dhb’s ASV kit is among the very best we’ve tried from any brand, and if you’re in the market for close cut, high performance cycle clothing, and unburdened by the frankly superfluous consideration of brand cachet, we’d recommend buying it before the price is inevitably increased. The jersey and short are both half the cost of pro-derived offerings from more ‘serious’ marques, but the performance is every bit as good.
It’s important to qualify, however, what we mean by ‘pro’. In the realm of cycle clothing, the term should not only apply to quality, but to tailoring too. The ASV garments offer a very close cut, as well as superb performance. It’s unlikely to suit the more, ahem, upholstered rider. Whippets, however, can rejoice.
We wore both garments in a range of temperatures from warm to scorchio and found them breathable and able to move moisture in all conditions. Numerous trips through the washing machine (the ASV kit has become something of a ‘go to’) have failed to affect the colours or construction. The quality matches the performance.
For the serious cyclist on a budget, dhb’s ASV kit seems like an obvious choice. Here’s why.
ASV jersey
The ASV jersey offered comfort and breathability in spades. On 6am missions into the countryside, with temperatures creeping into double digits, and worn over a lightweight, synthetic base layer (Specialized’s Pro Seemless, since you ask), it offered enough protection to take the chill off the morning air, with no need for a gilet.
With the sun further advanced in its ascent, it was cool enough to offer comfort in the glorious temperatures of recent weeks when the mercury has reached the mid-twenties. The back and side panels are perforated, while the chest is ‘solid’ – an ideal distribution of labour that in practice offered protection to the chest and cooling elsewhere.
Temperature control, a function of the fabric, is only part of the story of this excellent jersey. Its real success lies in the fit, and for the slimmer rider, it’s a garment that for once lives up to the billing of a ‘pro’ cut – an often abused term, frequently applied by brands to describe the most expensive garment in the range regardless of whether the tailoring is athletic or not. dhb claims development with its parent company’s Wiggle Honda squad, and it’s difficult to imagine Trott, Bronzini, Hagiwara et al being disappointed with the fit.
The sleeve, for example, is cut close throughout its length, obviating the need for an irritating or restrictive band of silicone or elastic. The hem is simply a fold in the fabric. The material in the torso stretches across the chest, and there’s no extraneous material to create unsightly and billowing folds at the stomach. The collar is low, as it should be (this is a summer garment, after all, with little need to offer protection from the elements) and the zip locks into position with a pleasing snap.
The three rear pockets were functional, if a little slim in the side pockets, but this comes with the turf of a such a sleek, lightweight garment. Wiggle Honda have support cars, and mortals are likely to have saddle packs. This isn’t a deal breaker, in our opinion.
ASV short
The short performed as well as the jersey, and, as you’ll have gathered from the preceding paragraphs, this is high praise. The laser cut hems are excellent, and held the legs smartly in place, without constricting blood flow to the muscles. The leg panels struck the right balance between firmness and freedom of movement, and, like the jersey, were close cut (no bagginess in the seat).
Elastic Interface supply the pad (the ‘Endurance’) and we found it comfortable on rides of up to four hours. The multi-density approach (thicker beneath the sit bones than at the sides) is now pretty standard, but was a contributor to its excellent performance, which offered absorption at pressure points and freedom of movement, with no hint of chafing or irritation, elsewhere.
Our one slight disappointment came with the braces, which, while not uncomfortable, offer the sole area for improvement. Perforated polyester is of little value here, in our opinion. A base layer should always be worn, and this is the garment that will transport sweat from the back. Moisture management should not be the function of braces, and the sacrifice of lycra, with its additional stretch and comfort, for polyester is not one worth making, we’d argue.
Additionally, lycra braces tend to be wider than their polyester equivalents in our experience, and those on the ASV are narrow (we measured them at 50mm). Broader braces spread pressure more effectively, and while those deployed here were not uncomfortable, a wider offering would have made an excellent short exceptional. We liked the yoke shape, which narrows to just 60mm and sat comfortably in the centre of the back. It’s worth reiterating the price. This level of performance in a short costing £64.99 is virtually unheard of.
Conclusion
We’ve always been quietly impressed by dhb’s garments, but with the caveat ‘…for the price’. There are no caveats here, excepting the earlier statement on sizing (this ain’t for Clydesdales). The performance and tailoring of the ASV kit matches any we’ve tested. That such quality can be bought for such a comparatively small investment makes it a must own for racers/serious endurance riders on a budget.
Price: £59.99 – jersey; £64.99 – short
Size: X Small to Extra Extra Large
Colour: red, blue, yellow
Website: Wiggle
