dhb Trace bib shorts

The dhb Trace bib shorts are a good medium-range option for summer cycling: breathable, very comfortable, with a nice fit, although the stitching could be better and the printed colour panels may not suit everyone.

The dhb Trace shorts are designed to go with the Trace jersey, billed on the website of online cycle superstore Wiggle as 'dhb team kit' (dhb is Wiggle's in-house brand). The male version of these shorts is mainly black with a white panel and blue or red stripe around the thigh. The female version has a purple stripe.

If you've already got a Trace jersey, then these shorts are undoubtedly a nice match, and they may also look good with other jerseys with similar colour schemes. On the other hand, some riders may prefer to steer away from too many different coloured panels or too much white on their shorts.

It's not all about colour though. These shorts are made up of several panels of fabric to produce an anatomic cut, designed to fit your body when in a cycling position, and they're close-fitting all round without being too tight anywhere.

The fabric itself is Lycra, while the bib is mesh. Further adding to comfort, on the inside of each hem is a silicone strip; this holds the shorts nicely in place against your skin, and avoids any fabric creasing or rucking on the inner leg, which in turn avoids any nasty chafing.

The pad (or 'chamois') is made by specialist manufacturer CyTech. It's a Giro Air in the male version, and a Speed Air in the female version. Both are medium density. We're testing the male version and it was perfectly comfortable on test rides of several hours duration in hot conditions. It stretches in all directions and has 'valleys' between the padded areas to improve airflow and cooling.

So far, so comfy. On the downside, a lot of panels means a lot of seams, and these are not flatlocked, so the thread is exposed on the outside of the shorts, especially over the top of the thigh, when the panels stretch a little (which they're supposed to as the shorts are meant to be close-fitting). This has no ill effect on the comfort levels, but it simply doesn't look very nice.

This issue is further emphasised as the three colours around the leg are printed on a single panel (rather than being three separate panels, each of a different colour), and this is all white on the inside, which is visible when the seams are stretched. In addition, when the panel itself is stretched, the white 'shows through' and turns the black to grey.

To be fair, stretched stitching can be an issue on any brand of shorts where the seams are not flatlocked. And if you choose shorts with flat-locked seams, that usually means a step up in cost.

he Trace Bib Shorts retail at a penny under £55, currently reduced on the Wiggle website to £41.24. This is a good price; entry-level shorts from some other manufacturers cost double that. But given the issues with the stitching and colour panels, you might be better off spending the same kind of money on another pair of shorts that are just as comfortable as the Trace but with a more straightforward design and more pleasing appearance.

Verdict

Comfortable shorts for summer cycling. Breathable, with a good fit, but stitching could be better and colour panels may not suit everyone.