• Rapha Fixed shorts
• £105
• www.Rapha.cc

You might wonder why we’re reviewing Rapha products on bikemagic, surely they’re road specific products? Mostly, you’d be right, but the company’s Fixed range offers something a little more casual that we’ve found works rather well on the MTB, especially for commuting in.

Taking inspiration from the trend among London cycle couriers to wear three-quarter length shorts, London based Rapha have taken up the challenge of producing the perfect couriering shorts (or for the many that strive to emulate the look), albeit with a healthy dose of modern technology. The Fixed shorts are three-quarter length, and the tailored fit is loose enough to be comfortable off the bike, but the fit is perfect when on the bike also. They’re cut just below your knees, so they’re always covered when cycling, which is nice when it’s a little colder (or your knees are a bit scary…).

Cycle couriers are a hard-working bunch, they ride in all conditions and place a lot of demands on their clothing and equipment, and so the Fixed shorts are built to be tough. And so the Schoeller Nanosphere fabric has proved to be just that, tough and hard-wearing. We’ve been wearing the shorts for the past few months, riding to work and for lots of non-biking duties, and they’ve been fine, with no signs of wear and tear yet. The material is also waterproof which has been handy on more than a few occasions. There are two open pockets at the front and two zipped at the rear, though the fit of the shorts can limit their capacity somewhat, and inside you’ll find a foam pad, it’s only slim but is there to offer some comfort, but only enough comfort for very short rides. It’ll certainly get you home before the sores set in…

Rapha’s Fixed clothing, currently consisting of a long sleeve Merino jersey and these three-quarter length shorts, is a perfect addition to any cyclist’s wardrobe. In fact there’s many occasions that we’ve found use for both, and if you’re trying to achieve the courier look, then the Fixed range is for you. The styling is perfect for riding and non-riding, and they’re highly technical with some very nice features – we look forward to seeing more from the Fixed range in the future.

Positives: Fit, style, comfort, casual, tough

Negatives: None really

Verdict

For commuting the Fixed Shorts are a great product, and especially if you prefer to avoid the full-lyrca look while riding through town or commuting. They also double up as great of-the-bike short too, and we’ve taken to wearing ours for entire days, riding to work and sitting in the office. They’re durable; the fit is comfortable, and not too baggy for extended riding sessions, on top of all that they look great.

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