off-road.cc

Newcomers to the cycling kit market, Aussie Grit Apparel brings quality understated kit with both great function and form. The comfortable Flint Women’s Bike Shorts can be used both under baggies or on their own whether you are mountain biking or gravel riding.

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The Flint Bike Shorts are a lycra short with a chamois pad that is designed to be worn as an outer layer but they work just as well under baggy shorts too. The kit is designed in conjunction with Australian Formula One racing driver Mark Webber, hence the name Aussie Grit, and they say their goal is simple - "to create truly functional off-road cycling and trail running gear for men and women."

The Flint shorts we have on test are constructed from a four-way stretch fabric which the company said features compression to support muscles. The fabric is fairly robust and certainly feels as if it is helping to ‘retain shape’ whilst not being restrictive. Although feeling heavier than some other lycra, the Flint shorts still dry quickly, aren't any hotter and don’t absorb any more water than other shorts I’ve worn.

High waisted and higher at the back too

The panels are well cut with nice and wide lower leg bands and a high waistband which reaches further up the back at the rear. The legs of the short sat a couple of inches above my knee, as you would expect for a short worn on its own and include a strip of reinforced elastic on the inner thigh to ensure they stay put. It’s a design feature that works well and doesn’t cause any undue or unsightly pinching of the skin.

The length of the short also helps combat the dreaded ‘thigh gap’ between knee pads and baggies when mountain biking. The fabric sits flush on the body with no wrinkling or twisting whilst riding hard, flatlock stitching ensuring that there is no chafing. It’s worth noting the shorts are true to size, I’m a dress size 8-10 and wore a size Small.

Multiple panels and fabric produces a compression effect

I found the Flint Bike Shorts to be super comfortable to pedal in, the chamois pad is of a medium thickness which I found it to be well shaped and a good width. It offers an ideal amount of padding without being bulky. The chamois saw me through some long rides, keeping my derriere happy and unscathed, so much so, this is now one of my ‘go-to’ pairs of shorts for long days or tough, hard miles. The chamois pad doesn't protrude at the rear either, it's great to see a well padded pair of shorts that doesn't shout 'nappy'!

Additional extras include reflective highlights at the rear near the hips and on the left leg, not the right though which would have been useful for the UK roads (and no doubt Australia too). Lastly, there is a small pocket on the right thigh which the company states is for a phone. I’m not a fan of storing phones on my person, I’m too accident prone for that! Nevertheless, it’s a good place for a bit of change for that coffee or a bank card if you really can’t fit it anywhere else. If you don’t want to use it the pocket it's unobtrusive and you can’t see it or feel it when you are riding. I think I’d rather do away with the pocket though and save a couple of pounds on the £98 price tag.

I'm not a pocket fan but it's unobtrusive either way

That price tag is pretty steep but Aussie Grit makes no bones about the fact that they create premium goods. The kit we’ve been testing so far (Flint Shorts and Thermal Gilet) are high quality, functional items that look to be up for a good time and a long time! I’m fussy about lycra, saddles and my saddle/lycra combinations so for these to get the thumbs up with regards to comfort is a big deal. If you ride both mountain and gravel bikes and are looking for a premium pair of shorts for both types of riding then the Aussie Grit Flint Bike Shorts are well worth a look. We are looking forward to seeing the brand expand and bring some colour into the mix!

There is also currently an end of season sale on - check out the deals here!

• www.aussiegritapparel.com

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