Gore Bike Wear Fusion SO Lady Pants

These Fusion SO Lady Pants from Gore Bike Wear – also available in a men's version- are along the lines of the zip-off walking trousers hikers will be familiar with.

Cycling specific trousers are a tricky area at the best of times. There are a few companies offering jeans and casual trews for urban hipsters to ride in, and a few offering more technical loose fit pants, but they are quite thin on the ground, especially for women. It's a tall order to provide riding comfort in something that looks OK for wearing about town.

These have a zip mid-thigh that allows them to be magically transformed from full length trouser into shorts, should the need arise. A bit like Superman whipping off his suit to reveal his spandex.

But they are cycling specific and have a whole raft of features that make them different from other zip-off (and indeed other cycling) trousers. They are made from a soft, pliable, stretchy windproof soft-shell fabric, they have an elasticated waistband with Velcro waist adjusters, several zipped pockets, lots of reflective bits, toughened patches at the inner ankle high wear areas, and shaped legs. There's no integral padding or liner, so it's up to you what you choose to wear under them. I found they worked well with a lightweight padded liner short.

In wear, the first hurdle to get over is the sizing. I'm normally a medium or large in shorts/trousers, depending on the cut at the thigh. With these, I needed a size XL for full pedaling comfort without tightness on the thigh muscles as the leg fit is fairly narrow.

On the plus side, the waist adjustment does mean that a size larger is an option without them being too big at the waist (although they are cinched right in).

That aside, they were incredibly comfortable, with little feeling of constriction when riding due to the stretch in the fabric. The zips at the ankles allow for cinching in flapping fabric on the bike, or helping the trousers to look more normal when off it by loosening it off. They also enable removal of the lower leg portion if shorts are required, without having to take shoes off.

I couldn't see myself often wanting to remove the legs, to be honest, but they are reasonably warm trousers, so on a changeable autumn day, it could happen. The fabric does wick moisture well, and there's little feeling of clamminess even on a warm day. Levels of water repellency are excellent, with even a pretty hefty shower being kept from soaking through, and this also means they're very dirt repellent too. Road grot just failed to stick.

Looks wise, they're not the most stylish, but they are an inoffensive looking casual/functional type of trouser. Again, akin to the zip-off hiking option. You'd not get away with wearing them to a smart workplace, but for most purposes, like getting to work and touring, they do the job just fine.

£139.99 is undeniably expensive for a pair of trousers, but these are well designed, nicely made and will last for years, as well as being genuinely comfortable and versatile. If you like cycling in long trousers (that flip to shorts), these are a safe investment.

Verdict

These are an excellent addition to a cyclist's wardrobe. If you can get the right size.