Showers Pass Hybrid Zip-Off Pant

Showers Pass Hybrid zip-off pant is two very competent bits of clothing in one and arguably the most innovative take on the street smart, bike practical leg wear brief. Versatile enough for general riding, cantering across town for those straight to business meets and a spot of touring too thanks to their cut, convertible nature and host of civilian practicalities.

However, while you'll only attract admiring glances in either black or taupe (that's stone/grey to you and me), technical under shorts are essential for all but the shortest of hops and the heavier tog can intrude when temperatures nudge the high teens and twenties.

There's nothing particularly earth shattering about their breathable, water-repellent polyester construction characterised by neat stitching and a comprehensive list of features. Taken from the top we've the sturdy belt loops, giving no excuse for 'Dagenham smiles' during sprint for your life traffic light breakaways or tedious out of the saddle slogs familiar to us fixer faithful. Generous front pockets give the hands somewhere to hide while being very accommodating of change, phones and everyday oddments.

However, key rings showed a tendency for tangling in the waffle-esque mesh linings. The Jekyl and Hyde nature of butt pockets is well documented and despite a better cut, cargo will still induce discomfort after 15 minutes in the saddle - less on a sit up and beg town hack. Combat type trousers can set office anti bike contingents on red alert so the zip-offs feature a subtle diagonal thigh pocket that snaffles compact cameras, wallets, smartphones etc with ease, but their neatest feature has to be the removable legs.

Zippers hide beneath a subtle valance, ensuring a seamless look while press-studs overcome the need for clips, preventing the bottoms tangling in the transmission. Fifteen-mile round trip commutes and longer jollies at a tourist typical 80 rpm were comfortable, refined affairs, ensuring I arrived at my destination with style and dignity -well, the usual levels of style and dignity at least.

Water resistance is pretty good-at least in the passing showers sense, but the heavier material offers better protection from chill than rain. On the flip side, October's mild conditions saw a slight lag in moisture trafficking, so I converted them to shorts when hustling around in the saddle, adding the bottoms in forty seconds flat before sashaying through the office/bar/college/restaurant  (that's a lot of sashaying - ed).

Verdict

Two very practical and stylish garments in one that perform well on the bike and look great off it.