it fits me properly and doesn’t cost the earth.

look out for the aldi / lidl stuff as it comes in. Great value. shorts use the same pads as one of the big brands. ( endura??)