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Who exactly started it is unclear. But the triumphant advance of the wide pull-over shorts into the territory of the skin-tight lycra began around 20 years ago somewhere in the downhill scene and thus close to motocross. The style battle has largely been decided: Baggies have won. Today, supposed style gurus no longer rage against racing shorts on the bike, but rather against fashion sins such as the "loser gap" - the strip of skin that peeks out between too-short trouser legs and the upper edge of the protector.
The much more important practical problem, however, is heat build-up. Two pairs of shorts on top of each other are simply warmer than one pair of racing shorts. Always. 800 metres of gravel ramp in the southern sun are even more torturous than necessary with baggies and inner shorts. Only e-bikers could care less. For touring riders who only take their protectors out of their rucksack at the top of the trail, airier solutions are required. They don't have to withstand the regular impacts of a downhiller in the bike park, they just have to look good and fit comfortably.
Some manufacturers have shorts in their range that stand out from the stubborn downhill wardrobe with names such as "Lite" or "Light". For summer suitability, manufacturers are making several adjustments. The most obvious is to simply use a thinner fabric. But if you overdo it, you end up sewing heavy trousers that are not very breathable. They may be technically perfect, but they don't really fit in midsummer. Ventilation holes that can be opened with a zip can help - or simply short, wide trouser legs, but these are no longer fashionable.
If you add to the summer requirements the right fit and an elasticated waistband that doesn't pinch even when you're breathing heavily, there aren't many trousers left even in our selected test field.
Climate comfort is also an issue when it comes to underwear. For men who often wear road bike bib shorts underneath on demanding tours, several brands now offer inner shorts with braces. Thinner or perforated fabrics are designed to combine an airy feel with a perfect fit of the padding. The range of special strapless liner shorts available for women bikers has also grown. In our opinion, this makes sense, as the bike shorts that come with them - especially with cheaper baggies - are usually of little use.
You can download the complete comparison test of 16 MTB summer shorts for under & over from BIKE 8/20 as a PDF below the article. The test costs 1.99 euros.
OVER
- 100% Airmatic
- Endura Humvee Lite
- Craft Empress XT
- Gorewear C5 Trail Light
- Ion Traze
- Qloom Golden Bay Shorts
- Skinfit Carviglia
- Vaude Ledro
DRUNTER
- Craft Greatness
- Endura Singletrack Liner
- Gonso Sitivo U
- Gorewear C5 Liner
- Löffler Bib Shorts Light
- Maloja Urs M Underpants
- Pearl Izumi Cargo Liner
- SQlab Short One 10
You can find this article in BIKE 8/2020. You can read the entire digital edition in the BIKE app (iTunes and Google Play) or the print edition in the DK shop reorder - while stocks last:
