Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight

9
£80.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Super-comfortable bib tights thanks to a great pad and well-thought-out fit – they put more expensive tights to shame
Weight: 
313g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

For those long, steady winter miles you need a comfortable, warm pair of bib tights, and you can't go far wrong with Dhb's ASV Roubaix bibs. A simple yet well-designed pad and heat-trapping fleece fabric make them hard to beat for £80, and a steal at their current reduced price tag of £48.

I'll take a look at the pad first, as it's pretty much the most crucial part of any pair of bibs. It's made by Cytech Elastic Interface, an Italian company founded at the turn of the century that creates pads for plenty of clothing manufacturers. Basically its idea was to make a stretchable foam pad that moved with the rider as they went through the pedalling motion to avoid hot-spots and bunching of the material.

> Buy these online here

The one used in the ASVs isn't the most advanced from the range but its simplicity is probably one of its highlights. We see a lot of pads with multiple degrees of padding and densities, with channels running here there and everywhere, but this Cytech one has very little of that.

The padding is increased under the buttocks and sit bones, and it's a higher density than the surrounding areas that make up the rest of the pad. And that's about it really – simple. The density used for the main section is firm enough to absorb the bumps and vibrations from the saddle without alienating you from the feedback from the rest of the bike. It's breathable too, so things don't get overly warm and clammy.

dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight - back.jpg

The stretch in the foam means it's comfortable for long rides as well. The material doesn't ruck up as you move around on the bike and the fact that it isn't too bulky makes things just as comfortable when you have to walk around off the bike.

dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight - front detail.jpg

The ASVs are made from Roubaix material, a fleece-backed Lycra that traps body heat as you ride, keeping you warm on cooler days. It'll also use that trapped heat to keep your muscles up to temperature if you get wet.

There aren't any windproofing panels like you find on some tights, around the thighs or calves, but this wasn't something I really missed even with a cold northerly wind blowing.

dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight - thigh.jpg

Roubaix is used for the bib section too, which is pretty rare to see. They have a central mesh section to let out any excess from your back, but on the whole it isn't necessary as the fabric is pretty breathable.

Keeping the chills at bay around your midriff is a slightly raised mid-section. It's not so high to be inconvenient for toilet stops, but I must admit I do prefer something a little higher for winter use.

> Check out our guide to the best bib tights here

Moving back down to the bottom, the ankles are held in place by a mixture of silicone gripper and zips at the rear. It's a good combination as the two work well together with the tights not riding up at all.

dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight - ankle reflective.jpg
dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight - ankle zip.jpg

Overall, the Dhb ASVs are lovely tights for the price – well, for any price in fact. The fit just feels right in terms of body length and the like, plus the pad is just brilliant. I can't see them letting you down on build quality either, as all of the Dhb kit I've ever owned has always stood up well to hard use and the odd knock; this ASV stuff certainly doesn't look to be any different.

dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight - riding.jpg

The styling looks pretty cool as well, with the contrast of the bright colour blocks against the black, and gives you that full kit look if you pair it with one of the jerseys (review of the ASV Windslam jersey to come). The orange we've got here is also bright enough to really make you stand out on gloomy days.

Verdict

Super-comfortable bib tights thanks to a great pad and well-thought-out fit – they put more expensive tights to shame

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Dhb ASV Roubaix Bib Tight

Size tested: Medium, Black/Orange

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Dhb says: "The ASV Roubaix Bib Tight combines branded, highly technical fabrics and refined striking graphics for the perfect cold weather, winter training bib tight."

It's not far wrong, the ASVs offer an all-round great product at an outstanding price.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Italian Super Roubaix brushed fleece fabric for Winter use

Roubaix braces for protection around the belly and kidney areas

Meshed back channel to aid thermal comfort

Elastic leg opening with Silicone grippers

Ankle Zip openings

2 x anthracite reflective dhb logos

2 x anthracite reflective logos on calf for enhanced visibility

CyTech Endurance HD chamois

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Even when covered in mud they washed up fine on a 30 degree cycle.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

A lovely set of bib tights for winter riding whether long distance or just a blast around the block.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The comfortable pad.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I'd like a slightly higher stomach section.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Dhb has always seemed to be able to create top quality, high performing and excellent value for money bib shorts and tights, with these ASVs being no different. I've ridden plenty of tights costing double the money of these and the ASVs outshine the majority of them, especially in terms of comfort and durability.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 37  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Kinesis T2  My best bike is: Mason Definition

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

Add new comment

1 comments

Avatar
The _Kaner | 8 years ago
0 likes

...and currently selling for a measly €66.81  or £sterling equivalent....

Latest Comments