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review

dhb Aeron Speed Bib Shorts

9
£80.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Super quality and a superb long distance pad, a really excellent pair of shorts for the money
Weight: 
183g

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If you're looking for a pair of high quality shorts for fast riding then the dhb Aeron Speed bibs certainly deliver. They're well made, with an excellent pad, and they're pretty comfortable too, with the odd proviso. They're good whether you're riding quickly, or for a long time, or even both.

  • Pros: Good cut, great pad, high quality
  • Cons: Sides could be cut higher

The shorts are constructed using "coldblack®" technology and "Revolutional® Energy fabric". Lots of registered stuff, then. The fabric is very compressive and stretchy, offering 'perfect muscular compression as well as an aero fit'. I'm not sure how much more aero they are than any other shorts – Lycra shorts are generally skin tight, after all – but they do feel very comfortable for the most part.

dhb_aeron_speed_bib_shorts.jpg

The only proviso to that is that I found the sides were cut slightly short; I'd have liked them to extend higher up, and I found that they dug in a bit around the sides of the waist on longer rides (4+ hours).

dhb_aeron_speed_bib_shorts_-_straps_front.jpg

It's not a deal breaker though, and there's plenty of comfort in the pad for rides much longer than that. It's a CyTech Comp HP chamois, and it's really good, with a complicated construction using various thicknesses and densities of padding, with a central channel to alleviate any pressure.

dhb_aeron_speed_bib_shorts_-_pad.jpg

It's in exactly the right place and it offers really good levels of comfort. The maximum I rode the pad in one go was five hours; Cytech reckons it's good for six hours plus, and I'd have no issue with that.

dhb_aeron_speed_bib_shorts_-_back.jpg

The flat shoulder straps are nice and comfy and they stay put, as do the legs with their silicone particle gripper.

dhb_aeron_speed_bib_shorts_-_cuff_gripper.jpg

The Coldblack tech is designed to keep you cool in the heat, and although it hasn't been especially hot around here during testing they've been comfortable in the usual UK spring/summer conditions.

dhb_aeron_speed_bib_shorts_-_side.jpg

They wash well too, and they've proved very resistant to scuffs and bobbling where they're in contact with the saddle.

Overall they're excellent, and for £80 they're great value. I've had better shorts than these but I'm not sure I've tried better at this price. You're getting very high quality construction and a top-level pad for entry-level money from some other brands I could list.

> Buyer's Guide: 22 of the best bib shorts

Aside from being slightly off in the cut for me around the sides of the waist, it's hard to see how they could be improved for the money.

Verdict

Super quality and a superb long distance pad, a really excellent pair of shorts for the money

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Aeron Speed Bib Shorts

Size tested: Extra Large

Tell us what the product is for

dhb says, "Shorts for riding fast, the Aeron Speed bibs are perfect for riders looking for the next advantage. Combining technical fabrics with a pad designed for all day comfort, these bibs are ideal for racing, long days in the saddle, and everything between.

"dhb Aeron is all about all day performance, whatever the conditions. The Aeron Speed bibs take that to the next level, with a feature set designed for riding fast in hot weather."

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

From dhb:

dhb sweat the details. You just do the sweating.

In order to perform at your best in hot weather maintaining a stable temperature is key. That's why dhb have chosen to use coldblack® technology. It's designed to keep you cooler maximising your effort without overheating. Taking the Aeron Bib shorts and adding coldblack® technology adds a new dimension to hot weather riding.

The Revolutional® Energy fabric used for the Aeron Speed shorts offers a high compression action, with incredibly stretch providing perfect muscular compression as well as an aero fit - helping reduce fatigue and improving efficiency of movement. Not only this it is also highly breathable making it the perfect choice for hot weather cycling. To maximise moisture management still further you will also find an open mesh back panel greatly increasing ventilation and breathability. Designed to keep you feeling dry and cool in hot weather while avoiding wind chill in cooler weather or on breezy descents - having worked hard uphill we don't want you chilling on the downhills.

The bib straps are a super stretchy and lay-flat design that once on you'll barely notice are there. Shaped leg elastic with silicone particle grippers keep the legs in place securely but without squeezing the leg excessively.

COLDBLACK® TREATMENT

coldblack® finishing reduces absorption of heat rays in dark colours. The result is tangibly better heat management: all the fabrics with coldblack® finishing heat up less, even in direct sunlight. The 195g/m2 fabric fits like a second skin, dries rapidly and offers exceptional breathability, helping you remain fresh even when pushing your limits. You also have the benefit of UV protection making the shorts perfect for those intending to ride in intense sun and heat.

CyTech Elastic Interface Comp HP Seatpad

Thermomoulded pad with a minimalist and flat design

One of the most successful Elastic Interface® cycling pads ideal for very long distance rides

Revolutionary fabric offering excellent temperature control and breathability thanks to the combination of soft polyamide and quick drying polyester threads

In-lay construction with a 60k g/m3 density foam frame which allows for a soft transition from the highly protective 120k g/m3 central foam insert to the 2mm padded wings

Central channel to support male anatomy relieving numbness and allowing blood flow

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
7/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

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

They wash very well on a normal cycle.

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

They're excellent shorts.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfort from pad, high quality construction.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Sides of the waist were a bit low for me.

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 overall score

Really well constructed shorts and very comfy, especially given that they're only £80.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 44  Height: 189cm  Weight: 94kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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3 comments

Avatar
nowasps | 4 years ago
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Had mine for eighteen months or so.

Excellent in every way except the leg-grippers are the type with the silicone missing from the inside of the leg. Consequently they ride up on the inside eventually, and sit diagonally on your legs (viewed from the front). I have to drag them back into place too often to be thinking of getting another pair.

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 5 years ago
0 likes

Black: check

Minimal branding: check

Flat straps that dont stick up under your jersey making it looks utter crap: check

Good fit/pad: a bonus!!

Right, will get a pair at some point. It's not rocket science, just get the basics right and it's all good!!

Avatar
fenix | 5 years ago
0 likes

I've got about four pairs of these shorts - they last really well and are my go to shorts for long days out. 

 

I've never paid £80 for them though - I get them cheaper in the sales. 

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