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review

Tudor Sports York Plus Fours

7
£32.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Keenly priced, timeless retro-styled three-season legwear
Weight: 
300g
Contact: 
www.tudorsports.co.uk

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Tudor Sports York plusses are stylish, affordable alternatives to Lycra ¾ lengths and courier knickers. Reminiscent of those traditionally worn by continental clubmen, they look particularly sharp worn as part of the full retro ensemble i.e. period shoes, jersey, racing cap and crochet mitts. However, some will baulk at the single rear pocket and despite the elasticated waist, traditional clubman’s braces are a shrewd move.

The York are made from an extremely durable, if slightly quaint cotton/nylon mix that shouldn’t look tired for many years, while a tactile, brushed fleece lining keeps the chill firmly at bay- just right for early spring and autumn but too warm for the height of summer or temperatures exceeding 18 degrees. Elsewhere, we’ve a double seat and very comfortable elasticated knee grippers to keep them perfectly positioned without any unsightly branding around the calves.

The elasticated waist is certainly comfortable and cut sufficiently high so as to protect against chill but whatever you do, invest in a set of braces-especially if you’re tempted to go commando. Chasing along the lanes on the Holdsworth, I eased out of the saddle ready to conquer the climb when the waistband lost its embrace of my midriff, leaving me flashing a lot more than a California smile. Mercifully, the woman following in her Mondeo had a robust sense of humour!

Indignity aside, inserts are a must for jaunts longer than ten miles and their relatively heavy tog-weight is a mixed blessing-great for chill September evenings, spring mornings, and impromptu off road excursions where it laughs at thorns, bramble and other aggressive foliage but on the flip side, they will saturate in prolonged or heavy showers and take a while to dry. Tumble-drying’s a no-no but otherwise they don’t require any specialist care and can be tossed in with the domestic wash.

Verdict

Keenly priced, timeless three-seasons legwear.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Tudor Sports York plus fours

Size tested: L

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

“YORK” PLUSSES – Double Seat

Threequarter length plusses finishing just below the knee

Inserted elastic waist. Cut longer at the back to keep lower back warm. Rear Back Pocket. Double seat. ‘World Champ’ Ribbing.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Cotton/nylon mix

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Made to last.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
7/10

300g Medium (as tested)

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

The York Plus Fours are a great way of enjoying retro chic with realistic pricing.Cotton/nylon mixes might not be the stuff of dreams but are very hard wearing, very shapely and keep the knees and lower back protected from chill. The elasticated waist is a little hit and miss, working well worn atop inserts but a little prone to slipping so braces are a wise precaution.

That said, they're a bit too warm for the summer months and drying times are a little pedestrian but in fairness, the material takes a good hour in heavy rain before becoming saturated and will last many years before any bobbling appears.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Good shape, tactile materials, retro chic and keen pricing.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing, just so long as you accept the material's limitations.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 1m 81  Weight: 70 kilos

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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