by Darren Dencklau

Feature

Serfas Zip Cargo Men’s Shorts

As a “non-traditional” cyclist, I have my ups and downs concerning cycling specific clothing. Yes, they are usually more practical than wearing a pair of jeans and an ‘80s concert t-shirt, and of course a chamois is necessary for rides longer than five miles, but wearing a “kit” is something I go back and forth with for personal reasons. And for mountain biking, more often than not I prefer wearing more loose fitting shorts as opposed to skin tight lycra; I am using the word “loose,” loosely. There is such a thing as too loose.

The Serfas Zip Cargo Baggy Shorts are a loose fitting garment with a removable chamois liner designed for mountain biking, road riding or casual around town type riding. The outer shorts are made from a mix of stretchable nylon, rayon and spandex. The Zip Cargo’s are black and have reflective tabs on the front and back, providing a little added visibility for later-than-expected rides. Additionally, they feature two side pockets with a full zip enclosure above a smaller Velcro-fastened pocket. The waist is outfitted with Velcro-adjustable tabs that help fine-tune the fit.

Mountain bike shorts can be too baggy, especially if you spend a lot of time out of the saddle on climbs and when it’s necessary to shift your weight over the rear wheel on steep descents. These particular shorts are baggier than what I normally prefer, however, if they are cinched correctly, they didn’t often catch on my saddle when standing on the pedals or navigating the slick, technical trails I tested them on. Much of that can be attributed to the stretchy spandex material that quickly snaps back to mold around your legs and butt. They are, for the most part, baggy in the right spots, i.e. not in the crotch. In spite of this, the legs are a bit loose for my liking — I have skinny climber’s legs and the shorts often snagged on the front of my seat while navigating a few steep sections of singletrack. On more than one occasion I had to readjust and pick my butt up higher to clear the saddle.

The gel chamois liner is made of a 95% polyester, 5% spandex blend and attaches to the outer shorts via two plastic snaps. The polyester is well ventilated – so much so that there are perforations every few millimeters throughout the material, and if it wasn’t for the holes the liner shorts could be used on their own (your riding friends would probably see a little more of you than they’d wish if you choose to wear them this way). The chamois is comfortable and amply padded; in fact, the gel used in the chamois is probably the thickest I have worn in cycling shorts. Although skeptical of the thickness at first, once I was mid-ride I hardly noticed.

The shorts are designed for biking, but by unsnapping the liner short and removing it from the shell, the outer short can be used for everyday activities or sitting around the campfire, après ride. They look good, they dry quickly, and are incredibly functional. I will definitely be using them during summer commutes and mellow rides. I would not race in them or ride extremely technical trails in them because of the snagging, though this may be an issue reserved solely for skinny people like me.

Serfas also make a women’s version of the Zip Baggy that has similar features. According to our female tester they fit well, are comfortable to ride in, and are more attractive than regular lycra shorts. MSRP for the Serfas Zip Cargo shorts is $80. For more information visit serfas.com.