Assos
Sadly, I am returning these mostly great shorts. I looked forward to getting my first pair of Assos shorts for quite some time. Love the fabric and the chamois; however, the waistband dips down really low, just a few inches above my pubic bone. This makes for an awkward, uncomfortable, and distracting fit. Just where I am needing gentle compression on the belly to feel snug and confident, these shorts offer no coverage and leave me feeling vulnerable. If you've got washboard abs, and want a bikini fit on your bike shorts, you might like these!
Purchased a pair on the daily special and they worked out so well I had to get a second pair. I'm 5'8" 160 lbs and the size large fits very well. I don't like bibs too tight or too loose and for me these fit perfectly. Chamois is very comfortable and straps are nice and sturdy. These are not the top of the line but are of excellent quality. The fit is race fit without the aero "sausage" feeling. You won't be disappointed with these.
I've been riding for 50+ years and my riding friends have been telling me about Assos for the last ten or so years but I am half Scottish and so very cheap. I could not justify spending the money that Assos charges for their products. I made do with Pearl izume and Louis Garneau, both of which I thought were quite good, comfortable and reasonably long-wearing. When I saw these on sale at Bike Tires Direct, and I had some customer points to spend, I decided to give them a try. Wow, first ride was a century and I had total comfort all day. Amazing and totally worth the price (much as my Scottish half hates to say it). Friends tell me they last a lot longer than other brands, so I will wait to see if that is true too.
These short are very comfortable for longer rides. I love them for my 4 - 5 hour gravel adventures. However, they do have significantly more padding/chamois material in the front than other bib shorts I've used. Initially I didn't like them, as I felt that my ... bits were overly compressed by the excess material. However, I've adjusted to them and find them far more comfortable than my other bib shorts with less padding in the anterior perineum area.
