Kit review: Velocio Trail Access shorts and Mesh bib liner
Reviewed by Emily
FEATURES:
The Trail Access shorts are made of a highly stretchy, hard wearing quick drying material. There are lots of well thoughtout details - zipped pockets on your thighs for carrying a phone, pockets at the waist band and a really nice length for mountain biking or gravel riding. I am wearing them with the mesh bib liner, which has a comfortable chamois pad, thigh pockets and really soft elastic straps, with the bulk of the fabric on the short being a lightweight stretchy mesh.
SIZE AND FIT:
I am wearing the size 3XL (the largest size) and currently have a slightly larger hip measurement (53”) than recommended on the size chart (51.5”) so the trail shorts are a close fit for me. But given how stretchy the fabric is they are still really comfortable to wear and don’t restrict my movement on the bike. The Mesh bib liners are amazingly comfortable, the straps stay in place really well and don't feel uncomfortable where they lie on the outside edge of my bust.
PERFORMANCE:
First up, I am going to rave about the mesh bib liner shorts. I have to admit to having a bit of a gulp when I first unpacked them and saw the fabric (there is a good reason there aren’t many photos of them!), but after one ride I was totally converted. They are super lightweight so I got a lot less sweaty than I would wearing a normal pair of cycling shorts as an underlayer. I really like the pockets for being able to stuff little things in and the straps are also really comfortable and have enough stretch that you can manage a wild wee without taking them (and all your other clothes) off. The trail access shorts are also a delight to ride in - I especially like the thigh pockets and how stretchy and hard wearing the fabric is. I’ve worn them on longer gravel rides and also just on my local trails in the woods on my mountain bike, and they work really well for both. I would say that they would fit best for people who have slightly smaller thighs than I do, but the size chart (rather than the fit guide) accurately reflects the fit.
Shorts: RRP £136
Bib liner: RRP £98
