DHB Pace roubaix bib short with pad

For some riders, it may be getting too late in the year to think about exposed legs, but if you’re still road-racing, or getting ready for ‘cross, it’s worth having a look at the new Pace Roubaix bib-shorts from dhb.

Replacing the model known as the Earnley, the Pace Roubaix bib-shorts boast a new cut and some new features. The main fabric is a medium weight (235g) lycra, bushed on the inside, smooth on the outside, while the straps and back of the bib is made from a lighter mesh - so the shorts stay up nicely without your torso getting too sweaty.

To give a good anatomical fit (ie, the ‘bend’ in the shorts to align with the way your body bends when sitting on the bike) they’re constructed from a surprising number of separate panels. This means lots of seams, but I’ve used these shorts on several long training rides of 50 miles or more, and there’s no chafing or discomfort. The many panels certainly make for a perfect fit - with nowhere too tight or baggy.

The pad is also very comfortable, with slightly different shapes on the male and female versions of the shorts.

Other features include silicon grippers to stop the shorts riding up your legs, and a little orange tab in the seam at the back. Also on the rear-end is the dhb wording and logo in reflective white, and there’s a discreet little logo in red on the right leg too.

Some bib-shorts have a zip at the front (to make pee-stops easier for the chaps); the Pace Roubaix don’t have this feature, but the front of the bib is not too high and there’s enough stretch in the fabric to do the needful.

The shorts are available in black only, and cost £33 on the Wiggle website (www.wiggle.co.uk).

Verdict

A very comfortable pair of shorts, at a very good price, ideal for autumn racing or end-of-season sportives if the sun’s out, and of course you can wear them under tights or with knee-warmers if the weather isn’t too friendly.