Cycling jerseys can often fall into two categories – summer and winter. dhb have looked to bridge the gap with their Windslam range.
Autumn (and spring, for that matter) is a tricky season for cyclists, with frost-bitten mornings that can evolve into warm, sun-soaked afternoons, while chilly winds can be lurking around any corner.
The key to the dhb Short Sleeve Windslam Jersey (RRP £45.99) is the fabric it’s made from. In summary, there’s two parts to the jersey – the windproof front panel and, well, the rest of it.
As a whole, the jersey is manufactured from a polyester fabric, but a polyurethane membrane has been added to the front to keep the wind out, and it does a great job of doing that, almost like riding with a gilet and jersey integrated as one.
On warmer days that can leave you a bit sweaty underneath but the polyester element soon wicks moisture away. That’s also the case on cold days when you’re riding hard and don’t want sweat to accumulate and make you cold. A full-length zip allows you to further manage your body temperature. Meanwhile, there are three vertical pockets at the rear, the middle of which includes an added sweat barrier to help protect valuables, while a silicon gripper around the hem holds the jersey in place.
Three colours are available – black, red and royal blue – and reflective detail on the chest, forearm and rear increases visibility in low light conditions. We’re not keen on the sweeping dhb branding on the front, which takes up a large area on the chest, but that’s a personal point.
The jersey is described by dhb as having a ‘slim fit’, which sits between ‘form fit’ and ‘relax fit’. The windproof front panel doesn’t provide much stretch and I jumped up a size – medium to large – from what I normally choose with dhb. And while the large is perfect across the body, the arms are a touch baggy.
That aside, this is an innovative jersey which was developed after the feedback dhb received from customers. We like that. dhb describe it as the Swiss Army knife of cycling jerseys and that’s a fair appraisal of a versatile piece. Combine with arm warmers and a good base layer and it’ll see you through most of autumn, then use it as part of a layering system in winter.
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