BTwin 500 Women's Mountain Bike Shorts

At a penny shy of £15, the BTwin 500 Women's Mountain Bike Shorts are incredibly cheap for a pair of casual riding shorts, but they don't look it and have many of the features you'd expect from pricier gear.

These include a one-piece seamless gusset made from stretch fabric for freedom of movement when pedalling, a stretch yoke below the rear waist, which means the waistband doesn't pull down at the back when you're riding, plus internal waistband adjustment. This is basic but functional, consisting of a 12mm-wide strip of elastic with slits along its length, and a button.

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The material is lightweight and quick drying, making these ideal for summer rides even if there's the odd shower. You can also wear them over tights on cooler days, which I found has an advantage in that the legs slide better over Lycra than bare skin when pedalling.

They are described as loose fit, and maybe they are if you have super-slim thighs, but I found the legs to be fairly close fitting and as a result I was aware of them pulling on my legs on the up stroke. The oversize hem didn't help as the material has no give.

If the rest of the shorts were made from the same 10% elastane/90% polyester fabric as the stretch panels then I think they would be more comfortable.

> Check out our guide to the best casual cyclewear here

The BTwin 500 shorts have several usefully sized pockets: two front hand pockets, a handy zipped back pocket and a roomy cargo pocket. The latter has a ridiculously large flap (with popper) that stuck out and looked daft, so I tucked it in. There's also a small reflective logo on the left leg, these being of European origin.

Despite a few niggles that, for the price, would seem almost churlish to quibble over, these are a decent pair of shorts for jaunts out on your bike.

Verdict

Above average shorts for a well below average price