By Brandon Bilyeu
Hot!
- Traditional styling with a bit of flair on the arms and black accents
- Sturdy rear pockets with ‘barely there’ lids
- Full length zipper with garage at bottom
- Long reflective strips on the rear pockets
- UV protection fabric
Not!
- Sticky zipper, need two hands to open
- No mesh side panels, only mesh on bottom of sleeves
Bibshorts
Hot!
- Comfortable chamois
- Moderate compression
- Generous volume in waist
- Reflective accents behind each leg
- Abrasion resistant material
Not!
- Low-rise front waistline
- Minor chamois wedgie off the bike
Cost: Jersey: $109; Bibshorts: $159
How obtained: review sample from company
Available: online, retail, ASSOS website
Colors: Jersey: Blue, White, Red, Black; Bibshorts: Black
Website: www.assos.com, Jersey, Bibshorts
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 40+ hours
Sizing: Jersey: XS-2XL+TIR (Wide); Bibshorts: XS-2XL+TIR (Wide)
Reviewer Measurements and Fit Comments: 5’10” (178cm), 150 lbs (68 kgs), 33″ (84cm) waist, 33″ (84cm) inseam, 37″ (94cm) chest. I choose size medium based on the ASSOS sizing charts and found the sizing to be accurate.
Classic Jersey Design, Sticky Zipper
The MILLE GT short sleeve jersey is a simple yet refined cycling top. To keep the price reasonable ASSOS pared down all the fancy features to produce a classic style jersey that still retains all the functionality we expect: full front zipper, three back pockets, good stretch/fit, decent breathability, and moisture management. I was very happy to see they splurged on UV protection fabric.
The pockets are constructed out of a slightly heavier black fabric and supported with a very hefty waist band to hold everything in place nicely, the black color a nice contrast on the otherwise solid color jersey. To keep pocket contents in place the openings are elastic hemmed and there are also ‘barely there’ lids which is a downward facing flap of fabric at the top edge of each pocket. They won’t work for small items, but for gear that fills the pocket you can flip the fabric flap lid over the top of the contents to hold everything in place. It’s a neat little feature, especially for a little extra cell phone security, and if you don’t want to use them you won’t even notice they are there.
The jersey is cut in ASSOS Regular Fit which sits nicely between racer snug and baggy. The sleeves are quite short by today’s standards but stay in place well even without grippers. Cut for the riding position it is a little tight across the chest when standing upright, but a perfect fit on the bike. The fabric has good stretch and so should conform well to different body types. The fabric used throughout is fairly tight knit and the only open mesh used is under the sleeves (the patterned material) which makes for decent but not great breathability. That said, moisture management does work quite well to help cool you off and there is the full length zipper for added cooling.
Which leads me to my biggest gripe with this jersey: I can’t open the zipper with one hand. The zipper friction is too high and trying to unzip one handed just stretches the fabric down and jams the zipper. While not a fatal design flaw it is quite frustrating to reach up for a quick adjustment and get nothing when all other jerseys open right up. Using your second hand to support the jersey allows the zipper to move freely, but taking both hands off the bars is not always possible or safe.
Bibshorts Are Comfortable, Robustly Built
The bibshorts are also classically styled being solid black and with a two-thirds thigh length. As part of the Mille line they have a comfort fit that is very generous in the waist to accommodate more than just bean pole bike racer body types. I did find the waist to be very roomy, but it is cut quite low which is not the best if you carry a little extra weight up front. The material offers good stretch to fit different body types, though a consequence of this is only moderate compression.
The shorts have minimal paneling and seams, basically just a front and back panel sewn together, but it fits well and conforms nicely in the riding position. ASSOS claims the fabric is abrasion resistant and while I have not had the pleasure of testing this out sliding across the tarmac I can say the material does feel more robust/stiff than typical lycra, but still soft. The leg openings are a sewn on elastic band with grippers and the same band is used for the bibstraps.
The straps attach to the front of the shorts much wider than other manufacturers which I found comfortable, no better or worse than other bibshorts. The elastic band is fairly thick and firm so it offered good, comfortable support for the shorts, but if you are a devotee to paper thin, silky bibstraps these may not be for you. Given the hardy materials used I expect these shorts to last a long time.
The Mille chamois is a simple sandwich construction consisting of a soft top sheet with padding place perfectly right under the sit bones. The chamois is sewn to the shorts only at the front and rear to allow movement and better breathability. I found on bike comfort to be excellent and while the padding feels fairly thick it compresses nicely for good cushioning without feeling bulky. In a past experience with this chamois it gave me an uncomfortable wedgie off the bike when walking around, but the mild compression fabric in these bibshorts almost completely eliminates the wedgie effect.
Final Thoughts
Both the jersey and bibshorts are solid performers offering good comfort, fit, and quality with the exception of the sticky jersey zipper. If one handed zipper operation is not a requirement for you then the Mille GT is a great option to consider. The bibshorts provide comfort all day long and look good doing so.
I have this kit, my first from Assos. I love it. I don’t have the zipper issue you described and the low-rise front waistline of the bib shorts is a huge plus for me. I do feel there should be mesh side panels on the jersey, and longer sleeves with more grip. The minor jersey issues aside, still my best kit.
” the low-rise front waistline of the bib shorts is a huge plus for me”
…I agree, one one the best attributes of this bibshort. Why would anyone think of this as a negative is beyond me. These are 5 star bib shorts, in my opinion.
This comes down to personal preference, I also don’t mind the low cut fronts and I’m glad they fit great for you and Jon. But I have talked to riders with stomachs not as flat as a racer and the low cut waist can be uncomfortable pushing up under/into their gut. Sometimes a higher cut waist that goes over and supports their belly is more comfortable.
As a larger sized rider I have been exlusive to Asso s5 Mille line as it was designed specifically for us bigger, football lineman sized riders. Felt like it was tailor made for me, not compressive, short leg length, frontal support, and fantastic S5 chamois.
Coming from Mille S5 this newer, cheaper version of Mille does a dis-service to the orginal line. I’ve tried the new S7 bibs in LG, my size for S5 Mille, and in XL, both were a very poor fit. The LG was too compressive and the legs on XL were too long stopping 1cm from my knees. The materials and construction feel “cheap” The “Golden Gate” chamois on most of the S7 line shifts and migrates to one side. I had this issue with the Cento S7, and Assos acknowledged that it does happen to larger sized riders and refunded my money in the form of a credit, I used it to purchase their chamois creme. The S5 Mille was really really popular and we still wonder why Assos did away with it. Please bring it back, Assos!!
After extensive searching, I am still wondering why more clothing manufacturers don’t make a bib short with a built-in fly. Dealing with pee stops while wearing some bibs is less than fun, but having a fly (available as an add-on to bibs made by Kucharik) make those stops hassle-free. I think a lot of riders may avoid drinking enough while on the bike just to avoid having to stop and pee while wearing bibs.