Montane Bionic Deluxe Bike Undershorts

Montane Bionic Deluxe Bike Undershorts - Quick Test

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.

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.

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.

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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