My man-friend’s first words after he saw me pedalling my way down our road in this kit was “well, that’s bright!”

My kit draw consists of a lot of black, so it was a refreshing change to pop on something quite this bold.

This year’s offering from the dhb Blok range includes a selection of brash colours and unique designs that have a faint hint of flag waving and national pride etched into them.

The Macro set sits within a vast range, and it comes available in baby blue and yellow as well. Among the collection, you’ll also find stripes, polka dots and plenty more.

The kit is competitively priced – the jerseys come in at £39.99 and bib shorts are a particularity notable £49.99. The Blok range sits in the ‘performance’ line for Wiggle’s own brand dhb, between their leisure focused ‘active’ range and the more aero ‘competitive’ end.

I wore the matching Macro set for a 50 mile hilly road road, a faster 25 miler and a quick cyclocross spin and a shorter, making sure it got a fair test over a selection of intensities.

The jersey uses an anti-bacterial control fabric, with UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) 30+ and it features three rear pockets, plus a secure zip pocket at the rear and a silicone hem to keep it resting in place.

There’s plenty of breathability in the fabric, and I felt perfectly cool, even when climbing in the Surrey hills with the sun at its highest.

Sizing is worth noting – I went for a Small/10, and I’d say the jersey was quite generously sized and roomier than I’d like. Though ‘extra small’ might conjure image of struggling zips, it might be worth going for a smaller size than expected.

The bibs, which aren’t yet available online, match the colour scheme, with stand out contrast spashes on the leg grippers. There’s some silicone treatment on the cuffs but lovely soft material means they sit comfortably on the thigh with no riding up or cutting in.

The pad was of a medium thickness that served perfectly on a longer ride and was unnoticed in the way you want a comfortable chamois to be.

A simple ‘Y’ shape design is used on the body, with no hidden toilet-ease features, so you’d need to strip off for a  comfort break.

I always find stand-out, matching sets do a lot to conjure confidence on the bike. Smart, well coordinated kit can make you feel a million dollars, and for £90 (or £89.98) in total, dhb’s offering won’t break the bank.

The Blok kit doesn’t feature some of the same supportive compression or snug fitting as some of my more performance focused kit. However, top end road kit will often be priced at a rate that will require a much heavier investment. You’ll usually find the bibs or even jersey alone will cost the same as both of these pieces put together.

This kit was more than capable of assisting me through a 50 mile ride and I’m confident I’d feel perfectly happy going longer in it – making it a clear winner with regard to value.

If you’re looking for some everyday gear that will do the job, without requiring you to wait until pay day, or you’re making your first steps into bib shorts and cycling specific jerseys, dhb’s Blok sets are highly recommended. 

dbh Blok Macro women’s short sleeve jersey: £39.99, size tested: 10/Small. (Sizes available: XS/8 – XL/16)

dhb Blok Macro bib shorts: £49.99, size tested: 10/Small (Sizes available: XS/8 – XL/16)