The best of the best.....
Assos have long been masters of the Cycling short. Many of the industry's innovations have come from Assos' factory and have been imitated but to our minds, never bettered.
Assos retain a look and brand image that no other cycling apparel company seem to be able to match. With their shiny models, clean lines and clear attention to both aesthetic details and technical performance they have carved a name for themselves as something of an aspirational product and an industry benchmark. Assos are our best selling clothing brand by some significant margin, and to a man (and woman), we at 700 all own a pair of Assos shorts.
Forever developing and striving to better the garments they produce, Assos have delivered many of the advances in cycling apparel over the years. 6 years ago they developed the s5 insert for their shorts range which was the first to incorporate a waffle texture in the pad to reduce bulk and increase breathability.
For 2014 Assos have released a completely new range of shorts that once again increase rider comfort through careful textile choice and innovative approaches which come from a fundamental understanding of what it is that riders want. This is born out in a range that has something for all types of rider, from weekend warrior to seasoned Elite Racers.
The range centres on the development of the insert which Assos term _s7 and like so much of Assos' range also focuses on reducing the bulk while retaining high levels of performance. The s7 pad is a 3-Layer construction and comes in 4 guises depending on the use and / or rider type. The T.campionissimo is the pinnacle of the range and unlike the models below it, contains no Spandex at all. Rather it is constructed from a new fabric Assos call ergoKompressor which is made of different fibres and produced on different machines.
As will all s7 shorts they are made with a new bib construction method, rather than the traditional bib, all s7 shorts feature a Y-frame carrier construction on both the front and rear which helps keep the short in wrinkle free, ergonomic form at all times. This is coupled with a minimal pattern design descended from the Aerosuits as used by the Swiss Olympic Team in 2012, basically the system reduces the number of seams used in the garment for increased comfort and better aerodynamics which is further enhanced by Assos' new SuperFlat leg grippers. Ultimately this leads to a more stable and comfortable short. Another feature found on the T.equipe model upwards is the bibStabiliser present at shoulder height each side of the bibs at the front which allows the wearer to optimise the fit position; they also serve - Assos claim - as a handy sunglass holder, though why you would be walking around in sunglasses and just your bibs is a question best left alone!
The T.campionissimo_s7 shorts feature AEMT (Asymmetric Elastic Module Tech) and as mentioned, ergoKompressor. The former is directionally cut and stabilizes and supports muscle elongation while the latter Assos specific textile provides intelligently balanced compression on muscles. It applies pressure but does it ergonomically thus adapting to your body's anatomy. This new construction combined with Assos' iceColour - a reflective fabric treatment developed to reflect sunlight and keep muscles at a cooler, more stable, optimal operational level; results in a short that helps minimise fatigue in the muscles allowing the rider to be at their best for longer. In addition to the ergoKompressor fabric, Assos have employed a textile weaving process to increase moisture transfer over and above that which can be found in the T.cento to keep the rider as dry as possible when riding 'eyeballs-out'.
The _s7 insert is the heart of the beast. Constructed from Memory Foam which, like mattresses returns to shape when pressure is released, means every time pedaling position is changed in the saddle through shift of weight, the foam "fills the gap" resulting in greater comfort in the saddle. The biggest development that features across the range of shorts is what Assos term their goldenGate. We're not sure who comes up with the names but the concept is sound! Historically, shorts are sewn or glued between the legs. Assos s7 shorts are no longer fastened all the way round in this fashion, instead there are no seams in this sensitive area allowing more 3-dimensional movement with less friction.
Like the T.cento, the T.campionissimo_s7 features kuKuPenthouse. Similar to the way the Mille-s5 had a 'folding' area, the front section of the campionissimo insert has a low volume circular inlet that accommodates the male anatomy in cocoon-like comfort and yet holds everything securely in a skin-contact textile that is devoid of stitching. This area thus has a greater degree of airflow allowing for cooler genitals - which is of course, is the reason nature left them outside in the first place!
The addition of anatomical side panels with zero padding to reduce friction whilst pedaling and a pad that is incorporated into the lower back seams of the short, results in less chaffing and eliminates areas that can cause discomfort. Factor in the superAir feature where the lower layer of the 3-layer pad is also waffled and perforated and you have a well ventilated, supportive and extremely comfortable insert that will not distract.
Like the Fi.13 before it, the T.campionissimo has a saddlegripSurface, a textile that lends a little purchase on the saddle contact area, helping to stabilize the pedalling position.
The Assos T.campionissimo_s7 is a serious performance piece. Definitely not something you wear on a daily basis, rather a bib short for race days and when you're performing at your peak. It is most suited to riders who are spending serious time in the saddle and racing or if you simply won't compromise and push yourself every ride! The fit is extremely tight as a result of the ergoKompressor fabric and it takes a while to get into them, rest assured it's worth it for the feeling of being ensconced and supported.