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dhb Chase Short Sleeve Jersey

6
£39.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Cycling jersey for summer riding. Breathable fabric and close fit, but some riders may find the sleeves too baggy.
Weight: 
156g

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This short-sleeve cycling jersey from dhb is designed for summer riding, with breathable fabric and cheerful colours. It's a nice close fit around the body, but some riders may find the sleeves a bit baggy.

The Chase jersey is part of dhb's large range of cycling kit for summer 2013, and comes about halfway along the range in terms of price. The range is aimed specifically at 'performance' and sportive riders.

Our test model is the Male version, size Medium. The fit around the torso is close, so there's no spare fabric to catch the air and spoil your aerodynamic profile, but it's not so tight as to be uncomfortable. The fabric is relatively thin, and wicks away any sweat, so you stay cool and dry on hot days.

The sleeves, although short, are not too short, with the hem about halfway down the bicep. However, unlike the main part of the jersey, the sleeves are cut very loose and flap about in the wind when riding along. This may not be a problem for some cyclists, but others may prefer close-fitting sleeves to match the jersey's close-fitting torso.

The front of the jersey is cut shorter than the back, so the fabric doesn't ruck up around the front of your waist when you're bent forward in a cycling position. The back of the jersey isn't too long though, which is great, so stuff in the rear pockets stays secure on the small of your back, rather than dangle down over your rear end.

There are three pockets at the back of the jersey, in the classic cycling style, which dhb describe as 'vertical drop'. There's no additional small zipped pocket, as found on some other dhb garments.

The collar is slightly low cut, ending in a V above the zip; this means you're less restricted on warm days, but some riders may prefer a conventional all-round collar, simply loosening the top of the zip a bit when conditions require. The zip itself is half-length - big enough to pull the jersey on while wearing a helmet (should you ever need to). Some riders may find this zip-length simply unnecessary.

The Chase jersey we're testing comes in red, black and white. For all you dhb fans out there, it's worth noting that it's not the same shade of red as a lot of other red dhb stuff. It's brighter, somewhere halfway between red and orange. That's not necessarily a problem (it'll be a plus for riders that like to be visible) but a consideration if you want it to match other dhb kit already in your wardrobe.

If you like to be really visible, the Chase jersey is also available in a 'fluoro' option: white green and black.

On cost, the Chase goes for penny under 50 quid on the Wiggle website (dhb is Wiggle's in-house brand), currently reduced to £39.99. This is on a par with jerseys of similar quality, so it's a fair price, although maybe not the astounding bargain that's usually a feature of dhb clothing.

Verdict

Cycling jersey for summer riding. Breathable fabric and close fit, but some riders may find the sleeves too baggy.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Chase Short Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Large Fluoro

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

This is a jersey designed for summer riding. The Wiggle website says the Chase is a: "... fully printed jersey offering high performance and function ... cut to provide a close and ergonomic fit whilst on the bicycle. Highly breathable, stretch materials help transfer moisture away from the skin to keep you comfortable throughout your ride. The perforated fabric construction on both the back panel and sleeves of the jersey further aids ventilation to help keep you cooler on those warmer days."

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

The Wiggle website also includes the following technical spec:

Highly breathable fabrics – Front: 100% Polyester / Back: 85% Polyester 15% Elastane

Fabric naturally wicks moisture away from the skin

Anti bacterial control fabric treatment

3 vertical drop pockets at the rear

Silicone hem grip to keep the back of the jersey from rising

dhb logo on front chest and upper back

YKK Camlock center front zipper with chin guard

Fit: Performance

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Construction appears very good. The seams were neat with no loose threads, and the zip was properly attached.

Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10

Peformance was good, in that the jersey was a good fit around the body, but the flappy sleeves were a problem for me.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

At a recommended retail of £49.99 - dicounted to £39.99 on the Wiggle website - this is a fair price compared to similar garments from other manufacturers, but not an amazing bargain.

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

For me, this jersey's performance was disappointing. Although some riders may like it, the close-fitting torso and baggy sleeves seems an odd combination on a cycling jersey aimed at the 'performance' market.

Admittedly, your correspondent doesn't have the largest of biceps, but the sleeves on other medium size jerseys usually grip comfortably around the arm, rather than flap in the breeze.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Nice fit around the body. Short front. Back not too long.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I really don't like the baggy sleeves, while the v-cut collar and half-length zip are also features I don't need in a cycling jersey.

Did you enjoy using the product? No.

Would you consider buying the product? No, the sleeves, zip and collar are all features I don't like or need.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Unlikely, unless they did a lot of press-ups

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

The cut of this jersey is fine around the body, while the fabric and construction is good, which would normally mean an overall score of 8. But the loose-fitting sleeves are not ideal on a 'performance' garment, and the price isn't amazing value, meaning a couple of points docked, giving this jersey an overall score of 6.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 51  Height: 5ft 10 / 178cm  Weight: 11 stone / 70kg

I usually ride: an old Marin Alp, or an old steel classic  My best bike is: an old Giant Cadex (can you see a theme here?)

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

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2 comments

Avatar
orideslondon | 10 years ago
0 likes

I found the sleeves pretty tight to be honest. But I'm more 'Hoy' shaped than 'Froome'.

My beef with this jersey is the poor wash quality; the material is so delicate I now have many pulls and tags having been through the washing machine only a handful of times.

Avatar
Cycle_Jim | 10 years ago
0 likes

I found the sleeves a bit baggy, otherwise its a really nice jersey

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