Spyder Go Bike Short - Outdoor Gear Review

Spyder was originally a snow sports clothing company with a history of quality equipment.When I think Spyder, I think super stylish ski gear, with giant spider emblems. Well, Spyder has brought that same focus on high quality product with style to the mountain bike apparel scene. The Spyder Go Bike Short is one of their first products in a new line designed for the freeride (FR) and downhill (DH) mountain biking community. They feature an adjustable elastic waist, four zipper vents (two on the outsides of the hips and two on the thighs), a stow pocket, and come to just below the knees on my 5’4” body. Their double layer construction consists of a soft mesh layer on the inside and a tough nylon outer shell.

Before I even put them on, I could tell they were bomb proof. From their design to the materials choice, these shorts said “bring it on, I can take it”. I worried that such ruggedness would lack in comfort, but I soon found that to be untrue. The inner mesh is soft against the skin and they are comfortable to walk around in as well as to ride in. While I enjoyed the feel and style of the shorts, their fit was a bit unusual. They seem designed to ride lower than I expected on my waist. Pulling them up to where my shorts usually fit was less comfortable, and I opted against it.

In temperatures above 70, the Spyder Shorts are too warm for active pedaling even with the vents open, but in cooler weather, they are a pleasure to ride in. The zipper vents are easy to adjustuse on the go, and provide a cool breeze when you’re working hard. The tough fabric also protects you from the ground in a crash without ripping or puncturing.

It’s important to note that these shorts are well designed for freeride and downhill use. They will provide durable protection in a crash, and will give you a strong sense of security when wearing them. I would not hesitate to take these to my favorite bike park to shread it up, but I would think long and hard before taking them on my next cross-country (XC) training ride, which they are not ideally suited for.