I've been testing these Blok Camo bib shorts from dhb for a few months now and they've become my go to pair in mild and warmer weathers, and for long and short rides alike.
- BikeRadar women's bike of the year awards
- Women's cycling news, reviews, interviews and more on BikeRadar Women
- Buyer's guide to women's bib shorts
I take a size UK12 in dhb kit and have found the fit of these shorts to be spot on. The length of the short is just above the knee and the wide leg with silicone grippers is comfortable and never needs adjusting.
I was unaware of any seam here too with the flatlock stitching, which is such a relief as I can be a bit of fidget on a ride if I’m not really comfortable.
The construction of the bib short is a mix polyamide, elastane and polyester, and I found that the mesh panel on the back did its job well of keeping me cool on warmer rides — hottest ride of the year so far has been 32°C.
The main body of the shorts has UPF 50 (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) too, which is good news for me as I burn easily on even slightly sunny days in the UK.
I am a big fan of dhb's 'Giro Air' chamois design. As I've already mentioned, I do squirm about a bit if I'm uncomfortable, but there hasn't been a ride where I didn’t find the seat of the shorts extremely comfortable — they’re probably the most comfortable pair of shorts I’ve worn for riding.
Of course chamois fit is very personal, but the light structure of these suits me as I don't like the padding to feel bulky.
Occasionally on longer days in the saddle I did start to notice the edge of the chamois a bit, but these shorts are recommended by dhb for rides of no more than half a day. However, this wasn't noticeable enough to stop me riding and fits with the of 3–5 hour sessions in the saddle that dhb suggests — perhaps if you’re planning longer days out on the bike a chamois cream would be a good idea.
An important consideration for many women when it comes to buying bib shorts is the subject of comfort breaks, and these shorts have shoulder braces. While the mesh straps are very comfortable, the design does mean that toilet breaks are a little tricky and require jersey removal.
I’ve got on well with dhb’s halterneck strap on its other shorts and think if these shorts had a halterneck or other strap solution, which made stopping for the loo a little easier, they would be almost perfect, but this is just my preference, of course.
The Blok Camo bib shorts can be paired with dhb's matching Blok jerseys. I like the design, which isn’t too bold in colour or design, and although I don't have a matching jersey it didn't matter as they looked good with a lot of my regular cycling tops.
The shorts have been washed many times on a 40°C cycle and are wearing well and still look as good as the first day I wore them.
