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.
> Buyer’s Guide: 22 of the best cycling bib shorts
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
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road.cc test report
Make and model: dhb Blok Women’s Bib Short – Swirl
Size tested: UK 10
Tell us what the product is for
dhb says, “Made from a soft mesh bib and a Lycra Sport® fabric construction, the dhb Blok Bib Short has been designed to help you perform at your best whilst looking your best too.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From dhb:
Women’s specific CyTech Elastic Interface ‘Giro Air’ chamois for low bulk cushioning and heat exchange on rides up to 5 hours
Lycra® Sport fabric for light compression, muscle support and freedom of movement
Mesh back panel for ventilation
Soft mesh braces designed for comfort and breathability
Wide leg elastic with silicone particle gripper
Durable flatlock stitching to minimise chaffing
Main body of the short has UPF 50+ (excluding mesh braces)
Comfortable for 2-3hrs riding, though not the 5hrs that dhb claims.
A good fit and no major complaints.
I usually wear an 8/10 in shorts and the 10 in these fit me well. I’d say they come up exactly as expected.
Comfortable for a good 2-3 hours of riding with no chafing.
Great value for money (and on offer at the time of writing) and one of the best entry-level pairs of shorts I have ever worn.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
A 30 degree wash is all they need and I experienced no issues whatsoever.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
They fit well and are comfortable for up to three hours of riding, although anything longer and I would want a better chamois. All in all, I was impressed with their performance despite not quite living up to dhb’s claims.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
All round good value.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Silicone leg grippers were almost too grippy, but no major complaints.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
These are excellent value for money, ideal for those buying their first pair of bib shorts or keen riders looking to spend up to three hours in the saddle. For longer rides you might want to spend more money, but for their price and comfort on shorter rides, I’d say these warrant an 8 overall.
About the tester
Age: 21 Height: 164cm Weight: 56kg
I usually ride: Planet X London Road My best bike is: Bowman Palace:R
I’ve been riding for: 5-10 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, commuting, club rides, track
1 thought on “dhb Blok Women’s Bib Short”
Bought a mens Blok short in
Bought a mens Blok short in the sale – its a decent short but not as nice as the Aeron Pro.
They won’t be my choice for long rides when I have the Aerons to go to – but as has been said – fine for 3 hours.
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