The Madison Tempest ¾ shorts are for riders who won’t be stopped by the worst of the weather. They are packed with features to combat the rain whilst out on the trails – sealed waterproof, breathable M-tec fabric, two water resistant zip pockets, durable and waterproof stretch panelling around the knee and seat and adjustable waist tabs for the perfect fit.
The weather didn’t let me down when I wore these shorts; there was plenty of rain in the Welsh hills to test whether or not they did the job! In between the rain however the sun did come out and the breathable fabric dried out nice and quickly, although they did get a bit on the warm side!
The shorts fitted just below my knee – being a bit longer in the leg meant the rain didn’t get up the legs of the shorts, which was a bonus. They are called ¾ shorts; I’m 5’8” so not quite ¾ but a really nice length and fit. There’s plenty of room for knee pads and also Velcro tabs on each knee of the shorts to adjust the fit, depending on the weather.
I tested a size 12 and they were a good fit overall. There was enough room in the legs for plenty of movement for my chunky cyclists’ thighs. The waist was on the big side for me (I’m a size 10 in normal clothes but a size 12 or medium in cycling kit); there aren’t any belt loops but the elasticated tabs meant I could fine tune the fit.
This is the first time I’ve used waterproof shorts – I’m used to finishing rides in the rain absolutely saturated, so this was a light bulb moment for me…why had I not got a pair years ago?! It was so nice to still be warm and dry. The only downside was I did have a bit of a soggy bottom at the end of the ride! I think the constant contact with the saddle caused some water to penetrate the fabric, although to be fair I didn’t notice until I took the shorts off.
The water resistant zip pockets seemed to do their job too as my keys and phone stayed dry; if anything a couple of extra pockets would be a welcome addition as I had nowhere to store my Jelly Babies!
Another bonus is the M-tec fabric is machine washable as per the instructions, so I chucked the shorts in the wash with all my other biking kit without having to worry about re-waterproofing etc.
These Madison Tempest shorts are great value for money and are a practical addition to any riders’ kit. They aren’t flash and colourful but they do the job and prevented the elements from getting the better of me!
PROS
Good length and fit
Lightweight fabric
Good value
CONS
A soggy bottom!
Price: £59.99, available from Madison.
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