Rose Windbreaker Undershorts

These undershorts from German mail order giants Rose should be a great boon for the casual street warrior but the poor fit lets them down.

I have to say that my dear wife has rarely laughed so hard as when I paraded these in front of her. Apart from looking like the kind of old fashioned thermal drawers as sold in the small ads of the Sunday Express, they are cut very low round the waist and the thin pad comes up at just the right height for a chap's apparatus to perch neatly on top, like a defrosted chicken on an ironing board. It doesn't help that they're called Windbreaker. Windbreaker! Arf!

On the bike they feel awkward and uncomfortable. The low-cut back might spare you from flashing a gleaming white waistband at the traffic behind you but it feels draughty and somewhat insecure. That pesky waistband is also far too shallow, which means it rolls round on itself as you bend forward. The pad is thin and gives just enough protection for short rides but it's very wide and bunches up in your groin.

Off the bike they just feel...wrong. I spend a day wearing these round the office and frankly, I understand how ladies used to feel before wings were invented. At nearly £24 they're pretty darn pricey too. Oh and did I mention that they're called Windbreaker? After the excellent bib shorts I tested from the same maker, these are a disappointment.

Verdict

Pants as pants and not so great on the bike either.