Black Widows

Despatch winter blues and arachnophobia with these three-quarter length merino lycra thermal knicks. The state-of-art eXo™ skeletal pad and Bandolier™ cuffs ensure hi-octane performance so you can set the pace at the head of the bunch.

+Features

• eXo™ skeletal pad - 3D anatomical shaping, multi-level foam, rapid drying, seamless synthetic 'chamois' pad with anti-bacterial finish.
• 'Contour fit' with s-shaped seams allows the lycra to stretch freely with your body.
• 10-panel construction.
• Flat seams for enhanced comfort.
• Wide Bandolier™ waistband for maximum comfort.
• HighRise™ rear ensures a generous overlap with your cycle top.
• Bandolier™ textured-lycra cuffs.
• Fast-drying, 4-way stretch Hot Shot™ Merino.
• Weight: 280 gm.
• Designed & made by us in Aotearoa | New Zealand.

+Tech

+Hot Shot™ Merino

4-way stretch winter luxury uniquely combines superfine merino against your skin with a tightly knitted, hardwearing nylon outer and lycra to stretch and move with your body. Warm as pie.

• Composition: 28% merino; 44% nylon; 28% lycra.

+

Outskirts™ garments are designed specifically for women. However If you're struggling to find exactly what you need in the Outskirts™ women's range, check out our men's products for further size options. Jackets, tights and baggy tops often fit both men and women equally well.

+eXo™

This state-of-art eXo™ skeletal pad delivers maximum performance for those who ride long and fast.

• Pad and shorts' outer fabric are laminated as a single layer – providing increased precision with minimal movement between the fabrics and your saddle.
• Near-seamless interface between pad and body of the shorts.
• External and internal differential-density mouldings provide 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.
• Bacteriostatic finish for added hygiene.
• Dries rapidly after washing.
• 
  Made by TMF in Italy. Market leaders in cycling pad design and innovation. Manufactured in strict compliance with European environmental standards.

+'S' Seams

S-shaped seams don't limit the stretch of lycra fabrics - ensuring Ground Effect shorts hug and move with your body, not against it.

+Bandolier™

Textured-lycra bands glue the legs of our premium shorts to your thighs, and provide muscle support – all without the discomfort of gripper elastic.

+HighRise™

A stretch lumbar panel and HighRise™ rear overlap with your cycle top to keep you covered. No bare skin or lewd exposure.

+More than Kiwi Made

Ground Effect clothing is crafted right here in Aotearoa | New Zealand. Has been ever since we started back in 1994. Manufacturing locally works for us. We operate a quick-response system - holding minimal stock of any one item, but churning out a few more quick-smart when the pile gets low. The upshot is that we are seldom caught with our shelves empty, so orders get despatched the same day you place them.

+Compare

	Black Widows	Witches Britches	Short Cuts
Pad	eXo	Softail	Softail
Fabric	Hot Shot™ Merino	Hot Shot™ Merino	ShockWave™ lycra
Panels	10	8	8
Bandolier™ Waist	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bandolier™ Cuffs	Yes	No	No
Sizes	10 - 16	10 - 18	8 - 18

+FAQ

▸ eXo™ vs Softail™ pad?

• Unlike conventional pads that are sewn into a complete short, the state-of-art eXo™ skeletal pad is a laminated inner and outer 'bum' panel that is integral to the short's construction.
• This provides increased precision with minimal 'slippage' between the laminated fabrics and your saddle. This benefit is particularly noticeable on extended hill climbs.
• In addition, the combination of external and internal differential-density mouldings allow for a closer fit and increased flexibility while still providing excellent padding.
• The more conventional Softail™ pad is also a premium quality solution. However construction is a little less complex keeping the price of Softail™ shorts and tights sharp.
• If multi-day missions are your gig, or you regularly ride for a couple of hours or more then you'll almost certainly value the enhanced performance of the eXo™ pad.
• For keen cyclists with a more recreational and less intense itinerary, the Softail™ pad still delivers superior comfort and performance in the saddle. 

▸ 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.

+Hitching up ya britches?

• The challenge in fitting 3/4 length shorts and tights is the inherent tension of the fabric between your hips and knees. Even with stretch fabrics this can encourage your pants to creep down off your hips so the pad no longer fits snugly against your bum. It's more likely if you're lucky enough to have a longer-than-average femur.
• The trick is to inch up the fabric below your knees so there is less tension along your thighs. If you are a girl, think about how you pull on your fishnet stockings. If you are a boy, think about something else.

+Washing

• All Ground Effect clothing enjoys a warm 40ºC machine wash.
• As a rule of thumb, a laundry product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Select a mild plant-based soap like Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
• Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
• Avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach, 'oxygen whitener' or fabric softener.
  • The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage technical fabrics and cause skin irritation.
  • Bleach rots natural fibres like merino, strips the dye, attacks laminates of waterproof fabrics and can also cause skin irritation.
  • Sodium Percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can make colours run.
  • Fabric softener and wool wash destroy the water repellent finish on waterproof fabrics, and can also cause colours to run.
• Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast, so hanging on the line or draped over the bedpost is generally the best option.
• High heat can damage some fabrics so if you do take your threads for a spin in the dryer, set the device on 'medium' or 'warm' rather than hot.
  

• With shorts in particular, cold-water detergents and those with bleach or fabric softner can cause 'nappy-rash' so if you're experiencing issues in that department try a warm 40ºC machine wash and a change of cleaning brew. 
• A washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
• 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 important to avoid using the dryer for any shorts with our eXo™ pad. This can cause the pad to delaminate.
• It's common practice to not wear underwear with your riding shorts so you need to wash your shorts daily. And it's recommended to give your shorts an initial wash when they're new - the eXo™ pad in particular becomes less stiff after the first wash.

• Wash colours separately.

+ Shipping

• Items are generally packed and sent the same day your order is received.
• Costs $9 by overnight courier within New Zealand.
• NZ$12 by tracked airmail to Australia.
• Around NZ$15-25 by tracked airmail to destinations elsewhere in the world - calculated in our shipping cart as you check out.
• More shipping and tax details in our FAQ.