• Pace riding shorts
• £49.95
• www.pacecycles.com

Pace’s return to the MTB clothing market continues with these baggy riding shorts. The company only has one short in its range, which allows it to refer to these as simply “riding shorts” and saves thinking of any cool names. The outer shell is made from “Mountaincross polyester”, which is wind-resistant, breathable and quick drying. There’s a stretch panel across the back and you get two zippered vents at the front. Your available pocket resource extends to two zippered cargo pockets at the front and a Velcro one at the back. We like to have regular open pockets at the sides of our baggies (they’re a handy place to stuff your gloves when you’re stopped) but that’s just a niggle.

The liner is integrated, so there’ll be no wearing the Pace outer shell over any other shorts (unless you feel the need for a double chammy…). It’s also attached at both ends, at the waistband and around the legs. Sometimes this can lead to a degree of discomfort as the inner and outer are forced to move together, but Pace has introduced a rather cunning “floating” attachment at the legs that lets the liner and shell find their own positions. Leg grippers on the liner help to prevent it from riding up. The pad is a simple Coolmax perforated item.

Although the stitching at the front of the shell suggests a zippered or Velcro fly, there’s actually just two poppers at the waistband. Fit adjustment is by a simple drawcord at the waistband. If you’re lucky the shorts will fit without having to employ this, although as there’s no elastic in the waistband chances are that you will. It emerges from eyelets on the inside of the waistband, and having it done up to any great extent isn’t all that comfortable – the cord tends to dig in and you end up with a knot wedged at the front. We also found them a bit low-slung, but that may just be the shape of our testers.

Everything else is fine, though. They’re solidly constructed, seem to be hardwearing and you can’t go wrong with plain black.

Positives: Well-made, clever liner arrangement, wind-resistant but still cool, black

Negatives: Non-detachable liner, internal drawcord

Verdict

Whether Pace’s shorts are a good buy really depends on whether you’re the right shape or not. They’re perfectly well put together and generally pretty comfy, but we really don’t get on with that drawcord. We can’t help thinking that Endura’s MT500 baggies for around the same money may be a better bet, although the Pace offering is a slightly less baggy baggy which may be a consideration.

Performance: 3/5
Value: 4/5
Overall: 3/5