Dirt Rag #117 By: Jeff Guerrero Hoss Ponderosa Shorts Mark Malatesta not only works in the apparel industry, it's his family's business. You can say designing apparel is in his blood. Malatesta is also a mountain biker, and when he took a good hard look at the market for baggy mountain bike shorts, he decided he could do things better. His goal was to bring an affordable short to the market that was completely functional and stylish enough to pass as casual apparel. The first thing I noticed about the Ponderosa shorts is that they look like regular shorts. The eight-panel polyester shell has a cotton-like appearance, and there is a noticeable lack of graphics or obvious logos. The shorts have a six-panel liner made from moisture wicking material and feature a high-quality Coolmax sanitized chamois. The Ponderosa shorts have seven pockets, and while I seldom found use for more than one or two, it was always nice to have options for where to stash things. I was especially pleased with the rear pocket's wide Velcro closure, because if I'm riding with my wallet I want to be certain is isn't going anywhere. On trail, the Ponderosa shorts are comfortable and perform as well or better than any baggy short I've tried thus far. Of course, all baggy mountain bike shorts feel a bit like I'm wearing a diaper, but the convenience of pulling on a one-piece system is hard to beat. The Ponderosa shorts are not exactly the lightest or quickest drying shorts on the market, yet they did not hinder my riding one iota, even on the sweatiest of rides. Even if money is no object, the Ponderosa shorts are an appealing purchase, and at $45 retail, the price is hard to beat. The construction is top-notch and the material looks brand new after several months of machine washing. Plus, my boss says they are Clydesdale approved. The Ponderosa shorts are available in sizes S-XXL and come in four subtle colors—navy, dirt (tested), taupe and black.