dhb Blok Women’s Bib Short

The Blok Bib Shorts are part of dhb's 'performance' range, which sits between its 'active' and 'professional' ranges and is 'designed for keen road cyclists'. They're ideal if you're looking to invest in your first pair of bib shorts or enjoy a regular couple of hours in the saddle, but I didn't find them comfortable enough for longer rides.

• Pros: Great value, comfortable up to 3 hours
• Cons: Leg gripper very sticky

The pad in the shorts is thicker around the key contact points with the saddle and reasonably well ventilated thanks to a perforated central insert, which helps to reduce that horrible clammy feeling you get after several hours of sweating in the saddle.

After five hours of riding, I wasn't surprised to find myself wishing for my favourite pair of shorts, but for a good two or three hours I was perfectly comfortable in the saddle.

Off the bike, the pad doesn't feel too thick or bulky to wander around in at an all-important mid ride café stop. A little extra padding around the front would go a long way, but considering the price, it's a very good chamois.

I have found myself riding in anything from a size 8 to a 12 in dhb kit in the past, and this time it was the 10 which fitted my usually size 8-10 derrière. Based on this, I'd say they come up true to normal UK sizing. The fit itself is good, although nothing special, and the cuffs stay in place without squeezing.

The cuffs feature a wide silicone gripper which, true to its name, is very grippy. So much so that I found it took a little shifting around to position comfortably when I initially put the shorts on. Once in place it certainly wasn't going anywhere, regardless of how sweaty or slick with sun cream my legs happened to be.

The shorts are a simple design, with a comfortable high waist and a mesh section to the rear of the bib section for ventilation. The straps sit wide around the chest and provide ample support. Again, they don't attempt to do anything fancy, but do just what is needed.

For £55 these make a great entry-level pair of bib shorts, with one of the best pads I've tried for this kind of price. I preferred the fit and design of the Alé Solid Traguardo Bib Shorts I recently tested, for £10 more, but found the dhb's chamois more comfortable.

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The Blok bib shorts come in a whole range of designs, each one predominantly black with a colourful pattern around the leg grippers and rear mesh of the bib section. Not only can you buy a matching jersey, but arm warmers, caps, socks and more in the same funky patterns to really complete the look.

Verdict

Great value and comfortable for rides up to three hours