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Club Ride Apparel Ventura Review

Lightweight and comfortable, the Ventura is perfect for everyday trail rides
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Club Ride Apparel Ventura Review
Credit: Club Ride
Price:  $80 List
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Manufacturer:   Club Ride
By Laurel Hunter ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  May 20, 2019
72
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Fit and Comfort - 30% 8.0
  • Pedal Friendliness - 30% 7.0
  • Protection - 20% 7.0
  • Pockets - 10% 5.0
  • Style - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

Club Ride Apparel has made some updates to the Ventura that we don't necessarily think are for the better, but the short remains a favorite for being highly comfortable, breathable, and affordable. Made with double-weave fabric and a flattering cut, they fit and move well with the rider, making them a good choice for long rides.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Affordable
Cute style
REASONS TO AVOID
Too short to wear with kneepads
Poor pocket placement
We especially like these shorts for less technical rides, where a longer inseam and kneepads aren't required. The fabric is durable enough to protect from pesky branches, and the style is versatile enough to roll from the trail to the cafe, all at an affordable price.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Club Ride No longer makes the Ventura shorts for women. While they are discontinued, you may still be able to find them for sale from some online retailers. May 2021

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



club ride apparel ventura - hitting the backyard loop in the club ride ventura.
Hitting the backyard loop in the Club Ride Ventura.
Credit: Laurel Hunter

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.

club ride apparel ventura - a crack in the "nocrackback."
A crack in the “NoCrackBack.”
Credit: Laurel Hunter

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.


club ride apparel ventura - these shorts are made of durable fabric, but the inseam is not long...
These shorts are made of durable fabric, but the inseam is not long enough to work well with kneepads.
Credit: Laurel Hunter

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.

club ride apparel ventura - an iphone fits in the pocket but seriously impedes pedaling. we...
An iPhone fits in the pocket but seriously impedes pedaling. We recommend using it for smaller items.
Credit: Laurel Hunter

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.


club ride apparel ventura - these shorts are comfortable and versatile. we love it for hot days.
These shorts are comfortable and versatile. We love it for hot days.
Credit: Laurel Hunter

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


We like to wear Club Ride Apparel when we are heading out for the Saturday friend ride. The Ventura is perfect for an all-day adventure of winding singletrack, epic views, and fields of wildflowers, and it also fits in perfectly at the beach party or the BBQ after. While we don't love the change to Velcro waist adjusters or the lack of wicking material in the waistband, the Ventura is still a solid choice, and it will keep you comfortable while you focus on the fun.

Laurel Hunter