Mountain bike shorts

Under loose MTB baggies, wear padded liner shorts or cycling shorts with a chamois pad, next to the skin, rather than underwear whose seams rub as you pedal. The chamois pad cushions the contact with the saddle and limits chafing as the ride goes on. Cotton underwear also holds sweat against the skin. With 2-in-1 shorts, the question does not arise: the padded inner shorts already sit under the outer short.

Baggy shorts are the usual kit for trail, enduro and bike park riding, while fitted Lycra cycling shorts remain the norm in cross-country. The loose cut of baggy shorts gives more freedom of movement and makes it easier to wear knee pads. Baggy shorts go over liner shorts or cycling shorts with a chamois pad, while Lycra cycling shorts are worn on their own. 2-in-1 shorts bring both pieces together, so you can switch from one discipline to another without changing your kit.

Padded shorts build the chamois pad into the shorts and simplify your kit, while unpadded shorts are worn over liner shorts chosen separately. Padded shorts suit trail loops where you stay seated for hours. Unpadded shorts let you choose each piece, for example the Deemax Enduro Short with the liner shorts that suit you. In downhill and freeride, where you spend little time seated, the chamois pad matters less than on a long day of trail riding.

For mountain biking, a foam chamois pad is better suited to rides of several hours, while a gel pad is mostly kept for short rides. Foam, especially high-density foam, gives the pelvis more support as the hours in the saddle add up. A pad with two foam densities, like the ErgoEssential pad of the Mavic Crosstrail Padded Short, cushions progressively. Gel appeals mostly to beginners on short outings, while riders who spend hours on the trails tend to prefer foam.

The right size of trail shorts comes from your waist and hip measurements, taken with a tape measure and compared with the size chart on each product page. For a size M, the Mavic men's MTB clothing guide gives a waist of 81 to 84 cm and hips of 95 to 98 cm. The three Mavic models run from S to 2XL, and from XS for the Deemax Enduro Short. The Deemax Enduro Short is worn with knee pads, so try it on with your own pads if you can. Liner shorts are worn snug, so the chamois pad stays in place without creasing.

Water-repellent shorts for enduro are washed at 30 °C or below, by hand or on a delicate cycle, with a mild detergent; avoid fabric softener, which clogs the pores of breathable fabrics. Brush off dried mud, close the zipped pockets and turn the shorts inside out before starting the wash. Hang them to dry, away from direct heat, and do not iron them. Liner shorts, worn against the skin, are washed after every ride.