By Brandon Bilyeu
Cost:
MILLE GT Jersey S11 EVO: $170
MILLE GT Bib Shorts S11: $210
How obtained: review sample from company
Available: online, retail
Jersey Colors: Black, White, Edge Green, Blossom Pink, Ground Brown, Golden Yellow, Deep Petrol
Bib Short Colors: Black, Wild Brown, Moss Green, Burgundy Red
Website: MILLE GT Jersey , MILLE GT Bib Shorts
RBR Sponsor: no
Tested: 20+ hours
Sizing: XS-3XL
Reviewer Measurements: 5’10” (178cm), 145 lbs (66 kg), 33″ (84cm) waist, 38” (96.5cm) hips, 33″ (84cm) inseam, 38″ (96.5cm) chest. Please see the reviews below for specific fit comments.
ASSOS – MILLE GT Spring/Summer ‘26
ASSOS has released their warm weather kit in the MILLE GT range for men and UMA GT for women. A few weeks back Sheri wrote a great article covering both men’s and women’s versions, and here I’ll expand on my experiences with the men’s kit. ASSOS has three main men’s collections; EQUIPE, MILLE, and TACTICA that are for usage in Racing, Endurance, and Adventure, respectively. So, the MILLE kit falls into the everyday use category.
I’ve tested an assortment of MILLE GT kit in the past and besides getting high marks in the initial reviews, the other great thing about ASSOS kit is that it lasts forever. I go through a lot of kit for testing, and it amazes me that even items that don’t get worn often after the testing period will age poorly sitting in a dresser drawer. Seams will start failing and elastic will lose it’s stretch.
To be fair, most kit has no problem lasting a couple years of hard riding, which is perfectly acceptable, but all the ASSOS kit I have is still in amazing condition after almost ten years of riding and storage. ASSOS kit runs from pricey to mind-bogglingly expensive, but from my experience the ASSOS durability is unmatched and may save you money in the long run.
MILLE GT Jersey S11 EVO – Super Comfortable, Pockets Limit Endurance
Hot!
- Available in 7 solid colors with contrasting black rear pockets
- Snug fit is aero without being constrictive, all-day comfort
- Materials are light and feel great on the skin
- Full zip in front with zipper garage at bottom to protect your shorts
- Three pockets in the back
- Men and Women versions available
Not!
- Light materials and small waistband struggle to support heavily loaded pockets for big endurance days on the bike
- ASSOS recommends sunscreen under the jersey body panels
The MILLE GT jersey is a classic design built with technical fabrics. The requisite full zip front and three standard pockets at the rear are accompanied by long, raw edge sleeves for a modern look. A super light Aircell fabric is used for the main body, while an elastic Eclipse fabric is used for the sleeves.
ASSOS has both a standard fit chart and a fit algorithm that can suggest the best size for you. On the chart I fall right between size Small and Medium, while the algorithm output size Small for me. Wanting to avoid a possible sausage casing fit, I went with Medium and the fit is great. The jersey sits right on my skin with a small amount of compression, perfect for all day comfort. It is super light and just disappears once you put it on.
Unfortunately, it is so light that ASSOS recommends sunscreen be worn under the main body panels. I did the majority of the MILLE GT testing on a solo trip to sunny Tenerife and Lanzarote (if you like riding uphill into the wind then I can highly recommend these islands!). So, I had nobody to put sunscreen on my back, but I did wear an ASSOS base layer that seems to have saved me from any sunburn. I appreciate a light jersey in hot weather, but the lack of sun protection is not ideal.
On the long climbs in Tenerife the d did an excellent job of keeping me cool and dry. The light fabric breathes, wicks, and dries extremely well. The front zipper operates easily with one hand to help provide even more climate control. Cool for climbing also meant cold for descending, so a gillet or jacket was a must on the long downhills.
With long days and long climbs on the menu, I stuffed the jersey pockets to capacity with food and clothing. The result was the lightweight fabrics and a small waistband struggling to hold the load steady. Riding seated was ok, with some tugging at the shoulders instead of being fully supported by the waistband. Riding out the saddle had the whole rear of the jersey bouncing up and down to an extent that I avoided standing when possible. Admittedly, taking the tighter fitting size Small instead of Medium may have mitigated this problem, but it seems the jersey may be too lightweight for heavy pocket loads.
Bottom Line
The MILLE GT Jersey S11 EVO is great for keeping you cool on hot weather rides, but not a good sun blocker, so consider sunscreen or a base layer. The fit and feel is excellent for comfort on long days. Great for shorter after work rides, but the lightweight design doesn’t perform so well when you need to fill the pockets to capacity on long weekend rides.
MILLE GT Bib Shorts S11 – Great Fit and Comfort in Spades
Hot!
- Available in 4 colors
- 12mm multilayer chamois is excellent
- Good fit and moderate compression
- Raw edge waist for belly comfort and easy nature breaks
- Men and Women versions available
Not!
- Aggressive silicone dots on leg openings are not so grippy
The MILLE GT Bib Shorts have two standout features that make them super comfortable. First is the GT S11 chamois. At 12mm thick (0.5 inches) it provides the cushion of a thick chamois without pushing up into soft tissue. The split design creates a large cutout for perineal pressure relief while offering ample sit bone support at the sides. The chamois is comfortable in both upright and aggressive positions and has given me no trouble in rides up to five hours long.
A good chamois can’t do its job if the short fit is wrong, particularly if the short is too loose. Again, ASSOS has a two-prong approach to online sizing, a size chart and algorithm. Both pointed me towards a size Small and this is what I went with. Experience has shown me that for bib shorts, it’s better to be on the tight side than too loose. The size Small fit great and so I think you can put your trust in the online sizing, but it’s always best to try on (and buy) at a retail store.
Sticking with the chamois theme, ASSOS has a unique bib strap system called rollBar. Instead of the straps terminating at the top of the bib short, the straps continue down to the panel that holds the chamois. This more direct connection to the chamois is very noticeable when you put on the bib straps as the chamois is snuggly pulled up to your bum.
The second standout feature for me is ASSOS’ front design of the shorts. Almost all cycling shorts feature a vertical seam centered over the crotch. This vertical seam bisects the shorts and forces one’s ‘manly bits’ to the left or right of the seam, which I don’t find particularly comfortable, especially when the bits keep migrating lower towards my churning thighs.
The ASSOS MILLE GT Bib Shorts solve this issue with two seams at the front of the short in a ‘V’ configuration that creates a centered pocket that keeps everything snugly in place. It’s a minor design detail that pays off in big comfort improvements for the male anatomy.
The zeroPressure Waist is another comfort feature that works well. Instead of a hem or solid waist band, ASSOS went with a soft and stretchy raw edge that has two benefits. First, the soft edge does not cut into your belly with pressure points, but conforms to your shape without any ‘spilling over’ a stiff seam. Second, the stretch makes for super easy nature breaks.
All together these features combine to make a super comfortable pair of bib shorts. The soft material hugs the thighs and waist with comforting support that allows for fully unencumbered pedaling. The wide bib straps provide a strong pull on the chamois without any pressure points on the shoulders. The leg openings have a sewn-on elastic band that looks almost as clean as a raw edge finish.
My only minor complaint is that the aggressive looking silicone gripper dots on the leg bands don’t seem to hold especially well. I notice the leg openings creep up a little while riding, resulting in a small amount of material bunching at my thigh creases. The material is so soft and compliant that the bunching did not bother me at all, but it seems the grippers could be improved.
Bottom Line
The MILLE GT Bib Shorts S11 are supremely comfortable due to some great design features. You can’t go wrong with these, and they should last a long time.
Quick Review – Summer NS Skin Layer P1($95)
This ASSOS base layer is light and airy, with no seams except at the top of the shoulders. Generous stretch makes for a good skintight fit to enable wicking. My testing consisted of moderate temperatures around 20 C (70 F), so I was actually relying on this base layer for a bit of extra warmth. And it probably provided a little extra sun protection when wearing the MILLE GT Jersey S11 EVO.
I’m still not sure I believe the summer base layer hype that they keep you cooler in hot temperatures. But I do wear base layers for the majority of the year, just not on the hottest summer rides. Riding with an unzipped jersey to cool off, using a base layer provides the extra benefits as a shield between your skin and cold air as well as bugs.
Quick Review – R Socks S11 ($45 for a twin pack)
I’m still not sure I believe the summer base layer hype that they keep you cooler in hot temperatures. But I do wear base layers for the majority of the year, just not on the hottest summer rides. Riding with an unzipped jersey to cool off, using a base layer provides the extra benefits as a shield between your skin and cold air as well as bugs.
These ASSOS socks are lightweight and breathable for warm rides and come in a two pack that offers a little better pricing than buying a single pair. The sizing seems spot-on, and I appreciate that I don’t have to throw out my back to get them on. The cuff is 18cm (7in) tall for a thoroughly modern look. The socks are labeled left and right so that the targeted support is located properly, and so the ASSOS ‘A’ is on the outside of your leg. Hard to find any fault, just comfortable and stylish socks.
Brandon Bilyeu is an avid recreational roadie who lives in Regensburg, Germany. He’s a year-round bike commuter and is a mechanical design engineer by trade. Click to read Brandon’s full bio.
I’m so glad to see you finally reviewing some high quality gear ! Assos is among the best; anything less is just not worth buying, IMO.. I hope you will get around to looking at Q36.5, even better performance clothing – which is saying a lot coming from a 2-decades Assos user. !!
I think you missed the boat with the sun-blocker comment. I’m sure that Assos recommends this as any thin material will allow some UV to pass through. Any cyclist who knows what they are doing will be wearing a base layer at all times (even on the hottest days) as it is more cooling than without a good base layer. By ‘good’, I mean a base that’s made by Assos or Q36.5, not the ‘plastic’ bags’ made by lesser companies (not to mention any by name)