Details

Roll-up concealed dome cuffs to avoid chain suck.

Reviews

Ride On - Jun 11

Sometimes you need long pants for banging around on weekend errands or for riding to work, particularly if it's cold, and these are the pants for the job. They're made from super-tough nylon fabric (that still has a light, cotton canvas feel) and are constructed with all the utility aspects you'll want. The knees are articulated for better bending, there's no central seam to sit on, the rear waist is high and a stretch panel across the small of the back gives ease of movement while maintaining a snug fit. The rear pocket is zippered.
They are great purely as pants but for longer rides Ground Effect make Underdogs liner knicks. These are more durable to the running of fabric on their outer surface than ordinary lycra knicks, while also being more breathable.
Rating: 96% Durable and comfortable on the bike and off.

Velo Vision - Dec 09

Exhibiting for the first time at the London show a few months ago was New Zealand clothing company Ground Effect. They're slightly unusual as clothing companies go, making their garments in house in New Zealand, and supplying direct to customers worldwide, rather than selling through dealers or distributors.

They send their clothing tax and duty paid, so once you've bought something (usually via their website) it turns up on your door about a week later with no customs complications to worry about. There may be a certain environmental worry about the air miles involved, but then again most clothing these days also comes from the other side of the planet, albeit often by sea...

Ground Effect's range seems largely orientated towards mountain biking, with quite a bit of 'technical' bikewear. I'm always more interested in reviewing cycling clothing that looks fairly 'normal': items you can wear everyday without standing out too much, but which are also functional. Ground Effect do have a number of items along those lines, and they asked me to try their Ranchslider trousers, which once sent to the UK work out at NZ$154 or around 68 pounds, including shipping. They're available in grey (as tested) or black, and in four sizes.

The Ranchsliders are made in an appealing grey (or black) fabric, with a rugged feel and with a matt texture. It's slightly heavier and presumably tougher than the fabric on some 'summer' outdoor trousers I have, but it still dries quickly. As befits a 'casual' trouser there's no padded lining- you can always use a separate one if you want more comfort on the saddle.

There are some cleaver details built into the Ranchsliders. The knees are well shaped so that even with your knees bent at the top of a pedal stroke the fabric doesn't pull, and they're also slightly padded, apparently with a microfibre insulation, to keep the knee joints extra warm. Elastic panels around the back and sides of the waist also add to the comfort when leaning over the bars. Waist closure is via a substantial popper and zip fly. There are two open front pockets and a single zipped one at the back which even has a puncture patch sewn in. Unfortunately, as the picture shows, this took a bit of a battering after going through the washing machine a few times...

But my favourite part of the Ranchsliders is the ankles- they have built -in trouser-clips! A neat tab and a strip of Velcro let you pull the ankle tight around your leg, clear from chain dirt. It works really well - every cyclists's trousers should have them!

I've worn the Ranchsliders for quite a bit of everyday cycling, and even some longer rides, including the 20 mile trip from Forest Row to Lewes as mentioned in our dealer visits article this issue. They shrug off a bit of light rain, dry quickly and breathe well, and the cut does noticeably add to comfort compared to my usual, much cheaper, work trousers. They're definitely a lot smarter looking, too...

Written by, Peter Eland.

Cycling Plus (UK) - Jan 08

The Ranchsliders are designed for urban mountain biking but we've been using them for scooting about town when it's too cold for shorts and have developed a strange fondness for them. They're made from a heavy-duty nylon that dries fast if you are caught out in a shower, while the flat fronted design minimises bulk when you bend forward to the bars. The articulated knees are lined for added warmth and Velcro tabs keep the lower legs out of your chain. Padding simply comprises a layer of fleece so you'll want bike shorts underneath foe longer stints in the saddle.

Verdict: 9/10
Practical MTB strides that the utility cyclist will love.

What Mountain Bike (UK) - Dec 07

Hard-as-nails baggy trousers for singletracking, cruising down the coffee shop or just wandering around the workshop in. They'll soon become your favourite slouch pants, but don't expect the knobbly knees and big bottom that work so well on the bike to work quite so well socially without it.

www.montrealplus - Jun 03

Ground Effect: Pantalons, Ranchsliders
Pour: Tres confortable, tissu resistant, poches pratiques dont une pour la pompe
Contre: Un peu chaud pour l'ete. Attaches de chevilles peu pratiques.
Je dis: Pantalon tout aller et pret a rouler... A la mesure de son prix

Verdict: 4/5

http://www.montrealplus.ca/feature/405/4.html#ground

UnderGround - Dec 01

Hi y'all
I'm a cycling nut from Canberra. I'm also a fan of Ground Effect clothing and feel the need to tell you just how bullet proof my Ranchsliders are. I bought these great, grungy daks eighteen months ago and have covered 2,200 winter k's in them - commuting to and from work and rock hopping on my trusty Giant. I have crashed the Ranchsliders (as you do) a few times on the dirt and once on the cycle paths that loop around Canberra. The 'sliders survived these stacks with no fabric or seam damage. But wait, there's more.

Last week I was subjected to an unprovoked attack from a Pitbull Terrier. Thething latched onto my right calf. It bit hard through my 'sliders leaving them marked with blood and teeth imprints. The owner (perhaps not unaccustomed to this sort of carry on) apologised and offered to "pay for any damage and medical bills". I forgot about the pain in my leg and obsessed about "my Ranchsliders". But the Hi-Impact Cotton was intact - not a tear nor puncture. Tough or what? The mutt had drawn masses of blood and caused impressive bruising, but the 'sliders were undamaged. Brilliant - just brilliant.

Martin Dibb