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I usually wear lycra on my CX bike, but thinking of getting something a bit more casual for bivvying, long days out, etc.
Saw this bike review and the rider's shorts look like the kind of thing I'm after:
http://enduro-mtb.com/en/open-u-p-review-unrestricted-generation/
Any ideas?
[url= http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/touring-shorts/product/TSH03 ]Rapha Touring?[/url]
[url= https://www.swrve.co.uk/collections/shorts/products/lightweight-wwr-reguler-short-1 ]Swrve ? [/url]
[url= http://www.vulpine.cc/uk/mens/trousers-shorts/mens-gravel-short-in-black ]Vulpine?[/url]
Swrve for me unless you're somewhere hot. I did a three month euro tour in a pair - very hard wearing and yet nice soft/stretchy material. Wife got me some posh Rapha randonnee shorts which are beautiful, but can't bring myself to wear them touring now there's a snotty dirty baby along for the ride too!
Just got some of the Gore Alp-X shorts which are a lycra bib short and lightweight baggy combined with plenty of ventilation mesh too - very well made, fitting and airy so likely to be my first choice for my summer 'epic' rides of 24hr+ where comfort becomes really apparent and one mis-placed seam can be an instrument of torture.
Have a pair of Mavic shorts and seem to match your needs, very slim, nice cut and, after 5 years of riding, pretty bomb proof.
In fact, may get myself another pair at that price.
Endura MTR shorts are pretty slim and comfortable. I do get a bit of a swish noise from rubbing fabric when I wear them which annoys me as 90 of te time I'm just in lycra, but otherwise they are good
how's the sizing on the swrve shorts?
I bought some Rapha touring shorts in't sale after hearing lots of good stuff about them. I'm 32" in everything. got a 32" in these. Tighter than anything else I own by a good margin, and there are adjustment bands at each side to take them in by another 2"! Definitely not a pair for a pub lunch ride!
I was already wincing when I opened the Rapha link, but they're actually similar to a lot of normal baggies at RRP.
Maybe a touch 'urban' for me, but look ok.
Vulpines look a bit too jeansy for offroad to me. Maybe same for the Swrves.
The stretchy, floppy fabric on my Race Face shorts is pretty good - just with too loud graphics.
Those Mavic Crossmax look nice and light and airy - I'm definitely not XL or XXL though 🙂 so £65 for me.
Sizing on my Swrve is pretty regular I think, mine fit about the same as my jeans.
If you are looking for a cheaper alternative, then the DHB baggy is a good slim cut, and really hard wearing. Quick drying also.
[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-flashlight-baggy-short/ ]DHB Baggy[/url]
A lot of outdoorsy shorts might be OK for this, if you're not worried about seat reinforcement or a pair of inner shorts
I've worn my craghoppers strech kiwi pro shorts over undershorts a few times. Nice and stretchy material, got fit not too baggy so work well on road/touring type rides
Cargo shorts from Sainsburys and some spray on proofer.
I've been doing quite a lot of riding over the last year in rapaha touring shorts and they're great - good fit, not too warm, not too heavy, not draggy across the knees and quite understated.
The only thing that lets them down is the pockets - a small zipped front pocket (of no use) and a zipped rear pocket that isn't accessible...
I bought some vulpine shorts last year in the sale, and I'm not convinced about them yet. quite stiff and heavy, and the sizing is a bit more towards relaxed cruising rather than comfortable touring.
I do work for Evans so there's the disclaimer but having had rapha, giro and vulpine tour shorts, the fwe samples I've been riding a while now are the best fitting and really durable. Not sure how final stock will be but I hope they're the same so I can stock up. Really nice slim fit, no flap when wet, dry fast. Brilliant.
Montane make good shorts
I use:
poly cotton work shorts
Or
Some sort of wool blend off / smart casual trousers chopped down and hememed to shorts.
Both of these work well, coupled with some padded hort underneath if required. Hard waring, comfortable, quick drying.
jameso - I'll keep an eye out for those - any sample pics?
I've been using some non-bike shorts for casual rides and they are mostly fine - usually lack a secure pocket, but tend to either be short or baggy - not long and slim. I will keep a lookout though as fashions are slimmer now than they were.
Endura MTR +1 NOT Vulpine they do not last stitching wish in the crutch
swrve shorts are too thick and denimy for hot/ long days. Love mine but would hate to do ore than 30 km in them in one go.
I have some sugoi HOV shorts which are great; but i got them end of line a year ago. [url= http://startcycles.co.uk/sugoi-h-o-v-utility-cycling-shorts-36264u-blk.html?gclid=CJaZm_Td-ssCFe8W0wodi1ALZw ]only seem to be available in XL [/url]
Endura Urban any cop?
Edit: actually I just bought some wild country climbing shirts which have a gusset crotch and are pretty snug. Maybe too snug but they are stretchy.
[url= https://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/V/Wild_Country_Work_Climbing_Shorts_M_Dark_Denim-(98922)?Curr=GBP/?keyword=&gclid=CjwKEAjw55K4BRC53L6x9pyDzl4SJAD_21V1I8L4edDEOO3LQ0PJUcuK7iY5__6ZXQEoPMDtuH7BzBoCXBjw_wcB ]these bad uns[/url]
These were good. Dunno what they're replaced with but they were a bargain and seem to live forever...
[url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-navo-baggy-short/ ]DHB Navo[/url]
I keep [url= http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/for-the-rider/legwear/cycling-shorts/7mesh-glidepath-short.html ]looking at these 7mesh shorts[/url] but at £90 they are about £30 too expensive for my sensibilities.
Looking at the back, I wouldn't be surprised if the replacement was the 'flashlight' range.theboyneeds - MemberThese were good. Dunno what they're replaced with but they were a bargain and seem to live forever...
DHB Navo
Yep - they do look the ticket. (perhaps a little on the flappy side). In a half price sale...somafunk - MemberI keep looking at these 7mesh shorts but at £90 they are about £30 too expensive for my sensibilities.
Endura MTR are the slimmest, most comfortable baggies I've got for wearing over Lycra on the Road bike. The Singletrack Lites are a very similar fabric with slight more discreet logos and casual looks.
jameso - I'll keep an eye out for those - any sample pics?
Nothing that really shows them well. Plain w/o logos, std pockets plus 2 rear small side zip pockets, subtle reflective details on rear. Belt loops and 2-way stretch that fit/works better than I expected.
Yep the DHB Navo is now the Flashlight baggy I posted earlier. Kind of annoying really as I'm not a huge fan of the flashlight bits from a cosmetic view point.
Mavic Crossride look good if a bit more pricey and they apparently integrate with Mavics 'bum' bag thing, although no idea how well.
My Swrve size the same as my Endura singletracks but neither are as comfortable as plain lycra which I have to wear underneath anyway.
These are currently top of my list too - they look soft, light, well cut and plain.Mavic Crossride look good if a bit more pricey and they apparently integrate with Mavics 'bum' bag thing, although no idea how well.
When are the fwe's available?
Dunno sorry Jimmy, not my area. I just got passed some for testing after wearing through the seat of some other brand shorts in not much more than 3 months : )
For those with the Endura mtr's, how do they size up compared to Singletracks or MT500's ?
They are indeed a bit spendy - look good though!
For those with the Endura mtr's, how do they size up compared to Singletracks or MT500's
mine are all medium.
^^^^ thanks, that's what I was hoping. Cheers
Just rode in a set of the final-cut FWE shorts, will be ordering a few pairs. The sizing is great - I can get into the S as the fit is the same as the M samples I've had for a while, I'm 6' / 32" waist and the S size has a slim-fit on the leg with good length, ie the leg is relatively long for the waist and leg width. None of that Steve Irwin look. A production M will have a bit more room and added leg length but still not a flappy MTB short.
Edit. Steve Irwin eh. Miss that guy on TV. He was brilliant.
me too, although your 'Steve Irwin look' comment for some reason brought memories of Bob Mortimer doing a Ray Mears impression.Edit. Steve Irwin eh. Miss that guy on TV. He was brilliant.
On another note, I saw a FWE top in Evans the other day that looked reasonably priced for a decently cut top, so am hopeful for the shorts.
Please post back on here if you know they are available to buy.
(traditional size s waist, but looking for longish leg length).
Are these the shorts JamesO?
https://www.evanscycles.com/fwe-ridgeway-baggy-short-EV265701
If so apparently they are in stock at my nearest store.
Will take a look.
They look cracking JamesO
They're the ones. Just got myself a new pair but the sample short are still going strong. Top job by the clothing PM. I just rode them to see if I could wear the seat out of them as quick as some others I had .. failed.
Alex, sorry for not updating when they arrived, didn't see your last post til now.
Really liking the look of those shorts.
No worries James - I'm off to try them on today.
What's the advantage compared with wearing ordinary shorts over lycra?