off-road.cc

Morvelo’s Rise and Descend (R.A.D.) shorts are without a doubt one of the comfiest pairs of riding shorts I’ve worn. Despite the tailored, flattering cut they offer totally unrestricted freedom of movement, thanks to the four-way stretch fabric and multi-panel construction. And this all comes at a reasonable price for mountain bike baggies.

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The lightweight and breathable material means they’re ideal for warm weather, with mesh side vents for added ventilation. The fabric has a durable water repellent (DWR) coating to repel rain if you get caught in a shower, but if you get a drenching it’s not a problem as the R.A.D.s dry quickly too. Although the material is thin it’s pretty durable because of its ripstop weave – they’ve survived overgrown trailside thorny bushes without snagging.

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I really like the generous leg length down to the knee – no issue with a gap if wearing pads. Useful features include two decent-sized zipped hand pockets plus a small zipped pocket at the rear of the waist, handy for a key and credit card. The broad waistband is microfleece lined, with silicone gripper at the back, which rises up a little so no skin is exposed. Double poppers and a zip keep them up securely and you can dial the fit with the Velcro waist adjusters, making the belt loops superfluous. One minor niggle is the rubber tabs on the waist adjusters stick out and can catch your jersey – ditch the rubber and you’d have a nice smooth silhouette.

The R.A.D.s ooze quality – you can see the attention to detail in the neat stitching – and their understated looks mean they transfer well to off the bike too. They’re only available in black currently but the men’s versions come in blue or green as well.

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