Montane Bionic Deluxe Bike Undershorts - Quick Test
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Price:
£35
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Weight: 136 grammes
(medium)
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Features:Cycling-specific
short liner with high-spec, zoned, dual-density
anti-bacterial seat pad, silicone leg grippers, elasticated
waist, sport-specific cut and SportWool merino / polyester
fabric with flat-locked seams. Women's version available
next year.
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What's It For?
The idea behind the Bionic Deluxe is that you can go ride your
bike and get the same level of comfort and protection as you would
from full-on lycra shorts without looking like a tragic refugee from
the Tour de France.
Because they're liners, you can wear them with pretty much any
shorts or pants over the top from either Montane or other companies,
so you pick your outer legwear to suit the conditions and still have
the comfort of a fully-specced undershort.
The Techy Bits
When you're riding a bike, your weight is actually concentrated on
your sit bones, so the quality of the pad is absolutely crucial. The
reason the Bionics are quite expensive is that Montane has used a
really decent pad - it's a dual-density affair with an anatomical
fit, good wicking and a built-in silver-based anti-microbial
treatment. Most liner shorts we've seen use much cheaper pads that
simply don't offer the same level of protection and comfort.
The other big plus is the SportWool fabric which Montane also uses
for its Bionic tees. It's a mix of merino wool and polyester and
offers the pluses of both, viz, comfort, wicking and anti-pong
properties.
How They Perform
We've been using a pair of these for the last month and so far
they've been great. The fit and sizing is snug but not ultra-tight
like many cycle brand shorts and liners, so you can wear them even if
you're not a scrawny whippet. The fabric is good, wicks well and
feels comfortable in both hot and cold conditions.
Most importantly, the pad works well. It's light years ahead of
the cheap, fleece pads you find in some short liners, it fits
properly, so you don't feel like you're wearing a big nappy and it
kept our butt dry, cushioned and comfortable for four-hour mountain
bike rides.
The silicone gripper on the bottom of the legs stops the Bionics
from riding up as you pedal and works well. It helps to choose outer
shorts with minimal seams in the butt area, but that apart, they
worked well with everything we tried on top.
If you're an occasional or not so occasional cyclist and want
to be able to use your normal shorts, or even mountain-biking baggies
on the bike but with decent comfort then the Bionic Deluxe Bike
Undershorts are spot on.
They cushion, wick and take the sting out of the all-important
saddle contact area and are the best undershorts we've used bar none.
We can't really comment on durability yet, but we'll update if we
have any problems.
At 35 quid, they're not cheap, but you're getting a very decent
pad and one of our favourite fabrics for the money and as anyone
who's endured the agony of a bike-battered butt will tell you, relief
is priceless :-)
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High spec pad, decent fit and great fabric make for all-day
comfort regardless of outer shorts.
Quite expensive.
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Know more or want to?
If you'd like to add your own experiences of this
product check out our user review system and post your opinions to
the world. If you have questions you can mail
us direct, ask
Richard Gear or try a posting to our
gear
forum.
Matt C
