Marks & Spencer launches cycling chinos

For the money these are worth a try (M&S online will send any size for store collection, and as we know you can always return). Lack the tougher seat of Raphas (and alround a bit of quality to be honest), but the ankle poppers are simple and useful.

A pair received & tried on; sadly to be returned. The cut gives no taper at the waist, and the active movement waistband lacks adjustment. Will dig deeper & try swrve/vulpine/Rapha next time.

Looking past the hideous trainers, and even the merits of the trousers as cycling wear, the arrival of specifically cycling-designed clothing in Marks & Spencer is a wholly positive sign of cycling's newfound popularity among normal people.

I'll order a pair (in 'graphite', not that horrid beige) and give them a try; I don't expect them to be as nice or as hardwearing as Rapha's or Vulpine's, but then they're one third of the price...

Nicely twinned with orthopaedic shoes for that definitive 'no exercise in 20 years' look!

Yeah 'some cyclists' are odd sized...most of their heads are bigger than their waist sizes..but some appear to be able to fit them well up their own backsides...we are not all young skinny whippety pups...ya know...I'm off to Aldi to buy some more corny pastiches (sic)

On the issue of fit, thin waist I understand - but why is everything 'slim fit' (or in yoof shops 'ultra-skinny') in the leg? I can barely get a pair of trousers over my thighs these days, let alone try to pedal in them.
I want to know where Chris Hoy buys his pants!?

the 4th photo down looks like the model has wet himself ! some dodgy shadow anyway ! I think I'll go for a zip cardigan before these....

You know you've been road cycling too long when you feel perfectly comfortable walking around in cafes in full kit and the thought of biking in jeans is uncomfortable. But seriously, how did they manage to make the thin model look lumpy? There's something going wrong with the waistband and front pockets on these trousers.

Glad to see that the model in the picture is wearing regulation prison-white coach tour trainers. Who's betting that if they are wearing Reactolite Rapides and a blue harbour polo shirt as well to complete the ensemble.

So you can wear them on your bike. Like, when you go cycling. Wow - that means they're just like, er, trousers ...!

If your waist measurement is less than your inside leg then stick to buying Rapha. The snobbery is then there for all to see and saves you posting on the Web and sticking the vees up to ordinary cyclists.

'Rule of thumb - if your waist size is bigger than your inside leg, you need to lose a bit from around your middle '

Depends how long/short your legs are

It's a shame they're only available for short people.

I like M&S, they have variable leg lengths in the womens Depts is one of the few places that makes trousers that are long enough for me at 36"
Shame they're not doing that in this line or i'd happily buy a pair

Rapha's strong point is extra material in the crotch area. Not quite padding but extra material for protecting the vulnerable parts.
Do M&S's have this?

Rapha's strong point is extra material in the crotch area. Not quite padding but extra material for protecting the vulnerable parts.
Do M&S's have this?

And these PR shots are where M&S go wrong. Put on some decent sneakers, roll up a leg hipster style and team not with a tucked-in white t-shirt that makes it look like they've been made for 60 year olds, but a cool shirt - untucked - and PUT THE MODEL ON A BIKE with some moody black and white urban background. Voila, I'd be all over them and running up to M&S at the top of town pronto. However on the basis of these shots, I will not be going to M&S except to buy a sandwich.

I've never understood M&S trouser sizing with their odd numbers

They are a bit Alan Partridge.
Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing

The seam runs under the gusset right in the middle but most decent cycling/touring trousers have some kind of taped seam or different stitching. Anyone know if these have that?

Also, does the big label inside have written in a funky font quotations from a cycling god of yesteryear?

My local M&S doesn't carry anything in a waist smaller than 32in. Complete waste of time for a normal person going in. I hope they fail to sell a single pair.