BTwin Aerofit 900 bib shorts

Decathlon's tricky to pronounce B'Twin range is massive over on the Continent, and we're seeing more of it in the UK as Decathlon rolls out more stores. If all their stuff is as good as the Aerofit 900 shorts, the more the merrier.

The Aerofit 900 shorts are - according to Decathlon's website - the very same as the shorts worn by FDJ.FR cycling team. And as the adage goes: 'If they're good enough for the pros...'

In all seriousness though, for 50 quid (actually a tenner cheaper on Decathlon's site on Decathlon's site at the time of writing) you get a decent set of shorts for your money. When I first put them on, the Aerofits felt like a far more expensive pair of shorts. My favourite features included a nice wide elasticated leg gripper, so you can keep your tan lines (OK possibly a bold statement in the UK) razor sharp, and wide shoulder straps made of nice thin material to keep my back and shoulders comfy and relatively sweat free. In my opinion the colours are also pretty cool and add to that feel of a more pricey pair of shorts.

When it comes to getting technical with materials, B'Twin don't go down the whole acronym/new-fangled name overload route. Having tested some kit with outrageous fabric feature names and claims, it was refreshing to read the blurb and just be given a list of seven areas B'Twin have worked on - which you can find in the "technical aspects" section a bit further down the page. The shorts are also guaranteed for two years, something I haven't come across too often before.

This is all very well and good but the real test is always going to be on the bike. Overall I found that the best way to describe the Aerofits is: good. They're just good at being bike shorts. I wasn't blown away by anything in particular, but at the same time I wasn't irritated or held back by anything either. The comfort of the shorts was more than adequate enough to for me to be happy to go on three hour plus rides in them, and the breathability meant I was never sweating buckets either.

If I'm nitpicking I found the pad to be a bit on the thick side than some of my backside's more favoured shorts. It never put me off wearing the Aerofits, but once or twice made them second choice to my thinner padded (but notably more expensive) shorts when heading out for all-day adventures. Size wise my six-foot, 73kg frame fit into the mediums very nicely. Durability wise, the Aerofits have held up without a hitch through both road and off-road excursions for the last month and a bit so no problems there.

Overall, B'Twin's Aerofit 900 bib shorts have been a comfy pair of shorts at a price that made me double check the website to make sure. The pad may not have been exactly to my taste for the really big days out, but that certainly wouldn't stop me buying a pair for general training and weekend ride usage.

Verdict

Good shorts at an even better price