Forget MAMILs, stockbrokers and mass media claims that cycling is the new golf/squash/bar billiards. You know that cycling has finally cracked the mainstream when that most conservative of clothing stores Marks and Spencer introduces day clothes with cycling features.
That’s exactly what’s just happened with Marks and Spencer’s introduction of cycling chinos. The High Street giant describes the new trousers as ‘Tapered Water Resistant Cycling Chinos’ though there are very few other details about the cycling features on Marks and Spencer’s website.
Made from water-resistant cotton with two percent Lycra to give some stretch, the big game-changer here could well be the price: just £39.50 for trousers that look normal, but are comfy on the bike.
You can see them on the Marks and Spencer Website here.
Road.cc forum user ceepeeee drew the chinos to our attention. He got a pair yesterday and wore them for the first time this morning. He writes:
“First impressions are good – they fit well, are stretchy enough, the poppers to tighten the ankles work well, the reflective details are subtle enough. Can't comment on the showerproof-ness as it was dry.
“Two big plus points: they only cost £39.50 and they come in larger sizes. I have no idea how they compare to similar offerings from Rapha or Vulpine, for example, but as I can neither afford nor fit into them it's not a comparison I can make. Maybe one of the cycling magazines or website will review them but maybe M&S haven't sent any out – until yesterday they weren't even being sold as cycling specific even though there's a big label inside that says ‘Cycling Chinos’.”
Unusually for niche trousers, a large range of sizes is available, and two colours. They’re offered in 30in to 44in waist, in 29in, 31in and 33in leg length and in ‘charcoal’ (dark grey) or ‘stone’ (that horrid light brown that’s the inexplicable default colour for chinos).
As yet, though, there is no women’s equivalent.
45 thoughts on “Marks & Spencer launches cycling chinos”
M&S still haven’t realised
M&S still haven’t realised that the latest generation have longer inside legs than 33″.
I wonder how they compare with the latest Levi offering?..
http://www.levi.com/GB/en_GB/collections-home/men/commuter
Need some in 34-35 inch leg
Need some in 34-35 inch leg please!
‘M&S still haven’t realised
‘M&S still haven’t realised that the latest generation have longer inside legs than 33″.’
nominally, yes. However they also wear the waist of the trolleys somewhere around their knees, so a 33″ inseam should be more than enough 😉
Mmmm, I spy an active
Mmmm, I spy an active waistband.
I suspect that any waterproofing is applied to the inside of the beige version to avoid embarrassment.
What an absolute sizing balls
What an absolute sizing balls up. No 28×32, I thought cyclists were supposed to be slim.
Jonathing wrote:What an
Some cyclist are on the more rotund size. Not “all” cyclists are slim
Like them. Don’t seem to have
Like them. Don’t seem to have a reflective strip which would be nice. Game changer? Not sure how this expression covers M&S making trousers but hey, it’s the phrase of the moment. In the past M&S used to kick problems into the long grass, throw the baby out with the bath water and getting back on top has been a big ask. Hopefully all clothing manufacturers will soon be singing from the same hymn book…
The reflective detail is
The reflective detail is hidden away – both legs have a strip which is revealed when you roll them up and both back pockets have reflective flaps which can be popped out when needed. I would post a picture but I’m worried I’ll get strange looks if I start taking photos of my own arse when I’m at work.
Levis do their Commuter
Levis do their Commuter range, almost half the price of Rapha at £85 though some slim fit or dot of shame potential light chinos at £46.
Also dark blue cycling
Also dark blue cycling chinos. Under a tenner if you can still find them 😉
My local M&S doesn’t carry
My local M&S doesn’t carry anything in a waist smaller than 32in. Complete waste of time for a normal person going in. I hope they fail to sell a single pair.
chokofingrz wrote:My local
I’m not sure about anyone else but claiming legs longer than 33″ and waists less than 32″ as normal. Bloody freaks! :))
fatsimonstan
Rule of thumb – if your waist size is bigger than your inside leg, you need to lose a bit from around your middle 🙂
That be a rule of thumb, but
That be a rule of thumb, but for those of us who are somewhat challenged in the height department, were we to follow your advice we would have to find somewhere else to store kidneys, liver, muscles, etc.
Heightist git!
PJ McNally wrote:fatsimonstan
Rule of thumb – if your waist size is bigger than your inside leg, you need to lose a bit from around your middle 🙂— chokofingrz
I’ll go along with that one.
chokofingrz wrote:I hope they
Jeeees
What is wrong with the internet….
If you don’t want to buy M&S trousers, don’t buy them. Personally, I think it’s good that cycle-specific clothing is being made by the high street big names. I can only see this being a good thing overall. I’ve worn out too many pairs of jeans in the crotch department riding my bike around town.
chokofingrz wrote:My local
(|:
Bloody hell, I must be abnormal with my 32 inch waist.
So because they don’t stock your size, you hope they don’t sell a single pair.
=D>
They are a bit Alan
They are a bit Alan Partridge.
Not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing
The seam runs under the
The seam runs under the gusset right in the middle but most decent cycling/touring trousers have some kind of taped seam or different stitching. Anyone know if these have that?
Also, does the big label inside have written in a funky font quotations from a cycling god of yesteryear?
I’ve never understood M&S
I’ve never understood M&S trouser sizing with their odd numbers
And these PR shots are where
And these PR shots are where M&S go wrong. Put on some decent sneakers, roll up a leg hipster style and team not with a tucked-in white t-shirt that makes it look like they’ve been made for 60 year olds, but a cool shirt – untucked – and PUT THE MODEL ON A BIKE with some moody black and white urban background. Voila, I’d be all over them and running up to M&S at the top of town pronto. However on the basis of these shots, I will not be going to M&S except to buy a sandwich.
tombourne wrote:And these PR
Nail/head etc.
Those dorky trainers are awful. I think it’s a wider M&S issue in that they always appeal to their core market (the average age of an M%S customer is 49 according to the Telegraph). Perfect for a relatively health young grandad though.
And precisely what is wrong
And precisely what is wrong with being made for 60 year olds? I will certainly be buying a couple of pairs next time I am back in the UK – just as long as they are snow proof as well.
Rapha’s strong point is extra
Rapha’s strong point is extra material in the crotch area. Not quite padding but extra material for protecting the vulnerable parts.
Do M&S’s have this?
Nope. They are definitely
Nope. They are definitely chinos without any major structural additions. The back is a little higher than on “normal” trousers so builder’s crack is less likely but if anything the fabric is thinner than other chino-type trousers – less canvassy, if that makes sense.
ceepeeee wrote:Nope. They are
Thanks for bringing it to road.cc’s attention; I’ve ordered up a pair, as my Union34 trews are showing wear. Whilst I’m disappointed that there’s no gusset to avoid centre seam, I’m hoping that they may be laterally stiff, yet vertically compliant.
Rapha’s strong point is extra
Rapha’s strong point is extra material in the crotch area. Not quite padding but extra material for protecting the vulnerable parts.
Do M&S’s have this?
I like M&S, they have
I like M&S, they have variable leg lengths in the womens Depts is one of the few places that makes trousers that are long enough for me at 36″
Shame they’re not doing that in this line or i’d happily buy a pair
It’s a shame they’re only
It’s a shame they’re only available for short people. 🙁
‘Rule of thumb – if your
‘Rule of thumb – if your waist size is bigger than your inside leg, you need to lose a bit from around your middle ‘
Depends how long/short your legs are
If your waist measurement is
If your waist measurement is less than your inside leg then stick to buying Rapha. The snobbery is then there for all to see and saves you posting on the Web and sticking the vees up to ordinary cyclists.
So you can wear them on your
So you can wear them on your bike. Like, when you go cycling. Wow – that means they’re just like, er, trousers …!
Glad to see that the model in
Glad to see that the model in the picture is wearing regulation prison-white coach tour trainers. Who’s betting that if they are wearing Reactolite Rapides and a blue harbour polo shirt as well to complete the ensemble.
You know you’ve been road
You know you’ve been road cycling too long when you feel perfectly comfortable walking around in cafes in full kit and the thought of biking in jeans is uncomfortable. But seriously, how did they manage to make the thin model look lumpy? There’s something going wrong with the waistband and front pockets on these trousers.
the 4th photo down looks like
the 4th photo down looks like the model has wet himself ! some dodgy shadow anyway ! I think I’ll go for a zip cardigan before these….
On the issue of fit, thin
On the issue of fit, thin waist I understand – but why is everything ‘slim fit’ (or in yoof shops ‘ultra-skinny’) in the leg? I can barely get a pair of trousers over my thighs these days, let alone try to pedal in them. :/
I want to know where Chris Hoy buys his pants!?
JeevesBath wrote:On the issue
This! I don’t even have big thighs, how is it I can’t even get most trousers on?!
notfastenough
From experience: don’t ever try and buy a pair of trousers in Italy. You think cycling wear is oddly sized? Their jeans appear to be for children.
Sir Chris and Jason Kenny has
Sir Chris and Jason Kenny has some of Meccanica Cycles stuff. JC fits into their standard straight leg jeans. And they are Made in Britain! Check out http://www.meccanicacycles.com/category/Clothing PS they are a new British brand sizes up to 4XL
nwcyclist wrote:Sir Chris and
Thanks for the link, not seen these before. Hopefully I won’t need to go up to a 4XL….
Yeah ‘some cyclists’ are odd
Yeah ‘some cyclists’ are odd sized…most of their heads are bigger than their waist sizes..but some appear to be able to fit them well up their own backsides…we are not all young skinny whippety pups…ya know…I’m off to Aldi to buy some more corny pastiches (sic)
Nicely twinned with
Nicely twinned with orthopaedic shoes for that definitive ‘no exercise in 20 years’ look!
Looking past the hideous
Looking past the hideous trainers, and even the merits of the trousers as cycling wear, the arrival of specifically cycling-designed clothing in Marks & Spencer is a wholly positive sign of cycling’s newfound popularity among normal people.
I’ll order a pair (in ‘graphite’, not that horrid beige) and give them a try; I don’t expect them to be as nice or as hardwearing as Rapha’s or Vulpine’s, but then they’re one third of the price…
A pair received & tried on;
A pair received & tried on; sadly to be returned. The cut gives no taper at the waist, and the active movement waistband lacks adjustment. Will dig deeper & try swrve/vulpine/Rapha next time.
For the money these are worth
For the money these are worth a try (M&S online will send any size for store collection, and as we know you can always return). Lack the tougher seat of Raphas (and alround a bit of quality to be honest), but the ankle poppers are simple and useful.