Club Ride Apparel Ventura Review

Club Ride Apparel was one of the first brands to make mountain bike shorts for women that fit really well and the Ventura has been one of our favorites for years. Now they have some competition, but it is still a very fine pair of shorts. This new iteration in plaid is made of a slightly different fabric with a slightly different fit. They're breathable, fairly lightweight, and have two good-sized zippered pockets. And they are pretty cute: you can roll from the trail to the beer garden and no one will bat an eye.

Performance Comparison

Fit and Comfort

The old Ventura had internal buttons to adjust the waistband, which were a favorite when most manufacturers were using bulky Velcro adjusters. There are a lot of innovative new solutions to the waistband adjustment problem, so we are a little perplexed to see Club Ride going back to Velcro for the Ventura Plaid. Velcro has the unfortunate quality of sticking to everything and then not sticking to itself after it collects a bunch of fuzz. While these waist adjusters are fairly low profile, we did notice the occasional sharp edge from the velcro backing inside the waistband.

We dug out an older favorite pair of Ventura shorts that are sized the same and found this pair to run quite a bit smaller, though a tad longer in the inseam. Additionally, this fabric is noticeably stiffer and thicker. That being said, this new version of the shorts feels a little more protective and maintains a flattering cut. They have ample stretch for a comfortable ride and they scored well in this metric.

Pedal Friendliness

The Ventura is made of fairly lightweight material that is very breathable, making it a great short for long rides in warm weather. The fabric has two-way stretch and moves well in motion, both pedaling and descending. These are comfortable enough to wear on all-day rides, but we especially like their versatility for the casual ride that ends at the cafe or pub.

The old back panel was lined with a soft, wicking material, while the current version is lined with the same material as the rest of the shorts. We found this new version to be stiffer and it did not lay flat when we were riding, though it is high enough to maintain coverage and they did stay in place. We would assume that the waistband material will not wick as well, but since it buckled up and let air in, we didn't notice. Kind of a silver lining.

Protection

While the slightly heavier material of the Ventura Plaid feels decently protective against bushes and branches, the 11-inch inseam is a little short to offer maximum protection. These are not the shorts to pair with kneepads for super technical rides. However, the fabric is treated for water and dirt repellency, which is an excellent feature when you get caught in an unexpected shower or encounter a muddy trail.

The Ventura Plaid claims to have reflective accents, and while we didn't have the opportunity to wear these on a night ride, when we wore them in the dark garage the only thing reflective we noticed is a tiny tag on the hip. By no means a dealbreaker, but not something to rely on for extra visibility if you are riding home in the dark.

Pockets

The Ventura has two zippered pockets at the waist, with plenty of room to stash your valuables. They are large enough to hold a phone, but the positioning on the front of the leg meant that our pedaling was seriously compromised with a phone in the pocket. While perfect for an ID or an energy gel, we do not recommend using these pockets for anything large or bulky.

If you like to have your phone or multi-tool close at hand, take a look at models that have zippered pockets on the sides of the legs where they don't interfere with pedaling and provide easy access.

Style

We do love the Ventura Plaid for its super cute cut and subtle pattern. It is fitted in the hips and relaxed in the legs, making for an easy, wearable style that transitions easily off the trail. The plaid is not overly bold and will fit in at the coffee shop as well as on the bike. These don't scream “I am wearing bike shorts!” giving them a versatility that we appreciate. It also comes in Navy which offers a brighter plaid pattern for ladies that like to stand out in the crowd.

Value

With the Ventura, you've got a lightweight, stylish, and comfortable bike short perfect for an all-day trail ride. They're a well-rounded pair of shorts that look great. There are other shorts for the same price, but the Ventura offers more style points, a better fit, and greater versatility and we think they are a great value.

Conclusion