The Metro 7 Solo Short is the standalone version, sold without any liner or chamois. If you already own a brief or liner you trust, this lets you pair the short with your own padding rather than paying for one you won't use. For cycling you'll need to supply your own liner, so riders newer to the sport who don't yet own one should factor that into the decision. If you'd rather have a liner included out of the box, the Metro 7 inch Bike Short comes bundled with the detachable Universal 5 inch liner.

The core difference is the liner. The Metro 7 inch Bike Short is bundled with the detachable Universal 5 inch liner, so it's ready to ride out of the box. The Metro 7 Solo Short is the standalone version, sold without any liner, so you supply your own brief or chamois. Choose the Solo if you already have a liner you love or plan to wear the short off the bike. Choose the bundled Metro 7 inch if you want everything included and nothing to source separately.

The Metro 7 Solo Short suits riders who already own a preferred liner or brief and don't want to pay for padding they won't use. Because it's sold without a chamois, it also works well for women who want a short that moves easily between the bike and other activities. The lightweight, eco-friendly, durable fabric and the shorter 7 inch inseam make it a flexible pick. If you're new to cycling and don't yet own a liner, a bundled option will get you riding sooner.

The Metro 7 Solo Short is positioned as an alternative to traditional hiking and city shorts, so it's built to work off the bike as readily as on it. Because it ships without a chamois, you can wear it with no padding at all for walking, travel, errands, or hiking, then add your own liner when you want to ride. The lightweight, eco-friendly, durable fabric and two front hand pockets plus a zippered left-leg pocket make it practical for everyday wear.

If you don't already own a liner or brief, the Metro 7 Solo Short may not be the smoothest starting point, since it's sold without any chamois and you'd need to source one separately for comfortable riding. Riders new to cycling tend to find a ready-to-ride option easier. The Metro 7 inch Bike Short includes the Universal liner, or if you'd prefer nothing to manage separately, the Liberty Bike Short and Fixie Bike Short have the chamois sewn right in.

If handling a separate liner isn't for you, the Metro 7 Solo Short isn't the ideal fit, since it's sold without a chamois and relies on you supplying your own. Riders who want nothing to manage separately tend to prefer a sewn-in chamois. The Liberty Bike Short integrates the chamois fully into the short in a relaxed baggy fit, and the Fixie Bike Short does the same with Terry's Slite chamois. Both keep the casual, non-kit look while giving you one garment that's ready to ride.

The Metro 7 Solo Short has a 7 inch inseam, placing it in Terry's shorter Metro length. That length gives a casual, non-kit look with moderate leg coverage that works well for riders who prefer their legs a little freer. If you want more coverage while keeping the same relaxed baggy aesthetic, consider a below-the-knee option like the Vista BTK Bike Knicker, which extends the leg without moving you into tights.

The Metro 7 Solo Short carries over the flatteringly curved back panel from the original Metro, along with reflective piping and an embroidered bike detail, in a lightweight, eco-friendly, durable build. Practical touches include two front hand pockets and a zippered pocket on the left leg for secure storage. These features suit riders who want a casual, flattering silhouette that reads as everyday wear rather than cycling kit, while still handling the practical needs of a ride or a day out.

The Metro 7 Solo Short is built around a casual, non-kit baggy look. If you find you'd rather have a fitted everyday cycling short that hugs the leg, that's a different archetype and the Actif Bike Short is a natural starting point. If your rides are getting longer or harder and you want higher chamois support in a fitted short, look at the Bella Bike Short or Breakaway Bike Short. Those moves make sense when your riding outgrows the relaxed, flexible role the Metro 7 Solo Short plays.