Baggies are arguably the defining characteristic of The Mountain Biker, as opposed to the generic cyclist. They are one of the things (along with the humble helmet peak) that help people identify which subgroup of cyclists you belong to. There are plenty of people who will wear skimpy cycling tops, fingerless gloves, and even roadie helmets – but the easiest way to mark yourself out as a member of the mountain biker tribe is to slip on a pair of baggy shorts before you go out for a ride.
But what makes a good baggy short? Of course, you could wander into your local supermarket (of sufficient size, naturally) and wander out again with a pair of something that might look the part, but really don’t cut the mustard. Your bike shop is a better bet – but even so, there can be a range of baggies which, while all designed for biking, might have different criteria. The lightweight ones may be comfy in August, and might show of your lissom thighs to perfection, but in reality they’re only ideal for about one or two months a year – the rest of the time they’re a compromise. Plus, if you’re properly going for it they’re not much use in a spill. Or at least, they won’t take many spills before needing replacement. And replacement shorts don’t come cheap.