BIKES

Vulpine Summer
Shorts £65
Castelli Principessa
shorts £95
A lightweight poplin pair
of shorts, Vulpine’s new
Summer Shorts are just
the thing for taking in
the sights from a saddle.
Chic tailored turn-ups,
a flattering cut, hidden
diamond gusset (so you
avoid sitting on seams) and
zipped hand pockets all get
the thumbs-up, and when
paired with the Women’s
Merino Boyshort (£45),
the comfort level doubles.
Sized on the small size, try
before you buy if you can.
Available in cobalt blue,
sand and navy.
One of the more expensive
options on test, the Castelli
Principessas lived up to
expectations. Longer in the
leg than the Giordanas, they
give good support over the
tummy without digging
in. Coming up on the small
side, they have a close fit
and a soft luxurious feel
to the material, as you’d
expect. Different sections
on the wide cuffs keep
them in place well and the
pad, despite feeling a little
hard initially, soon felt
supportive and importantly,
stayed in place well.
Classic and chic,
these work as
well on the
bike as off
If you’re feeling flush,
these are certainly
worth splashing
the cash on
www.vulpine.cc
www.saddleback.co.uk
Gore Path Lady
skirt £69.99
If you want to add a spot
of femininity to your ride,
the Path Lady skirt from
Gore is a good place to
start. Available in red, blue
or black, a very short pair
of undershorts is tucked
underneath the A-line skirt
— but if you’re buying this
to cover your legs, then
the skirt inevitably rides
up to reveal those very
short shorts. The basics
are covered well — the
padding is not bulky and
I quickly forgot about it
(the best endorsement),
and the waistband, despite
not having any particular
design features to not
dig in, was wide, high
and comfortable.
Giordana Donna
Silverline shorts
£61.99
Fantastically comfy around the
waist with a wide crossover
band that sits just below the
tummy at the front but comes
high at the back, the Donna
Silverline shorts have a snug
fit and a decent feeling of
compression. The chamois is
unobtrusive — not too thick,
not too thin, but with the right
amount of support, and the leg
cuffs are thick and stay in place
well. A touch on the short side,
a gap would appear when I
wore them with leg-warmers.
For long summer hours
in the saddle, look
no further
Combine the
femininity of a
skirt with the
practicality of
a pair of shorts
www.goreapparel.co.uk
GROUP TEST
WINNER
www.yellow-limited.com
SEPTEMBER 2014 CYCLING ACTIVE 59