POC – 2017 Women’s Fondo WO Short Tights

Virtually no cyclist is one-dimensional enough to fall into a single category. Commuter, weekend rambler, long-ranging tourer, crit masher — we tend to cycle through disciplines like a chameleon cycles through shades of green. Given this tendency to wear different hats, POC is expanding its line of cycling kit so we can match those hats with use-appropriate shorts. The Fondo Women’s Short Tights are a nod to the rides where we’re counting road-side cafes, not intervals, and the most competitive part of the day is a toss-up between the state line sprint and the hustle to the coffee shop counter. After all, not every ride is race day, and sometimes a slower pace just provides a better opportunity to appreciate the joy of pedaling a bicycle.

The shorts are made with a synthetic blend that’s based on polyamide (nylon) instead of polyester and features a lower percentage of elastane than POC’s racing kit. The trade-off is less stretch, so the Fondo isn’t as painted-on as aerodynamic racing shorts, but more durability, so it holds up better under the abuse of long days in the saddle. The Fondo’s four-panel design allows POC to map the body’s contours without constriction, and the high, stretchy waist and partial silicone leg grippers keep the women-specific shape in place.

The included Fondo WO chamois is built with the same silicone VPDS inserts found in POC’s Aerofoil racing bibs, but the padding is shaped for long-mile comfort while in a more upright posture. This is yet another indication that the Fondo Short Tights are for sportives, base miles, and the like, rather than a frenetic hour spent in the drops while rocketing through 90-degree corners in a downtown crit circuit. The Fondo WO chamois still benefits from the same strategic support, vibration reduction, and airflow channels, just with a less-aggressive posture in mind.

Cycling shorts for the days you just want to spin

High nylon content provides supportive hold

Women’s specific fit eschews bibs for a high waistband

Silicone details inside of leg cuff preserve fit

Chamois designed for upright, relaxed riding posture