We asked Total Women’s Cycling reader – Rebecca Miles – to test a pair of Wiggle’s own brand, dhb bib Trace shorts while cycling in the Alps. To say she was impressed is an understatement.
The dhb Trace bib shorts have changed my cycling wardrobe for good.
Over my cycling holiday, I couldn’t believe just how comfortable the dhb Trace bib shorts were. I was so keen to wear these, I hand washed them each night so I could wear them again the following day. In fact, I didn’t wear any of the other pairs of shorts I’d taken with me, a huge testament to the comfort of the Trace bibs.
My expectations of the dhb Trace bib shorts were not high – only because all I knew of dhb was that it’s Wiggle’s own brand and I’d got the impression it was a budget brand. But as soon as I put these on I was happy – the fit was true to size and they didn’t pull or give in unwanted places.
On to the all important chamois, I was concerned the pad wasn’t going to be thick enough, having previously got on well with thicker Sugoi and Altura padded shorts, but the Elastic Interface pad used in the Trace bibs was fantastic. It was thin enough not to give the feeling I was wearing a nappy, but thick and comfortable enough that while others were groaning when they got back on their saddles the following day, I was able to ride in comfort.
One caveat – this is the first pair of bib shorts I’ve worn so I have nothing to compare them to against others of their kind, but compared to the padded shorts I’ve previously been wearing I won’t be going back to shorts. They felt wonderfully comfortable over my stomach and back, both when riding and while out of the saddle.
The grippy strip on the hem of the legs was more than ample to keep the shorts in place, I never found them riding up my thighs. The shoulders straps were comfortable, easily going round my (not big) breasts, taught enough to stay in place all day while not giving me any neck ache.
The bib section of the shorts is made of a nylon/elastane mesh, but I didn’t notice that this made a significant difference to my body temperature.
The only negative is that the material has already got a couple of snags, and that’s after only wearing them for four days.
Verdict
The dhb Trace bib shorts are great value for money and comfortable, day-in, day-out
Pros
– Thin but comfy chamois
– Shorts stay in place thanks to grippy strip
– Good value
– Stylish looks with nice splash of white and purple
– True to size
Cons
– Material easily snagged
Price: £54.99
Sizes available: Size 8 – 16
More information: dhb Trace ladies bib short
UK supplier: Wiggle.co.uk
What dhb says about Ladies Trace bib shorts
The Trace bib shorts use the CyTech Elastic Interface ‘Speed Air’. The pad is the same as that used in the dhb Aeron Race range. The multi-height, contour design has been engineered to add extra foam where you need to eliminate pressure points. The pad is laminated with an ultra smooth, lycra top fabric to keep you comfortable.
Top Features of the dhb Ladies Trace Bib Short
– Lycra sport fabric
– Mesh bib braces
– CyTech Elastic Interface ‘Speed Air’, cycling pad
– Elasticated leg openings with silicone gripper
– Sublimated Trace graphic – matching jersey available
– dhb logo on right thigh and rear backside
