When did it become acceptable to have to pay £40+ for a pair of the most basic shorts? Is the global financial mess being propped up by mountain bikers?

Cut off jeans and an old work shirt it is.

Same with anything ‘technical’ or ‘sport specific’, price seems to double or more. I suspect most of the extra goes on branding/advertising/sponsorship and there is not a huge (if any) benefit to the end user. I find that the price also depends on the popularity of the sport and if you carefully cross-match and cherry pick eg. mountaineering gear with skiing or general active workwear, you can get as good or even better gear for a fraction of the price.

First example that springs to mind is Bolle sunglasses – about £7 for workwear and £60 + if you go for skiing

Also Lidl/Aldi make very decent gear much loved by the non-label whores 😉

If you don’t like the prices, don’t buy it.
I’ve gone for the 15 quid scott shorts, and the 12 quid fake oakleys.
Quit moaning.

the moaning is dull really, there is cheap and expensive. Some cheap stuff lasts some expensive stuff does. Some stuff is good value.

There is no gun to your head in a shop.

I reckon I’d have gone through a fair number of cheap shorts compared to a pair of ‘basic’ Endura shorts. Every crash would probably just tear cheap shorts, whereas the Endura’s just take it.