Assos Bib Shorts

There are two pieces of clothing that will affect your day on a bike more than others, shoes and shorts. We'll talk about shorts for now.

Having ridden just about every brand of bib shorts out there, Assos rises above the rest, that's why we sell them. This is not to say no other company can make good bib shorts, just that Assos seems to have everyone beat. The fit, fabric and padding are all top notch.

Starting with the pad, Assos makes absolutely the best pad in the biz. The padding they currently have is the "S5" model. It is extremely soft on the skin and the shape is perfect for almost every"body". It wicks moisture really well and that goes a long way toward reducing potential chafing issues. The other unique thing about the padding is how it maintains its shape. Many other chamois' tend to compress and over time they stay that way. That doesn't allow for good moisture management and doesn't "pad" very well. Assos has a sort of honeycomb structure within the padding that enables it to spring back to it's original shape or thickness. In a word, happy.

The fabrics are also all top end. Really comfortable, freedom of movement and just the right amount of compression. The Lycra used is also very soft against the skin. Assos made the very first Lycra shorts back in the day so they've got it figured out. The fit is also key. The pad needs to be in the right place to work properly and it needs to stay put. Assos has spent decades refining the fit of their products and it shows. The fit of the Mille bib is a tiny bit fuller which allows for more freedom of movement and is meant to be their long distance short. The Uno bibs are their race fit. They have a bit more compression and fit skinny guys like me a little better. The Fi 13 bib is just amazing. As with the rest of the Fi 13 line, it's absolutely the best, you actually do get what you pay for.

Personally speaking, I wouldn't ride anything else if we could get full custom kits from them. They are my shorts of choice whether it's the insulated knickers (my favorite) or the other standard bibs. Take care of them and they'll last a long time as well. I have four pair including my winter knickers and they've all treated me well. The padding doesn't pill up or become rougher after several washes and they don't stretch out. Ultimately the last thing you should be thinking about on your ride is your shorts. Buy a pair of Assos shorts and you won't regret it.