Having worn Assos clothing when road cycling for 12 years now, I have grown used to the high quality and precise fit associated with the Swiss premium brand which is why I am unlikely to ever ride in anything else again. When the question came up whether I would like to test an Assos outfit, the answer was of course: sure, absolutely! I was really curious to see how the road cycling clothes had changed compared to last year’s products. So I put on the high-end outfit, got on my road bike and did a few kilometres.
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The perfect bib shorts from Assos?
This year, with the new Equipe RSR S9 Targa shorts, Assos has once again succeeded in beating their own very high quality standards and raising the bar for all cycling clothing manufacturers, even those involved in the WorldTour, by quite some margin. Thanks to the new Type.701kompressor material, the shorts have been lightened by a few grams without sacrificing comfort or compressive effect. On the contrary, it prevents moisture from building up. This means that the weight of the tights does not go up, even under extreme conditions.
Despite the reduced weight, the material is now even more flexible, which makes it very resistant and durable. But the most important aspect in my opinion is and always has been that the bibs are unparalleled in terms of aerodynamics thanks to the additional stretch and slightly longer legs than usual. Even after 4 hours of riding, they don’t distort or slip by a single millimetre, they fit exactly as perfectly at the end of the day as they did when you started. In combination with the S9 Sundeck seat pad, this makes them super comfortable and reduces the pressure in sensitive areas. The fit is kept tight by the proven A-shaped strap design with short, vertical stretch at the back and the fast-drying carbon material.
Does the jersey match the bib shorts?
When I put on the Equipe RS S9 TARGA jersey, I noticed that it fits like a second skin. It doesn’t wrinkle at all and goes perfectly with the Equipe RSR S9 Targa bib shorts. If you didn’t know any better, you would think you were wearing a one-piece suit – the match between the jersey and the shorts is so good.
Thanks to seamless ends, the jersey sits perfectly on the sleeves and virtually blends in with your skin. The aerodynamics probably couldn’t be any better. Thanks to the so-called AEPD (Advanced Ergonomic Pattern Design) by Assos, the material not only perfectly adapts to the body in every position on the bike, it also has a UV protection factor of 50+, so that you can spend a long time on the bike even on the really sunny days of the year without having to worry.
As you would expect from Assos, the moisture transport of the jersey is perfect. The fabric is extremely breathable and despite the tight cut, it is extremely elastic and thus offers a high degree of freedom of movement. The three perfectly positioned back pockets are easy to reach and make a very solid impression, so you don’t have to fear anything tearing even in the most turbulent of races. The zip is full-length, very smooth and even slimmer than on my other Assos jerseys.
Is Assos road cycling clothing worth recommending?
The Assos high-end combination of bibs and jersey is so well aligned that for me it makes for the perfect road bike outfit, showing off its strengths to the fullest, particularly in extremely strenuous situations. The Assos Equipe RS S9 TARGA jersey and the Assos Equipe RSR S9 TARGA bibs are the ultimate summer road cycling garments for me, performing flawlessly both in races and in over long distances in training.