Sunday 22 November 2009 | Personalise | Help  
 BM REVIEWS 06 / 08 / 02
 

Ground Effect Double Happy baggy shorts

Want to know our test criteria? Check out the Bikemagic short manifesto.


Ground Effect Double Happys
Price: £40 (not incl. P+P)
www.groundeffect.co.nz


A bad case of drawstring droop
Who?
Right over the far side of the world in New Zealand a bunch of New Zealander mountain bikers are frantically trying to fill air mail bags with their excellent no-nonsense cycling clobber and send it over here. Mainly because we and other mags generally like it so much we keep telling you to go plunder their website.

.

Long and short of it
Style
The closest fitting of the baggy shorts we've got on test. Still some flappiness to them, but definitely more Glen Hoddle than Stanley Baxter.

Cut + construction
The Double Happys use a multi-panel outer shell complete with a curved crotch / inner leg panel so you're not sat on any seams. Length is mid-length, and there's enough bagginess for unrestricted movement without snagging the seat when you're off the back / front.

The lightweight, wicking inner short is sewn in at the waistband, with a shaped one-piece anti-bacterial pad taking care of seating comfort.

A lightweight webbing and elastic belt keeps builders bum at bay without cutting into breathing or belly space and the high back keeps your spine cosy.

Fabric
Lightweight showerproof nylon shell with semi-mesh inner short. Light and free moving and dries very quickly after a soaking.

Sizing
Pretty much as you'd expect. Medium fits a typical malnourished racer style rider just right.


Keep it simple stupid
Pockets
Chunky zipped hand pockets on either hip and a zipped thigh pocket on the left hand leg means plenty of secure storage but don't overload them as they'll bounce and bother you at speed.

Special features
Trademark puncture patch sewn into the left hand pocket lining.

On the bike

Lightweight, close cut fit and full internal liner and pad means you rapidly forget you're wearing baggies at all once you're on the bike. This holds true whether you're out for an hour's thrash or a peak all dayer making them excellent riding shorts that won't startle grannies or get teenage girls giggling if you wear them off the bike.

Should I buy them?
Yes. What do you mean you want a bit more explanation than that? They're light, they ride like a pair of good Lycra skin shorts, they're plenty stylish, super tough and they're well priced. Typical Ground Effect clobber then.


Bookmark thisPrinter friendly version
Want to send this article to a friend? Please join here
 

Discuss this article, 1 of 59 messages, read more:
Penfold - Crikey 
Posted: 09/08/02 08:35:04 04
Just recieved my pair of Double Happys from Ground effect. They took just 7 days to get here and indeed cost me £40, that was until the Customs men decided that they wanted a piece of the action and demanded £10.51 from me in excise tax. Correct me in i'm wrong but does that not sound a bit steep!?
Read more...
Read member reviews:
Shorts (707 products)
Ground Effect double baggys (14 reviews)
Related articles:
What to look for in… Baggy shorts
The requisite wardrobe item for all MTBers, but where to start?
Ground Effect Daddy Long Legs
Ward off draughtiness down below with Kiwi company's toasty legwear
Ascender Boulder MTB shorts tested
Scoop gets in a flap with the Boulder baggies
Endura Snapper shorts
Kilt breeziness meets shorts security in these Scottish baggies
Altura Attitude baggies
Serious street style and day ride comfort from the Yorkshire couture house.
Nema Crown Jewel shorts
California style comfort for your Faberge eggs and sceptre.
Swing your pants Kiwi style
The highly amusing indestructible ‘Supertankers’ from Ground Effect
Nike Men's Trail Short
Tried and tested
Shirts from the far side of the world
More airmail attire from those crazy Ekranoplaners at Ground Efffect!
New Zealanders show us their knickers
We test rather marvellous fleecy kneed numbers from Ground Effect
Ground Effect Flash Gordon
Fully vented protection from minging and merciless weather
More vested interests
More armless action from the other side of the world, courtesy of Ground Effect

Support our sponsors

Support our sponsors

Offers, Competitions and Promotions
win

Win a Lumicycle LED4 system
Worth £329

Ticket2RideBC Adventures
Advertorial: Ticket2RideBC specialises in guided mountain bike adventures
British Heart Foundation
Advertorial: Get cycling for the BHF and raise vital money