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dhb Men's Trick Short Sleeve Jersey

7
£44.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Tight-fitting, breathable and stylish jersey for summer riding, but some riders may find the sleeves a bit baggy.
Weight: 
129g

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This short-sleeve cycling jersey from dhb is designed for serious summer riding, with breathable fabrics and a very close-fitting style, although some riders may find the sleeves a bit baggy.

The Trick jersey is part of dhb's large range of cycling kit for summer 2013, and comes about halfway along the range in terms of price, along with the Chase and Trace models. The designers at dhb say the entire range is aimed at the 'performance' and sportive side of cycling, and the Trick will certainly appeal to riders in this bracket.

Our test Trick jersey is the men's version, size Medium. The fit around the torso is close, verging on tight, with absolutely no spare fabric to catch the air and spoil the aerodynamics, although it's not so tight as to be uncomfortable.

The jersey is made of two types of fabric, both thin and light, specifically designed to wick away sweat, so you stay cool and dry on hot days. The front is shiny Lycra-style with a printed (or 'sublimated', to use a technical term) pattern of diagonal stripes; and the back is perforated ('tea-bag', to use a non-technical term) for extra breathability. The side panels and outer layer of the rear pockets are made from the same fabric as the front of the jersey, which all help to maintain its body-hugging properties.

However, in contrast to all this tightness around the body, the sleeves are on the loose side, and don't grip around the bicep, so they flap in the wind when riding along. This may not be a problem for some cyclists, but others may prefer close-fitting sleeves to match the jersey's close-fitting torso.

The front of the jersey is cut shorter than the back, so the fabric doesn't ruck up around the front of your waist when bent forward in a cycling position. The back of the jersey isn't too long though, which is great, so stuff in the rear pockets stays secure on the small of your back, rather than dangling down over your rear end.

There are three pockets at the back of the jersey, in the classic cycling style, which dhb describe as 'vertical drop'. There's no additional small zipped pocket, as found on some other cycling jerseys.

Other features include a zip at the front, about a third of the length of the front of the jersey, with a little cover at the top to stop the zipper sticking into your throat. There's also a silicone gripper around the hem to keep the jersey in place.

The Trick jersey we're testing comes in black and grey, with a few small red details. The female version swaps a bit of red for a lot of purple, plus some white on one sleeve and lower back. Both jerseys will appeal to riders that prefer dark colours, but not to those who prefer lighter colours for reasons of safety.

On cost, the Trick goes for penny under 50 quid on the Wiggle website (dhb is Wiggle's in-house brand), currently reduced to £32.49. This is good value compared with jerseys of similar quality.

Verdict

Tight-fitting, breathable and stylish jersey for summer riding, but some riders may find the sleeves a bit baggy.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Mens Trick Short Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Medium Black / Grey / Red

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?

This is a short-sleeve cycling jersey designed for riding in hot conditions. The Wiggle website describes it as 'a light weight, highly breathable summer jersey with natural wicking properties & a half zip for further temperature control. Italian technical fabrics provide excellent performance and comfort.'

The key features include:

Highly breathable fabrics – Front: 100% Polyester / Back: 85% Polyester 15% Elastane

Fabric naturally wicks moisture away from the skin

Anti bacterial control fabric treatment

3 vertical drop pockets at the rear

Silicone hem grip to keep the back of the jersey from rising

dhb logo on front chest and upper back

YKK Camlock center front zipper with chin guard

Slim fitting jersey

Fit: Pro

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

The Wiggle website goes on to say:

'dhb have taken their tried and tested team fabrics and created the Trick sublimated jersey offering high performance and function. This short sleeve cycling jersey is cut to provide a close and ergonomic fit whilst on the bicycle. Highly breathable, stretch materials help transfer moisture away from the skin to keep you comfortable throughout your ride. The perforated fabric construction on both the back panel and sleeves of the jersey further aids ventilation to help keep you cooler on those warmer days. At the back of the jersey you will find the classic arrangement of three vertical drop pockets, with enough volume to store all the essentials; lightweight jacket, tube, cash etc. The elasticated hem has a silicone band in it to prevent it rising up your back. The Trick jersey is the perfect addition to your summer bike wear wardrobe.'

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Construction appears very good. The seams were neat with no loose threads, and the zip was properly attached.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Performance was good, in that the jersey was a good fit around the body, but the flappy sleeves were a problem for me.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10

Comfort is good around the body, although very close-fitting. But the flappy sleeves - while not actually uncomfortable - may be a problem for some riders.

Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

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

For me, this jersey's performance was disappointing. Although some riders may like it, the close-fitting torso and baggy sleeves seems an odd combination on a cycling jersey descriobed as a 'pro' fit, aimed at the 'performance' end of the market.

Admittedly, your correspondent doesn't have the largest of biceps, but the sleeves on other medium size jerseys usually grip comfortably around the arm, rather than flap in the breeze.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Short front. Back not too long.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I really don't like the baggy sleeves.

Did you enjoy using the product? Not really.

Would you consider buying the product? Personally, no. I like close-fitting kit, but this is a tad too tight and revealing for me around the torso, and conversely too loose around the sleeves.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Only if they had a thin torso and big arms.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The cut of this jersey is fine around the body, while the fabric and construction is good, which would normally mean an overall score of 8. But the loose-fitting sleeves are not ideal on a 'performance' garment, meaning a point docked, giving this jersey an overall score of 7.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 51  Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm  Weight: 11 stone / 70kg

I usually ride: an old Marin Alp, or an old steel classic  My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex (can you see a theme here?)

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

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