Skip to main content

TLD Ruckus shorts


When summer rolls around, i invariably reach for TLD’s Ruckus shorts due to their light and comfortable feel. The two-way stretch shell is featherlight. While I haven’t torn or snagged the Ruckus yet, there are certainly more robust shells on the market. The cut on the Ruckus is damn near perfect. Some shorts feel right when you’re faffing about before the ride, but constrictive when you’re hunched up on the bike. The Ruckus is the opposite – these shorts are at their best when you’re pretzeled up on the saddle.

Troy Lee outfitted the Ruckus with a long inseam (a definite plus if you run pads), three zippered pockets and Velcro’d waist adjusters. At $135, you’d expect a chamois to be part of the party and, sure enough, the Ruckus also sports a detachable chamois. One nitpick: I’d like to see TLD increase the size of the zippers on the inner thigh vents. The company uses small ‘hidden’ zippers that are, indeed, unobtrusive, but also a bit annoying to operate when you’re wearing gloves.

Price 135$

Popular posts from this blog

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.

RockShox Pike 26

Waaaay back in 2002, RockShox revolutionized the suspension world with the release of its Psylo range of forks. The forks came with 30mm stanchions, a lockout/compression adjustment, the travel was adjustable from 80-120mm, and......wait for it, they came with a quick release 20mm through axle.

Sam Reynolds' Polygon Collosus N9

WHO IS SAM REYNOLDS? Hailing from South East England, Sam Reynolds is one of the UK's top freeriders, specialising in dirt jumping and slopestyle. But with mates like World Cup downhiller Brendan Fairclough, he also likes to get up to speed in the hills, where he's been introducing the Collosus to some colossal jumps, gaps and drops.

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

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.