Club Ride Ventura Womens Shorts

The Club Ride Ventura shorts both look good and feel good, though they're more suited to women with slimmer thighs as the leg is quite narrow.

This was more noticeable when riding than off the bike – the fairly short leg length means it rides up to mid-thigh when pedalling, and on rides when I got a bit sweaty the hem did catch a little against the skin. This is a minor niggle, but it did make me wish either the hem was looser or the fabric stretchier. However, when I wore them over Lycra tights on a cooler day there were no issues as they glided over the smooth material.

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The material is a very thin two-way stretch nylon with just 6% elastane. As Club Ride claims, it is indeed breathable, wicking and quick to dry. The woven construction makes it abrasion resistant – it doesn't snag on Velcro, which is a bonus.

The shorts are super-lightweight and roll up small, so ideal for popping in your panniers if you're touring for a while.

They're casual enough to wear around town, and certainly appeal for commuting. There's no need to worry about exposing your derrière thanks to the nicely contoured high-rise waist, and the one-piece gusset means no seams to irritate if you're wearing them without a liner. If you do use a liner short, there are internal loops with poppers to attach it to.

You can adjust the waist internally by buttoning the tabs to one of two buttons. While this is discreet and neat, sometimes I was aware of the buttons against my skin when wearing them without Lycra underneath.

> Check out our guide to the best casual wear for cycle commuting here

Otherwise, there are two useful decent-sized front pockets with contrast-colour zip, and a reflective CR logo and reflective tab on the left leg, belying the company's American roots.

Overall, these are a flattering and comfortable pair of shorts if you're not averse to flashing a bit of thigh while pedalling. You can get them in sage green too (and light blue on the US website).

Verdict

Flattering lightweight short that looks good especially off the bike, ideal for summer days