Tudor Sports York Plus Fours

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.