Written by Gwyn Evans in Health & Fitness on the 26th October 2015

dhb is a sports clothing brand available exclusively on active lifestyle website Wiggle.co.uk. The dhb range includes a variety of cycling clothing; along with specific running and triathlon gear. This article concentrates on a few items of winter cycling clobber which we recently took for a test ride....

First up were the Roubaix bib tights from dhb's classic range. dhb state that items in this range combine subtle yet distinctive style with modern performance... we couldn't have put it much better ourselves. The tights contain very clean lines and an excellent fit compared to some of the other brands we've trialled. First things first - sizing. The size guide available on Wiggle's website is true to form. A 6'00" male of average build will be comfortable and ready to ride all day in a large.

Another pleasing aspect of the fit was the zip fastener on the stomach section of the bib tights. These fastenings have always been tricky to get right with others unzipping themselves as soon as you reach for the handlebars. The zip on these tights stayed tight shut giving you that extra confidence in the saddle. The 235g Roubaix lycra performed brilliantly - keeping us warm in the early stages of a cool and dewy winter morning, whilst being breathable as we racked up the miles and built up a sweat.

As we rubbed our hands together to generate some warmth whilst prepping our bikes for the ride, it was obvious that full finger gloves were going to be needed. Good job then that we had a pair of windproof dhb gloves to protect us from the elements. As with the bib-tights - sizing was true to form with the palm padding providing good levels of comfort throughout the ride - something that's not always been achieved with other gloves we've ridden.

The remainder of our kit was made up by items from dhb's Blok range. These garments incorporate bright colours with dhb's '+' motif, ensuring that you won't go un-noticed on the roads. As with the bib-tights tested, they're also classified as part of dhb's 'performance' range - a selection of garments designed for cycling enthusiasts to enjoy the sport all year round.

We tested a navy jersey with contrast blue and yellow sleeve tips, and a matching softshell windslam jacket. Both items incorporate fabrics that are akin to riding in cooler conditions. They're fleecy and have a soft touch to the skin but contain enough technology to wick sweat too. Size wise, they match the bib-tights - good body coverage whilst allowing for a good range of movement.

Our ride started out around 07:45am and finished up around mid-day. The weather shifted from dense fog and cool temperatures to a relatively mild autumn morning with intermittent sun. We kept both jersey and jacket on for the duration of the ride and at no point felt uncomfortably warm or sticky. dhb seem to have got the technology just right in terms of breathability and thermal performance. The fluoro yellow and blue flashes on the jacket were complimented by our fluoro yellow neck tube and arm warmers, and blue trimmed socks. Again, these items incorporate the dhb '+' motif to great effect and are definitely going to make sure you're seen.

We used our post-ride coffee and cake time to do a bit of research into products that would be in direct competition with the gear tested; on both price and performance. It has to be said that it's difficult to find alternatives to the dhb Blok range in a similar price bracket that carry quite as much style. Most of the jerseys and jackets we came across were single block colours and didn't do much to inspire us. Looking at the prices of the gloves and bib-tights we tested (£20 and £55 respectively), you really are going to struggle to find better value for money in those departments too.

There's a reason why dhb score so highly in customer reviews on the Wiggle website, and the items we've ridden seem to highlight just why that is - great tech, good fit, quirky designs and competitive pricing... keep an eye on Wiggle's promotional emails too as you may just stumble across a discount code from time to time... now that really would be a bargain!

A tried-and-test review of the new 2015 Blok Cycling Collection by dhb available at cycling retailer Wiggle.