Details
Softail™ Pad delivers unparalleled comfort for those gnarly long days in the saddle. >Differential density, multi-level foam construction provides additional padding at pressure points without increased bulk. >3D anatomical shaping and seamless construction hug your body for a performance fit. >Polyester-knit face fabric against your skin disperses heat and moisture. >Anti-bacterial finish maintains hygiene. >Dries rapidly after washing.
Integrated liner with breathable lycra mesh.
Reviews
What Mountain Bike (UK) - Jun 08
The outer fabric is shine-free nylon, with a stretch panel round the back to give a great fit. The breezy mesh inner short is integrated. The elasticised waist has a flat front and there's a zip pocket.
Conclusion:
Comfort 9/10
Features 9/10
Function 9/10
Value 8/10
Overall 9/10
Understated and practical short for all-day wear.
What MTB GOLD award
Australian Mountain Bike - Jun 07
New Zealand's Ground Effect has been making Tom Thumbs for about five years now, with small refinements over time. They give women a street-style baggy short on the outside, and a tight-fitting performance knick on the inside. A normally Lycra-clad Imogen Smith tested the Tom Thumbs on her local trails.
On the inside, the Tom Thumbs have fantastic Lycra mesh knicks with Ground Effect's premium chamois. Such a well-designed chamois is not that common in a casual short, although it makes sense to have it there: just because you're not wearing Lycra on the outside doesn't mean you should suffer. With this chamois the shorts are comfortable enough for day-long rides. The nylon outer short is quite baggy, yet allows good pedalling freedom. There's no tendency for the shorts or the lining to creep up with leg movement either, so you can forget about what you are wearing and concentrate on the trail.
The shorts have a stretch lumber panel, but the waistband could have been higher around the back, especially for those who prefer t-shirts to cycling jerseys. I found that no matter how much I pulled at them my lower back remained exposed. If you don't carry a hydration pack you might want to opt for a jersey with the pocket space.
Tom Thumbs only have one small leg pocket. Although this is better for pedalling, as overloaded leg pockets are only going to bounce around when you ride, it means finding alternatives for your spare and food.
The Tom Thumbs' designers have chosen substance over style. The shorts are only available in black with pale blue piping, with functionality dictating the appearance of the short, rather than trends, colours or empty features.
One of the most comfortable trail shorts I have tested.
UnderGround - Feb 07
We asked Cherie to tell us what she thought of her new Tom Thumbs. Having skived off early to Hanmer for Christmas she txted us her impressions...
Swervy curves, d Tom Thumbs e@ em 4 Bfast. wel nt Ntirely, bt d decision 2 wear baggys ovr lycra S ofn a conscious 1, n cmfrt cn B considered a lesser priority. TGF d Tom Thumbs. ez ax$ zippered fly, fitslikeaglve liner n a flattering sm%th frnt wrk 4 me. A pocket 4 carying lippy sized fings isa boon, n d l%k wrks jst as wel workin ^ a sweat or lounging ovr a mid-ride lnch. Iv bum-slid dwn rk drops, befriended a trE or 2 n ridden mor commuting miles n my 'Thumbs thN I care2 rmbr. I lk em, dey suit me, no Q as 2 w@ Ill wear 2moz.
Trouble is we can't understand it all that well, but we think it goes something along these lines... 'Christmas was great, Mum excelled herself with the spread, ate too much as per usual but on the post lunch mtb ride the Tom Thumbs still fitted.'
Cherie
Ground Effect staff writer, hang on, make that RIDER!
UnderGround - Feb 07
L'histoire des baguettes...
Once upon a time bike tyres got fat and rough. Eventually bike clothes joined the fun and shorts went from tight and shiny to big and loose. Ground Effect was there. Our first attempt were the Helter Skelters (1994) - a stunning plaid pattern and a blend of Linen and Cotton for comfort. Two years on, boys needs became bigger and so did their shorts. The Supertankers dropped in with Hi-Impact Cotton fabric and legs so wide they needed speed tabs to reel them in. They reigned supreme through the 90's until long days in the saddle required more sophisticated padding. The Double Happys were born in October '99. A short with a serious multi-pocketed outer and a Lycra-mesh liner with a molded cycle pad. As the years have passed the 'Happys have become lighter, cooler, cheaper and gained more panels for a better fit.
Just like the blokes, not all women go for Lycra and that's where the Tom Thumbs hit the spot. Again they've enjoyed a series of refinements over the years to their current clean-lined version with a flattering fit and performance liner. Both the men's and women's shorts are made from Hi-Impact Nylon - light enough to make wearing a double short bearable in the heat, and tough enough to take the grazes. They have a 6 panel Lycra-mesh liner with a plush Softail pad for similar comfort to our slim-jim Lycra options. Letting you match your shorts with your sense of off-road style. Is that a baguette in your pocket?
Frase,
Ground Effect Product Designer.
Australian Mountain Bike - Feb 06
The "Tom Thumbs" are constructed of black, light-weight 'Hi-Impact' nylon that is also quick drying. These shorts are not tight fitting, so they are great for hiding in if you are a bit shy, but tended to snag a little. In my ignorance I had expected to find a product from NZ a little hot for the Queensland testing conditions, and was pleasantly surprised to find these shorts well ventilated and cool. The elastic waist had a pretty vicious grip but if it's not tight enough there's a fastening clip you can tighten as well. There is an elastic back panel for flexibility and a smallish zip-up pocket for your lipstick and credit cards. The biggest bonus is a great internal set up with flexible and breathable lining, and a fantastic chamois.
Pros: Excellent lining and chamois for comfortable riding.
Cons: Quite baggy - may snag a little.
Rating: 8/10
AMB Editors Choice.
Hi-Impact
Hard wearing and quick drying nylon fabric - tightly woven to deliver
bulletproof performance.
> Composition: 100% nylon
Sizing
Check out the chart to suss out where you fit. This is a guide
only - if you fall in-between sizes, the right size for you will
depend on your body shape and how loose or tight you like to wear
your clothes. It's no hassle to swap it, if your first choice
is not the best fit.
| Women | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| WS (8-10) |
WM (12) |
WL (14) |
|
|
Bust |
88 - 92 cm |
93 - 97 cm |
98 - 102 cm |
|
Waist |
63 - 69 cm |
70 - 76 cm |
77 - 83 cm |
|
Hips |
89 - 95 cm |
96 - 102 cm |
103 - 109 cm |
Unisex vs Women's Sizes
If you're struggling to find that certain something in the Outskirts™ women's range, then check out Ground Effect's standard range of unisex gear. As unisex items tend to be larger than our women's designs selected products are also available in XS (approximately women's small) to provide a more complete range.
Snappy shorts combining rough 'n' tumble good looks with absolute performance. An integrated mesh liner with seamless 'chamois' pad delivers all-day pedalling comfort for singletrack fiends and urban legends.
> Integrated liner with breathable lycra mesh.
> Smooth, flat front with zip opening to ease over your hips.
> Easy-Rider stretch lumbar and hip panels.
> Hi-Impact nylon outer.
> Gusseted crutch for pedalling freedom.
> Cargo pocket with concealed zip to keep the zip-zap card and lip salve secure.
> Performance liner with breathable lycra mesh.
> Secret tube repair patch.
> Made by us in New Zealand.
> Both are loose fitting shorts made from tough Hi-Impact nylon fabric, densely woven to take the knocks. Hi-Impact Plus is gruntier than the standard brew with a cotton handle and finish. Martinis are constructed from Hi-Impact Plus fabric and the Tom Thumbs from the standard brew.
> The Martinis are our premium women's baggy short. They come without a liner to provide greater versatility - call up a pair of Dovetails for those long days in the saddle, or winterise your Martinis by replacing the liner with a pair of Witches Britches three quarter length shorts.
> Both have Easy-Rider stretch hip panels keep them hitched up. Intelligent design reduces surplus fabric for a smoother and therefore more comfortable interface between bum and saddle. There's also less risk of getting hooked up on technical trails. A stretch lumbar panel and HighRise rear overlap with your cycle top to keep you covered. No bare skin or lewd exposure.
> The Martinis are long - flirting below your knees. The Tom Thumbs are 8-10cm shorter.
Tell me about the pad in these shorts.
> Softail™ Pad delivers unparalleled comfort for those gnarly long days in the saddle. Differential density, multi-level foam construction provides additional padding at pressure points without increased bulk. 3D anatomical shaping, 4-way stretch and seamless construction hug your body for a performance fit. Polyester-knit face fabric against your skin disperses heat and moisture. Anti-bacterial finish maintains hygiene and dries rapidly after washing.
> It requires no special care and dries very quickly after washing (it loves a warm wash!).
> There are two main differences between the women's-specific and men's-unisex versions of the Softail pad. While the moulded part of the pad remains the same the pad is shorter at the front in the women's version. The position of the pad in the short is also gender specific, with differently shaped panels in the short's gusset supporting the pad.
What's the difference in performance between baggy and stretch shorts?
> A stretch short will always deliver more performance than a baggy number as there's no surplus fabric bunched up between your bum and the saddle. Baggies are the default choice of battle-hardened cyclists off road, on tour and around the streets. They combine a loose but not super-baggy fit with an optional mesh liner and moulded pad... providing the performance benefits of conventional stretch shorts with minimal compromise.
> The Supertankers, Juggernauts, Double Happys, Tom Thumbs and Martinis are made from lightweight, quick drying Hi-Impact nylon, and Hi-Impact nylon Plus. They combine a loose, but not super-baggy fit, and combined with a mesh liner and moulded pad provide many of the performance benefits of conventional stretch shorts with minimal compromise.
Should I wear underwear with these shorts?
> Hell no. You want to have as smooth an interface as possible between your bum and the saddle. The seams on your underwear will inevitably be in the wrong place - causing rubbing and saddle sores. Also underwear is generally cotton - nice for everyday use but damp skin below is more susceptible to chaffing.
Washing Instructions?
> Ground Effect shorts enjoy a warm machine wash. Try to avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach. The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage technical fabrics and may cause skin irritation. Bleach strips dye and can also cause irritation.
> With shorts in particular, cold-water detergents and those with bleach can cause 'nappy-rash' so if you're experiencing issues in that department try a warm wash and a change of cleaning brew. As a rule of thumb, product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Plant based soaps like Ecover or specific sport wash formula are recommended.
> Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
> The shorts and pad dry super-fast, so drying on the line or hanging over the bedpost does the trick. Or use a dryer on a warm (not hot) cycle.
> UV rays accelerate the decay of lycra. Our fabric is knitted so the lycra component lies on the inside of the fabric - shielding it from the sun when you're out riding. Consequently you should avoid drying these shorts inside-out. It's not a bad idea to do so occasionally as the sun does help keep the pad hygienic - although it is treated with an anti-bacterial finish anyway. But drying in this manner is a trade-off with the damage done to the lycra.
> It's common practice to not wear underwear with your riding shorts so you need to wash your shorts daily.
