Dhb ASV Windslam Roubaix Long Sleeve Jersey

ASV is Dhb's professional range in terms of cut and materials. Its ASV Windslam Roubaix Long Sleeve jersey offers warmth, comfort, plus wind and water repellent properties all in a close-fitting aerodynamic cut. It's an impressive price too.

Dhb – Wiggle's in-house clothing brand – has been around for a fair few years, and has a reputation for quality kit at affordable prices. As it has advanced into the more technology based apparel, using branded materials and fabrics, that ethos of good value and quality has remained. That's why you see here a jersey with a Windtex membrane and Roubaix fleece material for just £70 (at the time of writing it's actually £42).

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Windtex is used by quite a few manufacturers on their winter jackets and jerseys as a way to keep out the elements while maintaining breathability. The fabric itself is created by using a special multi-layered weave rather than a more traditional 'sandwich' effect of placing layers on top of layers. This makes Windtex surprisingly light and thin considering its capabilities. It's also hugely stretchy, making it ideal for a close-fitting jersey for instance.

It's a warm jersey, too: the fleece-lined Roubaix material traps body heat keeping you toasty inside and certainly makes the ASV ideal for when the temperatures drop below freezing. It's been mild so far this winter and even at 5°C I've been using the jersey with just a short-sleeved summer baselayer beneath.

Breathability is pretty good, but if you do push on a bit it can get a little overwhelmed though you barely notice it until you stop. And if you do get damp you stay warm thanks to that fleece material.

A cold wind doesn't get through the Windtex fabric at all, so windchill factor is never really a consideration. A high, fleece lined neck keeps the draughts out, as do elasticated sleeves.

The Windtex also does a decent job at keeping the rain out. It's not waterproof by any stretch of the imagination, but light rain and drizzle are kept at bay.

The fit, as I've mentioned, is closely cut for aerodynamics and Wiggle actually recommends going up a size if you are quite muscular. I'm not, so the medium was fine for me, and it's the size I would normally buy. (It's not me in the photos, by the way.)

It may be cut narrow but the ASV Windslam is perfect in terms of the length of the body and the arms. The tail, as is the norm, is dropped by a couple of inches to cover your lower back when in the riding position, and the sleeves give full coverage even when you're stretched out, so the cuffs will stay inside your gloves when you're in the drops.

The hem uses a silicone gripper to keep it in place and it works well – it doesn't tend to move up at all.

Storage-wise you get the traditional three pockets along the lower back with an extra fourth zipped one big enough for a debit card or an mp3 player (it has an opening for headphones inside the pocket). This pocket is lined as well for a bit of water resistance, as is the main one behind it, ideal for a phone.

There are three colours to choose from, and although predominantly black they come with some bright highlights. The orange here is borderline high-vis so helps make you stand out a bit on gloomy mornings. You can also choose from blue or red.

> Check out our guide to the best winter cycling jerseys here

Overall it is a great thermal jersey for cold days. It's well made and the fabrics feel hardwearing and comfortable against the skin, plus you really can't sniff at the price. Seventy quid is still quite a bit of money for a jersey, but against its opposition I'd say it offers serious value. It's also discounted to £42 at the moment.

Verdict

A brilliant long-sleeve race jersey for a dry and cold winter offering excellent value for money