Review: Plus Size MTB Gear

We asked the fabulous plus size mountain biker Dee Cox to review the first additions to our new MTB range, the Outdoor Research Freewheel Shorts and Freewheel Jersey. Here's what she said:

I've had the pleasure of testing some of the first plus size MTB clothing available to UK market, thanks to Vampire Outdoors! I tested the Freewheel short sleeve tee in 3XL in black cloud scape and the Freewheel 3XL shorts in bronze.

I first received the kit back in March but the weather has been pretty abysmal as you know. So I didn't actually get to test the shorts until June! But in the few rides I got in over our 6th winter of the year, I used the Freewheel jersey.

Freewheel Jersey

I found the Freewheel jersey incredibly comfortable, soft and light. I wore it on 23rd of June when it was like 24 degrees and the fabric is still light enough and wicks away sweat even in the dark colour. It washes like a dream and even with my laziness of pulling my bum bag around to the front, the fabric hasn't clipped or scuffed, a testament to how hard wearing it is. I’ve had lots of compliments on the style and feel of the fabric. It's definitely one of the nicest jerseys I've worn!

Freewheel Shorts

I so wanted to love the Freewheel shorts, but can only like them. The pros, they are a fantastic fabric, light and stretchy, doesn't make much noise when pedalling, generously sized (I got 3XL and wish I got 2XL) plenty of pockets. Washes well, nice to have something that isn't black, although I'm not sure the gold colour suits my moonin white legs lol. The fabric is pretty strong even though it's light, it hasn't scuffed from the constant movement of my thighs rubbing the saddle.

The one frustrating thing about them is the leg length. I get that this could just be a me thing or I'm stuck in my old ways of being used to something that's longer, but when I first started riding MTB 10 Years ago, there wasn't a lot to choose from for women, let alone anything plus size. The only time I managed to get any shorts is when Endura brought out some XXXL men's shorts, they weren't the best but the leg length was spot on, along with an articulated knee for accommodating knee pads. Other than that I wore regatta xert capri shorts for nearly a decade, that was until they were repaired so many times there was nothing left to repair!

Most of us still ride in shorts through bad weather. If the trails are wet, you're out, your tyres are kicking up grit, sand, pine needles, mud, stones. Your legs get quite a bit of brunt from trail debris, and if the top of your knee pads are exposed that’s where it’ll go! I think these would make good XC or Gravel baggies but for me to love them, they need to be a bit longer in length, as a personal preference. I'm really round across my belly with a narrow waist as well as long legs for my height, so one thing that came up in conversation was that the shorts riding up could be down to my body shape and leg length, as other riders haven’t had the same issue.

Dee’s stats:
Waist size 48 inch
Hips (at widest part) 56 inch
Inside leg to knee 13 inch
Inside leg to ankle 30 inch
Height 5'6”

Check out the Freewheel Jersey and Freewheel Shorts and let us know what you think!