dhb Blok Micro Softshell Windslam Roubaix Jacket Review (Which, Let’s Face It, Is Too Many Words To Fit In A Hea…)

There are perks to being an internationally-renowned sports writer. If you are one, I’m sure you know what they are.

It seems that there is also the occasional Brucie bonus available to those that have created a small (but perfectly-formed) weblogpedia.

You may remember that I was fooled into taking part offered the opportunity to take part in a spin session in a dark room in London.

I’ve also been sent a book for review.

Now Wiggle has been kind enough to send me a couple of bits of clothing to try out (and I’m assuming they want me to write about them).

It’s All About The Bias (No Quibble)

It is impossible to write without bias. If someone sends you something nice in the post (without the transfer of filthy lucre), you will be more likely than not to write nice things about it.

I would imagine that’s the case here. The only way to deal with this is to mention it up front.

Which is wot I is doing now. Innit.

All of the following is likely to be horsesh1t. Plus ça change…

And Today Matthew, I’m Going To Be…

Wearing the dhb Blok Micro Softshell Windslam Roubaix Jacket.

Which, to be frank, is a ridiculous name for a garment of any persuasion. Let’s try to unpick it (figuratively – later in the review I’ll attack it with a kitchen knife in order to assess ‘durability’).

dhb is the name of Wiggle’s own-brand, er, brand. It has the annoying characteristic of being all lower case, which makes the start of this paragraph look wrong.

But dhb is also (I sense) becoming increasingly well-regarded amongst cycling folk that know their onions (I don’t mean the French).

If you’re worried about being tarred with the poseur/ all-the-gear-no-idea brush that comes with a Castelli and Rapha wardrobe, then dhb could be your cycling clothier of choice.

A quick glance at the range on the website seems to suggest that dhb ‘pieces’ come with plenty of style. At the same time, whilst wearing them, you can exude the warm glow that says, ‘I haven’t overpaid for my virtually all-black lycra’. Which is the sort of understated smugness that I like to aim for.

As an aside, I bought a dhb cycling top way back in the mists of time, when the internet was powered by coal (~2006) and it was a bit pants in terms of fit and material. We’ve come along way since then (baby).

* Mont scrabbles around in the family archives…*

Voila, my classic dhb cycling top (circa London to Brighton 2008):

For completeness (remember, we were ‘unpicking’ the name), I think (think) ‘Blok Micro’ is the description of the print on the jacket (so the numerous small white and orange crosses that adorn the chest).

Monty And His Amazing Technical Coloured Windcoat

(Yes, I know!)

Right, time to get technical (my forte).

Softshell (like the crab). Windslam (the four most important international farting tournaments). Roubaix (French for curry).

I think what dhb is getting at is that this jacket is designed to be an outer layer that has some degree of softness whilst still being resistant to wind (of the externally-generated variety). By extension, and presumably omitted for reasons of space in the title, it has an element of resistance to rain showers.

The ‘Roubaix’ element refers to the fleece lining to the jacket material, which provides extra warmth and, as I just discovered on my most recent ride, makes it comfortable to wear directly over a pair of bib shorts, without the need for a base layer.

Design + Build

In short, this feels like a well made piece of kit, hewn from good quality fabrics. The fit is described as ‘performance’ (unlike my riding). So it’s snug. Thankfully though, not snug in the ’emphasising all your unsightly bulges sense’.

In fact it’s pretty flattering, as the photos may attest*.

(*And frankly, if they don’t, please do not tell me.)

The colourful print up top tends to draw the eye away from the ‘lower thorax energy stores’ and creates what can only be described as a pleasing silhouette (surely they must say that in Vogue?).

For what it’s worth, I’m 5’9 (5’10” on a good day) with a 36-37″ chest. I’m generally a ‘small’ in clothes (a perfect small) and, as it turns out, I’m a ‘small’ in dhb performance fit cycling clothing. Good times.

Nice Features For Cycling Creatures

Oh! The detailing!

Ahem.

I took some photos of various parts of the jacket, in case you are interested, starting (as I often do) with the collar …

(Note the soft, fluffy Roubaix lining. Mmm, snuggly…)

… before moving on to demonstrate photographically a cuff (of which there are in fact two) and note that it (they) is elasticated and forms a nice snug join to prevent ingress of water or wind.

 

Here we see the nice bright orange zip and the silicone gripper that seeks to prevent the jacket riding up your bum when you’re in action.

Which it does. Admirably.

 

Moving on, a fine pair of pockets.

You will note the flashes of reflective material, which do seem faintly ridiculous on a jacket that otherwise has the high-vis properties of a special forces operative. In a dark room. Without windows. Holding a black hole.

 

More useful is the handy zippered pocket that, on further inspection, is made of waterproof material and a prime spot for secreting your coffee-and-cake-tenner.

 

The Devil Wears dhb

So far I’ve worn the jacket on two short rides: this one and this one. (Excuses time… I’m just getting back into riding after busy times at work and weekends…)

According to my recorded data (I knew there was a reason for the Edge 510 to have a thermometer), it was 10 degrees C on ride 1 and 12 degrees C on ride 2 (yes, very mild for November). Both times there were spots of rain and plenty of wind.

Ride 1 I was wearing a base layer (and I was trying out some dhb roubaix bib tights (review to follow) which no doubt provided extra insulation); ride 2 I was bare back (my preferred persuasion).

To the extent that I noticed the performance of the jacket (and not noticing is probably a good thing for a piece of clothing), it was close to the start (when I realised that the heavy gusts of wind weren’t permeating the jacket) and towards the end (when I realised that I was toasty, verging on slightly overdressed).

But Does It Wash Well?

As a well-adjusted male, I asked my wife to wash the jacket and report back. She did the former but not the latter (note to self: discuss staff training*).

*And note to audience, (i) I’m being ironical; and (ii) like Batfink I have a shield of steel when it comes to accusations of chauvinism (my three years as a stay-at-home dad to pre-schoolers).

It washed fine.

I tried it on afterwards and it hadn’t shrunk. So that’s a tick in that box.

Would I Buy This Jacket? (And Should You?)

Two issues:

1. I am a Yorkshireman built in the classic mould (deep pockets; short arms).
2. I’ve already been sent a free jacket.

So I can’t say for definite that I would have bought this jacket. But this was primarily because I was getting by with cobbled together wet/windy/cold weather riding gear.

If you’ve been round here long enough, you may be sick of me going on about wanting a Castelli Gabba jacket (which I’ve never even seen, let alone bought).

I can honestly say that now, knowing that this dhb jacket fits me well, looks good and does everything that the Gabba purports to do, I’d buy this one over the Italian jacket of dreams (sew it and they will come).

Even if the dhb Blok Micro Softshell Windslam Roubaix jacket only performed at ’85-90% Gabba’, the fact that it’s £100 cheaper than the Castelli offering, I’d be hard-pushed to see beyond the dhb.

Now if only they could choose a shorter name…

Where Can You Buy Your dhb Blok Micro Softs… zzz… Jacket!

Good question. With an easy answer.

It’s only available at Wiggle. Just click this link to find out more (and buy it if you like).

Note: The link to Wiggle is an affiliate link. If you click it and buy anything, I get a commission. You pay the same price.