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dhb Aeron Lab Raceline Short Sleeve Jersey

9
£110.00

VERDICT:

9
10
A brilliant next step for dhb, the Lab Raceline is a pure performance jersey at a decent price
Weight: 
115g

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The Aeron Lab Raceline Short Sleeve Jersey is part of the new performance range from dhb and it's a no-nonsense piece of race kit with top-end fabrics, a slim fit and impressive performance, especially in the summer temperatures.

  • Pros: Super-comfortable fabrics, great quality, impressive breathability
  • Cons: No zip garage (no biggie)

dhb is renowned for its quality kit and sensible pricing, and even though this Lab Raceline jersey will set you back £110 it's still impressive value for money when you consider what you are getting.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey.jpg

There's a mixture of fabrics involved to get the desired fit and performance, most notably the mesh panels at the sides, the top of the arms and shoulders. It's said to disrupt airflow and increase aerodynamics.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_sleeve.jpg

The rest of the main body uses a soft, less stretchy fabric to keep everything in shape and it's very breathable too. Wearing a black jersey in a 30°C heatwave isn't normally a very appealing proposition, but the dhb certainly keeps you cool as the breeze passes over you. (It comes in red and blue too.)

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_back.jpg

The materials are all quite thin, and while I didn't have any issues with durability a bit of care will be needed.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_hem.jpg

The way it is all put together is quality as well. All the stitching is nice and tidy, with no stray threads or anything, plus the seams are flat and unobtrusive so you can get away without wearing a baselayer should you want. The materials are really comfortable against the skin too.

The cut is based on a race cyclist's physique so it's tailored to suit and that mesh fabric has a very high level of elasticity which is why the Lab has a second skin fit, as dhb calls it.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_logo.jpg

At the hem the front is arched up towards the centre so that when you are in a crouched position on the bike it's the right length not to bunch and the rear is much longer to keep you covered. It's kept in place by a thin gripper which literally just runs the width of the rear panel.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_gripper.jpg

The stretch of the fabric stops anything moving really anyway, so the laser cut arms have just a small gripper too.

The neck doesn't have a chin guard at the top of the zip which is something that I normally like to see, but dhb has dropped the neckline to avoid irritation in a racing position so I won't complain.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_collar.jpg

At the rear you get three pockets – well, four if you include the pocket inside a pocket that is designed for valuables. It sits inside the centre pocket and is about the right size for a debit card or some cash. It doesn't have a zip, just an 'envelope' cover, but the main pockets are that taut anyway nothing is escaping.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_pockets.jpg

When empty, the pockets are designed to lie flat for aerodynamics as they are almost folded at the bottom before they are stitched. When you load them up they fill out rather than sag, so you can carry quite a bit of kit with you.

I've mentioned that the fit is very close so it's worth taking a look at the sizing. The Lab Raceline is an aerodynamic race jersey so shouldn't have any material flapping around at all. On wiggle's website it says that it has a closer fit than the standard Aeron collection for the same given size. I'll second that, and if you try some of this kit do sit on your bike before you make your mind up. It really doesn't feel that comfortable when you are stood around in it, but when you're sat on the saddle it feels a lot less restrictive.

dhb_aeron_lab_raceline_short_sleeve_jersey_-_shoulders.jpg

If you have a slim shape then go for your normal dhb size to get the most benefit, and if you are of a larger frame or you just want the fit to be the same as the standard Aeron then go up a size. On the whole, I found the size chart to be pretty spot on.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best summer cycling jerseys

I touched on price at the beginning and I really do think the Lab Raceline offers very good value for what it is. It's near-faultless in performance and the build quality is excellent. It's good to see a choice of colours rather than just black, too.

It is pricier than the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 Jersey that I reviewed a while back, but it comes in cheaper than the Le Col Pro at £120.

Verdict

A brilliant next step for dhb, the Lab Raceline is a pure performance jersey at a decent price

road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Aeron Lab Raceline Short Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

dhb says, "Built for speed. The all new dhb Aeron LAB Raceline Jersey combines an exceptional second-skin fit with aerodynamic fabrics. If going fast is the aim, this new development from dhb ticks all the boxes."

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

From dhb:

Aeron LAB. Engineered in the best laboratory we know: out on the road.

Over two years in the making, the all new Aeron LAB collection combines rigorous real-world testing with the best components available, resulting in a collection tuned to the needs of demanding riders reaching for new levels of performance. Because when you're pushing yourself, you need kit that exceeds your expectations.

Aeron LAB Raceline: tuned for speed

Raceline has been designed around one thing: speed. Using fabrics specifically selected to disrupt air flow and help you cut through the air more efficiently, Aeron LAB Raceline feels fast, looks fast and is fast.

Race ready, second skin fit

Made for top level road cyclists with a cyclist's physique, Aeron LAB has a close, uncompromising second-skin fit. It's built for riding fast.

Designed to sit extremely close to the body with no excess fabric to slow you down, Aeron LAB has a closer fit than the dhb Aeron collection. It will feel different: compressive and close. Once on the bike, Aeron LAB comes into its own.

With a shortened front zip length designed for an aggressive riding position, the LAB Raceline Jersey is perfect for riders who spend most of their ride pushing the pace. The low neck line also improves comfort when riding in this position.

Premium disruptive fabrics

Fast fabrics that disrupt the airflow in key areas have been used by dhb to create a jersey tuned for speed. Across the shoulders, the length of the sleeves and down the side panels, dhb have used a top quality mesh fabric, there to improve your aerodynamics and help you cut through the air quicker. Added to a lightweight, high-wicking fabric for the body of the jersey, this is the perfect race-ready combination.

When the fabrics have been put together with a super close fit and longer, more aerodynamic sleeves, the result is your new favourite race jersey.

Pockets that work

Rear pockets on elite level jerseys often perform poorly when fully loaded – but without a team car on an all-day ride, that's exactly when you need them to work. dhb have carefully built the Raceline pockets to sit flush when not in use and able to take a load when you need, without any sagging.

Inside the middle pocket sits the toko pocket. It's a hidden fabric envelope, there to keep your valuables secure without needing to add the bulk and weight of a zip. It's also got a radio port hole just in case you do need to talk to that team car after all.

Neat finishing touches

When the tempo picks up, the details have to be spot on. A minimal hem gripper keeps this jersey in place during even the most intense efforts, especially when combined with secure but non-restrictive arm grippers.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

No issues yet but you will need to treat it with a little more respect than more standard jerseys.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

Take a look at dhb's size chart as it offers a good description on how to choose; I've mentioned some of the details in the main review

Rate the product for weight:
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

dhb recommends a 30 degree machine wash and I had no issues with that. It came up clean and I don't honestly think it would be possible to shrink it any further.

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

As a no-compromise race jersey it totally delivers.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The performance.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Very little.

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

dhb has delivered an excellent package here for the rider who wants some of the best race kit money can buy. The choice of fabrics is great, the fit brilliant and the materials are just so comfortable.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 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!

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1 comments

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fenix | 6 years ago
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It looks good but man I'd need to skip a cake stop or two to make it work for me...

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