dhb ASV Bib shorts

Wiggle launched its ASV sub-range of riding apparel last year saying that it was bringing pro-level materials, construction and performance to a mainstream price-point. These bibshorts are apparently identical in technical specification to the Wiggle Honda Pro Cycling team kit and those worn by the Charge Bikes Team, and the use of high-quality fabrics, a great pad and a really good fit mean they are probably the best bibs I've used in the sub-£100 price range.

Find DHB ASV Bib shorts online

Last year I tested the matching long-sleeve jersey from the same range and was unconvinced by the claims of 'pro-level gear'; the loose-fitting sleeves and relatively simple construction from a single fabric type didn't really back up all the words. It wasn't bad for the price (dhb kit very rarely is) but it just didn't seem a whole lot better than their other, cheaper jerseys.

It's a different story here. I have a few other dhb bibs and as soon as you take these out of the packaging it's immediately apparent that they're a cut above the rest of the range. Constructed from 210g Italian lycra, they have that lovely silky feel you get with quality gear, making them a pleasure to put on.

Once you're in, the fit is spot on too. It's obvious that a real effort was made in this respect. If you compare with the pictures of the Blok bibs I reviewed last year, you can see that the fabric sits flatter against the skin. This is likely due to a combination of higher quality fabric and a more complex layout of panels.

Wiggle say that ASV kit is designed to have a form-fitting fit on a lean build. The large was perfect for me; I can fit in a medium of most dhb bibs but sometimes with the legs a bit shorter than I'd like. Here the legs were long enough, and the fit overall was better than any other dhb bibs I've used, with a light compression around the thighs.

Wiggle's online-only business obviously means that you can't try on before buying, but they're always pretty accommodating if you need to return items that are the wrong size in my experience.

Like elsewhere in the range, there's a pad from the Italian Cytech brand, this time the Endurance model. Cytech pads are used by lots of brands (including in bibs costing a lot more than these) and they're normally very good, and so it proved here. The Endurance is a 3D anatomical pad made from dual density foam which is thick where you need it to be thick (under the sit bones) and thinner to provide pressure relief in sensitive areas. It is noticeably a different shape to the Cytech pads I've tried in other dhb bibs I've used but it worked for me – rides of several hours were not a problem.

Wiggle say the pad has perforations to provide airflow and help move sweat away from the skin, and there is a discernible texture on the side which sits against the skin. Unlike the Blok bibs, however, I couldn't feel any perforations on the outside - it's completely smooth. It's a comfy pad, for sure, but I'd say it's not as breathable as others I've used. If you're riding somewhere really hot, maybe the more expensive Goldline bibs are a better bet.

Around the thighs, manufacturers are increasingly moving away from narrow elasticated bands with tacky silicone strips and instead using wider bands of compressive fabric, sometimes with some grippy material woven in, to keep the legs in place. Here there are 45mm-wide raw-cut compressive bands with 'silicon micro-dots' which work faultlessly. On colder days there's enough compression and grip to keep your leg warmers in place without any problem.

The bib straps themselves are made of carbon fibre mesh. Wiggle say that carbon has 'natural thermal properties' and its use helps keep you cooler than if they were made of something less impressive-sounding. I'm assuming that they have some research which could back up this, as I'm sure it couldn't possibly just be there because cyclists love stuff made of carbon fibre, right? Setting such cynicism aside, they work just fine. At the back there's a single wide mesh panel in the centre which divides into two between the shoulder blades, keeping the straps securely on the shoulders. I found the straps plenty comfortable and the use of a mesh material undoubtedly helps here.

With the ASV gear, dhb continues the styling direction that it started with its Blok range last year, with panels of blue, white and blended grey on these shorts. If you're of the opinion that cycling shorts should be entirely black then you'll need to look elsewhere. There are orange and red versions available if that works better with the rest of your gear. I think they look pretty good.

I complained that the ASV jersey cost more than other dhb tops without offering enough of a performance differential, but the opposite is very much true here. These are priced identically to the longstanding dhb range-topper, the Aeron Pro, and only a fiver more than the Blok bibs and are unequivocally a cut above both. In this price range, the only competitors I can think of which give these a run for their money are the excellent Leadout bibs from Howies. Those are rather different, though, using incredibly stretchy woven material to give a fit almost like a body stocking.

If I say the ASV shorts are of a more conventional construction that is in no way a criticism. They use high quality materials with the fit and details that you'd expect from premium brands at a higher price point. In short, they're really, really good, and a steal at this price.

Verdict

High-end comfort and fit for mid-range money - the best dhb bibs yet