Skip to main content

TSG Forcel shorts


THAT INSEAM MEASUREMENT is an indicator of what’s to come on these shorts – they’re VERY short indeed, and while the legs look brief off the bike, they ride up even further when you pedal.

It’s not so much the thigh flash that we mind, more that they simply aren’t as comfortable as longer shorts. It’s a shame because there are some well thought out details, such as the gripper on the waistband that helps keep it secure and the super-stretchy back yoke that gives excellent fit and flex through the seat. We love the long zip-pulls too, though the leg pocket is set at an angle that sets you up to lose the contents if you forget to do it up when riding. There’s so much that makes these shorts nearly right, but ultimately they’re just not as comfy as others at the same price.

PRICE 88$


Popular posts from this blog

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

Merida Big Nine 100

Wit the bikes swapped over, we head out on the same loop again, this time on the 29in Big Nine 100. Whereas the Big Seven was snappy off the line, the 29er takes a couple more pedal strokes to get up to speed. That said, once it's up there, it's easy to keep the big wheels rolling, allowing us to cover ground with ease. The fire road is at times a little rough, and the bigger wheels roll over the imperfections so we barely notice them.

SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

Anthony Messere’s Morpheus Vimana Slope

A flying chariot built with one thing in mind – slopestyle domination