ASSOS S7 Shorts and Mangussta jersey the ‘ultimate summer kit’

I often get friends who are just getting into cycling asking about how to best invest their hard earned dollars in cycling clothes.  Regardless of brand, my general ‘pat’ review is that you can treat jerseys like a weekend flirtation – if you like it and it looks good on you, go ahead and wear it.

Bib shorts, on the other hand, I recommend that they approach as they would choosing a life mate – when you consider that both a life mate and your bike shorts have a close relationship with your manly bits, it makes sense. While some bib shorts may look great, they may tear your tender bits to shreds (I’ve had some friends with wives like that).

Me, thirteen years on, I still have the same wife and I still have my favorite brand of bike shorts – ASSOS. When the Swiss company unveiled their latest S7 line last year, you can be sure that I was eager to get my hands on a pair.

As I reported in my first hands on experience with the new line at Interbike 2013, the S7 line actually consists of 4 shorts – from the $199 NeoPro model all the way up to the $519 Campionissimo. The S7 line was the result of six years of research and development to improve on the already excellent f1_13.s5 model. 

The emphasis for the entire S7 line was on using better textiles over more panels and seams to provide compression. There are 47% fewer seams across the entire line and the shorts have come in around 20% lighter than the predecessors.

I ended up with the $269 T.equipe_s7 model, along with ASSOS new Mangussta jersey for review.

Can I compare thee to a summer’s day?

ASSOS describes the S7 as a ‘game changer’ – bold words considering that they already had won the game with the S5 line. In fact, if the S7 didn’t exist, the S5 would still be the best short out there – hands down.

The S7 improves on it predecessor with a simpler five panel construction. Not only does it help to reduce the number of seams rubbing on your body, it also make the shorts lighter. I definitely appreciated the triple stitch dart in the front that creates a cradle for my guy bits. Another innovation is the “Golden Gate” concept. With Golden Gate, the sides of the pads are only anchored to the short at the front and the rear, leaving the middle open. The intent of Golden Gate is to increase breathability, and reduce friction and it seems to satisfy in both respects.

The shoulder straps are another area where ASSOS innovation shows. The straps are laser cut, similar to those on Castelli’s Body Paint bibs, but where the Body Paint straps tend to bunch into a rope, ASSOS straps stay flat and in place. While the strap material is heavier than Castelli’s, the overall weight of the ASSOS short is far less.

Finally, the iceBlack fabric treatment seemingly does the impossible – reflecting sunlight and keeping your body and muscles at a cooler, more stable temperature. 

It’s okay to marry the weekend fling if she’s a keeper

Yes, I did compare jerseys to a weekend fling, but if the jersey is ASSOS SS.mangussta, it’s a fling that you’ll want to go on and on.

The SS.mangussta represents a new design direction in jerseys for ASSOS, with the fit coming in somewhere between their SS.Uno and SS.Mille.

 

What does that mean to you? If you have a life outside of riding your bike, if you’re not built like a whippet, you’ll likely enjoy the fit of this jersey. ASSOS calls it performanceFit – I call it comfortable.

The fabric for the SS.mangussta is the latest out of ASSOS’ Textile Lab – Type 151. It is noticeably lighter and moisture transfer from your body to the outside of the jersey is said to be significantly faster. Also, when conditions change and your body begins to cool down fast, the fabric actually slows the evaporation process, using your body’s moisture to retain warmth.

The fabric also offers SPF 50 UV protection, making it excellent for your summer rides. 

Conclusion

I get plenty of cycling clothes in for review, so I don’t want for cycling clothing. Still, the ASSOS kit was the one that I was always making sure was clean and available for the next ride.

ASSOS has raised the bar once again, leaving the competition chasing them as they always have.

Yes, ASSOS comes at a dear price, but its quality both on and off the bike make it more than a worthwhile investment.

Yes, you’re looking at nearly $500 in cycling clothing here – more than some spend on their first bike – but there’s little else out there that will make your cycling more enjoyable.

ASSOS T.Equipe_s7 Bib Shorts – $268 – 5/5 stars

ASSOS SS.mangussta_s7 Jersey – $209 – 5/5 stars.