The best mountain-biking shorts and shirts for when you don't want to ride in Spandex, according to an avid cyclist

For more aggressive days when I know there's a fair likelihood of taking a tumble, I turn to Assos' Trail Cargo Shorts and Liner. The reason I pick these is that, in addition to having a comfy elasticated waist and weighing very little, they have pads which insert in the liner short and protect my hips. Often, off-road crashes are low-speed falls onto the greater trochanter, at the top of the femur, and these 8mm pads offer helpful impact protection. Like Velocio, Assos' considerable road heritage shows through in its comfortable pad and a cut that doesn't leave the shorts flapping in the wind and catching on your saddle as you lean back to send that huge drop.

The Backcountry Empire Shorts and Covert Liner offer great value. Unlike the Velocio and Assos offerings, the liner short isn't a bib short and instead relies on a waistband to keep it up. If this is your first dedicated pair of cycling shorts, you won't miss the bibs although you may wish to upgrade later.

The Empire Shorts are comfortable, robust, stretchy, and breathable. They aren't quite as featherlight as the other options, but this means I often turn to them for hiking as well as cycling, so that's not necessarily a negative. The zippered cargo pockets hold a lot of gear, but I advise against filling them up on a ride as you'd be better off carrying your tools and snacks in a hydration pack or even a secure hip pack like Backcountry's Mid Mountain 2L.

For a casual ride in the evening that might lead to beer, I love a flannel shirt like the Stio Hagen. It allows me to blend in off the bike, but uses breathable fabrics that won't leave me sweating through every climb on my ride. The stretchy fabric conceals a small stash pocket, perfect for an ID and some cash for that post-ride beer. This isn't the lightest or the most aerodynamic shirt, but riding in a flannel is a great way to remind yourself that it's all about fun. And you'll have more fun if your shirt isn't dripping with sweat.

When things are getting rowdy, and I'm more likely to drop into a rock garden than a brewpub, I go for POC's Resistance Enduro ¾ Jersey. The mesh back and underarms, as well as the zippered front, help me climb without overheating. On the way down, I appreciate the elbow coverage and Cordura fabric in the sleeves. There's space for elbow pads, which indicates the sort of rider this top is aimed at. If you like to ride down things you can't walk up, it's a hit.