TRIPLE2 Guide - Bike Shorts in Detail. Which Features are Necessary?

First, you need to define where your future bikeshorts will most likely be used. Or more fundamentally: What type of biker are you? Do you prefer leisurely rides with your buddies and enjoy taking a trail or two along the way? Or are you more into Enduro and like to let loose going downhill? Or do you spend most of your time in the bike park and your bikeshorts need to withstand a lot? 

"For the first case, we recommend a lightweight bikeshorts made from a highly elastic material, which is suitable for biking but can also be used for hiking or running. Many features are rather secondary. You probably have a backpack or hip bag with you anyway and need something that discreetly accompanies your bike tour. The TRIPLE2 HOOT Short is definitely a good choice." 

The triple2 BARG Shorts with adjustable waistband, spacious pocket, and comfortable yoga waistband (women's model) could also be something for you here. If you prefer to be out with the Enduro bike or in the park, it can be a bit more robust. Just like our BARGUP Short. Several pockets can also easily hold gloves or glasses, and the sturdy yet elastic material supports you even during wild movements.

TRIPLE2 takes a clear stance when it comes to whether to buy bikeshorts with an integrated seat pad or a padded inner short. We say no. For a simple reason: Even really good inner shorts never achieve the excellent fit and balanced comfort of a separate bib tight that is worn separately under the pants. 

Because: both shorts behave completely differently from each other and therefore must be able to move completely independently of one another and be constructed as such. This is not possible with the usual inner shorts that many manufacturers provide with their bike shorts. Additionally, the inner shorts are often made cheaper to achieve an attractive selling price: either the padding is of poor quality or the material is of low quality. 

Therefore, our credo is: Combine your favorite Bib Tight or Tight with your favorite bike shorts and don't make any compromises here. A Big Tight under bike shorts, which ensures that the padding and fit are always perfect, is a great choice especially for long distances, bike packing, or crossing the Alps. Additionally, this way you are more flexible and can wear the Bib for road cycling and the bike shorts for hiking. 

If you often ride with protectors, your bike shorts should also be suitable for protectors. It is crucial that the legs of the shorts are neither too long nor too short, so they don't get caught on the protector while pedaling or constantly bump against it and fold up. That gets annoying after a while. 

Since most people have different leg lengths even with the same clothing size, unfortunately, the only solution is to try it out. A little tip: When you sit on the bike and position the crank horizontally, the pants should just barely (about 1cm) extend over the upper Velcro or hem of the protectors. This is enough to prevent the pant leg from bunching up when the leg is moved downwards, and it is still short enough that the pants do not get caught during the upward movement. 

Also helpful: elastic fabrics that prevent you from being slowed down in movement. And: If the bike shorts have glued seams at the hem, they do not wear out as quickly, as the Velcro of some protectors cannot dissolve the sewing thread with which the hem is usually sewn to the leg.

The first choice in continuous rain is always a long rain pant, not bike shorts. This is the only functional protection, even if the style suffers. But here it matters that you don't get wet. So it requires a waterproof fabric with a membrane, ideally three-layered, that is especially robust in the seat area and on the thighs. Taped seams are also a must for rain pants. 

An adjustable waistband and zippers at the leg ends increase comfort when putting on and taking off. Reflectors also enhance safety. This applies not only to long pants, as one can also be out in the twilight with bikeshorts. Bicycle pants are also available as winter models. Rain pants tend to have poorer breathability, so softshell fabrics should be used at lower temperatures. These have a water-repellent outer side and a soft, heat-retaining inner side made of fleece or merino wool. Additionally, bicycle winter pants are significantly more elastic than pure rain pants or thick bikeshorts, making them more comfortable—especially on long distances.