Short touring shorts

Cycle-touring, Expeditions, Adventures, Major cycle routes NOT LeJoG (see other special board)
in4time
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by in4time »

Many thanks for all replies. I’ve found out Corrine Dennis sells them but they’re currently out of stock. I’ll head to Decathlon for a butcher’s.
Jdsk
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by Jdsk »

jimlews wrote: 30 Apr 2022, 12:20pmIt seems impossible to get cycle touring shorts (i.e with pockets in sensible places) with a 28 - 30" waist.
https://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and ... esses&p=dp

How are the pockets?

Jonathan
Astrobike
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by Astrobike »

Have you tried Halfords they do Bordman shorts
with plenty of pockets and not too long, or at least
they did I still have a pair I tour in
Psamathe
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by Psamathe »

Jdsk wrote: 2 May 2022, 6:38pm
jimlews wrote: 30 Apr 2022, 12:20pmIt seems impossible to get cycle touring shorts (i.e with pockets in sensible places) with a 28 - 30" waist.
https://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and ... esses&p=dp

How are the pockets?

Jonathan
I have several pairs used for travelling and general not cycling. Are you after sizes? - let me know if you are and I'l measure (there are quite a lot).

I take mine cycle touring as the are compact, dry quickly, some zipped pockets, etc. and good for campsites, wandering round, etc. but for the bent they have rear zipped pockets which wont work on the bent padded seat (and on DF upright I need padding).

Ian
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andrew_s
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by andrew_s »

Paulatic wrote: 21 Apr 2022, 9:59pm I know exactly how your mate feels. I hate that on knee feel.
He's already looked at and rejected the Corinne Dennis shorts.
I originally suggested either hiking shorts, and put up with the waistline (low at rear) and possible seam location problems, or get the best he can, and take them in to an alterations place to get the legs shortened a bit.
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pjclinch
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by pjclinch »

Psamathe wrote: 21 Apr 2022, 10:00pm
gbnz wrote: 21 Apr 2022, 9:22pm Outdoor shorts have definitely returned to the ludicrous, 1950's knee length style. It is now, the fashion

Anyone growing up in the 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, even the first 10-15 yr's of the 21st century may be dismayed! I was looking for outdoor/walking shorts last week and everything was knee length.
Rohan Bags Shorts. 5" inside leg. Expensive (and not cycling shorts) but excellent for outdoor activities. Plenty of (zipped) pochets, etc.
I would suggest the stretch version as much better on the bike.

I have a couple of pairs of the Stretch version, one I've kept at original length for the MTB where I'm in and out of the saddle a lot but the other for general shorts use I've had shortened to the length of the original Bags Shorts because if I want shorts for general use then... well, there's a clue in the name.

I had them shortened by a local tailoring service for not much. He knows how to use an overlocker so stretchy fabrics aren't an issue. Anyone with a suitable machine and spare time could do it themselves, I'm sure.

On the (upright) bikes I'm fine without padding up to about 40 miles, for longer there are padded briefs that could be used.
I'll be touring in the Stretch Bags Shorts this summer but on the recumbent, so padding won't be an issue.

Pete.
Often seen riding a bike around Dundee...
Psamathe
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by Psamathe »

pjclinch wrote: 3 May 2022, 8:48am ....I'll be touring in the Stretch Bags Shorts this summer but on the recumbent, so padding won't be an issue.

Pete.
Wont the rear pocket zips wear through the seat/seat padding? (repeated small movement?). It's not happened to my but my supposition and hence I've been avoiding zipped rear pockets for bent riding shorts.

Ian
jimlews
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by jimlews »

Jdsk wrote: 2 May 2022, 6:38pm
jimlews wrote: 30 Apr 2022, 12:20pmIt seems impossible to get cycle touring shorts (i.e with pockets in sensible places) with a 28 - 30" waist.
https://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and ... esses&p=dp

How are the pockets?

Jonathan
Pocket position is ok. Not perfect, but ok.

BUT only available down to waist size 32, so no good for me with my 29" waist.

It's embarrassing when ones trusis fall down around the knees in the supermarket que. :oops:

EDIT
The stretch version goes down to 30" waist. I could be tempted; but that price :shock:
Back to the charity shops for me.
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pjclinch
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by pjclinch »

Psamathe wrote: 3 May 2022, 11:38am
pjclinch wrote: 3 May 2022, 8:48am ....I'll be touring in the Stretch Bags Shorts this summer but on the recumbent, so padding won't be an issue.
Wont the rear pocket zips wear through the seat/seat padding? (repeated small movement?). It's not happened to my but my supposition and hence I've been avoiding zipped rear pockets for bent riding shorts.
Rohan have been my tailor of choice for longer than I've had a 'bent and I've never noticed a problem with it.

Pete.
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pjclinch
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by pjclinch »

jimlews wrote: 3 May 2022, 12:11pm
Pocket position is ok. Not perfect, but ok.

BUT only available down to waist size 32, so no good for me with my 29" waist.

It's embarrassing when ones trusis fall down around the knees in the supermarket que. :oops:

EDIT
The stretch version goes down to 30" waist. I could be tempted; but that price :shock:
Back to the charity shops for me.
There's always alteration services to shrink them a bit, or a belt.

As for the price, they typically last for ages so do factor that in (I think the minimum I've had out of a pair of Bags in fairly heavy rotation is about a decade and that was definitely an outlier, the pair I'm in today must be a good 20+ years old and are still smart enough for work, I've been using the Stretch version since they came out which must be a good 5 years and there's little obvious wear)

Not that it's much use right now, but Rohan have sales at stock changeover times (i.e., just before a new season range is launched) and Last Year's Colours and end of line stuff goes in to the Bargain Bin (I vanishingly rarely buy anything full price). At the moment you can get 15% by recycling any bit of usable outdoor gear to their Gift Your Gear initiative, which sends unwanted stuff (any brand) back to charities working in the outdoors.

Pete.
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jimlews
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by jimlews »

pjclinch wrote: 3 May 2022, 1:02pm
jimlews wrote: 3 May 2022, 12:11pm
Pocket position is ok. Not perfect, but ok.

BUT only available down to waist size 32, so no good for me with my 29" waist.

It's embarrassing when ones trusis fall down around the knees in the supermarket que. :oops:

EDIT
The stretch version goes down to 30" waist. I could be tempted; but that price :shock:
Back to the charity shops for me.
There's always alteration services to shrink them a bit, or a belt.

As for the price, they typically last for ages so do factor that in (I think the minimum I've had out of a pair of Bags in fairly heavy rotation is about a decade and that was definitely an outlier, the pair I'm in today must be a good 20+ years old and are still smart enough for work, I've been using the Stretch version since they came out which must be a good 5 years and there's little obvious wear)

Not that it's much use right now, but Rohan have sales at stock changeover times (i.e., just before a new season range is launched) and Last Year's Colours and end of line stuff goes in to the Bargain Bin (I vanishingly rarely buy anything full price). At the moment you can get 15% by recycling any bit of usable outdoor gear to their Gift Your Gear initiative, which sends unwanted stuff (any brand) back to charities working in the outdoors.

Pete.
Thanks Pete.

All sound advice.

Talking of long service, I am still using a couple of pairs of "Alpine Joe" touring shorts that I bought many years ago from the old Ron Kitchen catalogue. Remarkably, there is no sign of abrasion to the seat and the rest of the material seems in good nick also.
They have a short leg length of aprox. 3" so, by todays standards, are bordering on the pornographic.
However, due to the (probably) thousands of wash cycles they have endured over the years, the elastic has lost much of its grip. Hence, my interest in this thread.
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pjclinch
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by pjclinch »

jimlews wrote: 5 May 2022, 2:19pm Talking of long service, I am still using a couple of pairs of "Alpine Joe" touring shorts that I bought many years ago from the old Ron Kitchen catalogue. Remarkably, there is no sign of abrasion to the seat and the rest of the material seems in good nick also.
They have a short leg length of aprox. 3" so, by todays standards, are bordering on the pornographic.
However, due to the (probably) thousands of wash cycles they have endured over the years, the elastic has lost much of its grip. Hence, my interest in this thread.
My local tailor's main work from me is re-doing elastication in old legwear, particularly the waistbands in vintage Tracksters. I could buy a new pair for not a huge amount more, but we really need to get past the throwaway culture, and a good sign is outdoor brands seem to have started up the repair services they used to have when they made stuff locally. Rohan and Rab now offer repairs of their old gear, and there are repair and alteration specialists like Scottish Mountain Gear that specialise in repair of "technical" gear. These aren't cheap (you're employing skilled labour at UK rates), but I'd sooner spend the money and keep a serviceable item than just chuck the old one, and you only really need to go to them if you need specific sorts of material for patching or similar. Re-doing elastic etc. quite probably more locally available

Pete.
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Psamathe
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by Psamathe »

pjclinch wrote: 3 May 2022, 8:48am ....
I had them shortened by a local tailoring service for not much. He knows how to use an overlocker so stretchy fabrics aren't an issue. Anyone with a suitable machine and spare time could do it themselves, I'm sure.
...
Pete.
My local Rohan shop arrange alterations. Several years ago I went in and purchased a pair of travel jeans but length was wrong and assistant said they'd arrange shortening so in the store they pinned/marked/measured the jeans (with me wearing them) and I paid for them and they kept them sending me an e-mail a few days later when they'd been turned-up and I collected them from the store. I think I paid for the service but it was so little as not an issue. I suspect they have a local person do it for them and probably not a "Rohan" service.

I have no idea if other Rohan stores offer the same thing but worth asking if you don't have a local person you know who does it.

Ian
Bmblbzzz
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by Bmblbzzz »

Alpkit offer a repair of outdoor gear service (any brand) and Apidura do repairs on their kit, too. So do Paramo, I believe. In the case of Alpkit, they even make some – a very little – of it in the UK (and Paramo make most of in Colombia, in a factory whose employees now own part of the company and which is run to provide decent employment to local women).

So yeah, we're starting to slowly, slowly get over that "must buy a new one" attitude – but so far only in a very limited way.
in4time
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Re: Short touring shorts

Post by in4time »

FTR I tried a pair of padded undershorts in Decathlon and didn’t think they’d last too long.
Thus far I’ve reverted to my usual MAMILs pair and have a fantastic, baggy pair of Macpac shorts to wear over the top. Works for me and burnishes my recycling credentials a bit.
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