Winter miles on the bike are one of the best ways to maintain fitness levels through out the colder months, but it's crucial that you keep warm when heading out for a few hours as getting a chill will ruin any ride. The ASV Professional range from dhb is a great starting point for those looking for some warm gear that doesn't break the bank. The Roubaix version of the range that we tested is the top end offering, featuring a brushed fleece finished, but as it only costs an additional few pounds compared to the standard range, it's worth investing.
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A fleece lined long tight what you want in winter and these are pretty darn good for the price. Let's start with the negatives - they can initially feel a bit drafty when you set off; this is down to a lack of high-end technical fabrics, but if that's what you're after then you'll have to part with some more coin. Once you're going through, you soon warm up and the tights retain heat quite nicely. The chamois isn't the most technically advanced, it's just two panels of ergonomically shaped padding but it is comfy even on longer rides and doesn't move about so does the job. There are zippers on each leg to help get the tights on and off and rubber grips on the cuffs to keep them in place. These are no frills tights.
Jersey - £69.99
More heavy duty than the tights, the ASV Roubaix jersey is built to take some battering. I feels warm and thick, almost to the point where it's a bit restrictive, but you soon forget that once you're out on the road. My only tip with this jersey though is wear a base layer; it's not that breathable and having worn it without one, it got pretty sweaty, pretty quickly. The fleece lining does keep you really snug and the touches like the high collar and decent cuffs all add to the warming effect. There are three standard pockets on the back and rubber grip around the hem to secure it in place. In the rain it holds its own to a point, but like any jersey it has its limits, but it fairs better than a lot of jerseys that are twice the price.
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When the temperature really drops, the gilet adds an extra layer of fleece and warmth when you really need it. It's essentially the jersey without sleeves and functions in very much the same way. It's a useful addition to the cycling wardrobe as when you transition into spring, you can replace the big jersey with a lighter layer, but check this gilet on top to keep the core nice and warm.
So in summary, functional kit at a great price. You can't go fair wrong, but the only final point to raise is the styling. It wont' be everyone's taste and comes in three colours - red, yellow and blue - the yellow and blue being the better looking colours. On a poll in the TW office so thought it looked great, some thought it looked a bit tacky, but there's no denying that for the price, you can't go fault it too much.
