The Madison Women’s Keirin ¾ shorts without pad are a versatile piece of kit that look and feel great. At just £34.99, they would make a welcome addition to your cycling wardrobe.

With the unpredictable British weather, ¾ length shorts are a really useful bit of kit for a cyclist. When full length tights are too warm, but it’s still too cold for shorts, 3/4 length shorts help keep the knees toasty, and protect them from injury.

The Keirin shorts are available to buy with a chamois pad (£39.99) or without (£34.99). Be warned, the padded option has the chamois stitched in, it isn’t a case of being provided with liner knicks.

As these shorts are in Madison’s road collection, it’s hard to wonder why they bothered with an unpadded option. Yes – you could layer the Keirin shorts over your favourite padded undershorts, but we worry that the combination of the short’s taught fabric with additional layers could cause chafing!

On the other hand, it does mean they work really well both on and off the bike, easily taking you from the road to the gym and everywhere in between. I used mine for running as well as cycling, and found they performed well for both activities because of the close fitting fabric supporting my muscles.

The cut is very flattering with black and grey panels following the contours of the body and contrasting hot pink over-locked stitching. The lycra fabric itself is close fitting, supportive and comfortable, though not very lightweight, making it less ideal for hot summer days.

I’m a UK size 8, and although there is some stretch, the sample size 10 pair were snug around the waist, I’d suggest going up a size.

The Keirin ¾ shorts were high enough at the back to keep your kidneys warm and a little lower at the front. The waistband is comfortable and doesn’t dig in and seams are flatlock stitched to prevent chafing.

The elasticated leg hem with silicon gripper did a great job keeping the tights firmly in place around the bottom of the leg.

Verdict

A versatile pair of shorts, at a bargain price – suitable for cooler days. If you’re looking to ride longer distances, we’d recommend you opt for the Keirin shorts with chamois, for an extra £5 it wouldn’t break the bank.

Pros

– comfortable
– great looking
– versatile across sports

Cons

– not ideal for very hot weather

Sizes: UK size 8 – 16 (although we would say their size 10 is actually size 8)
Price: £39.99 with pad / £34.99 without pad
More information: Madison
UK Supplier: Evans

What Madison say about the Keirin 3/4 shorts without pad:

Designed with female performance in mind, this 3/4 short offers an extra little bit of warmth for the upper calf and thigh but retains superb comfort.

FEATURES

• The high quality Italian Lycra is supportive, durable and close fitting for added strength and comfort
• Flat-lock stitching eliminates irritation
• Built without a pad for use with undershorts, or doubles up as a great option for running or at the gym
• Elasticated leg hem with silicone gripper for secure and comfortable fit
• Reflective detailing
• Limited lifetime warranty