Assos CENTO EVO Bib Shorts : Black Series

Comfort personified.

Assos have long been masters of the Cycling short. Many of the industry's innovations have come from Assos.

Despite (in our opinion - and on the basis of customer feedback at the time) a 'wobble' around 6 years ago with the loss of their pivotal man - Luigi Bergamo (founder of Q36.5), coupled with a simultaneous change in distribution that has since settled, Assos retain a look and brand image that no other cycling apparel company seem to be able to match. With their 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.
In the early days of 700, prior to the 'wobble' and our subsequent decision to switch to Q36.5 - following Luigi, Assos were our best selling clothing brand by some significant margin. It is with some delight that we now welcome Assos back into the fold.

Forever developing and striving to better the garments they produce, Assos have continued to make strides in cycling apparel over the years. 12 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 released a completely new range of shorts that once again increased rider comfort through careful textile choice and innovative approaches which come from a fundamental understanding of what it is that riders want. This was borne out in a range that had something for all types of rider, from weekend warrior to seasoned Elite Racers.

That range centred on the development of the insert which Assos term _s7 that continues variously and in evolved states throughout the range today and like so much of Assos' range it focuses on reducing the bulk while retaining high levels of performance.

The original T.Cento was initially designed to replace their biggest selling short, the Mille_s5, and it set a new benchmark in comfort for distance riding. The new Cento EVO continues in that same vein but with refined characteristics and technical aspects to deliver incredible comfort for the long haul. The new CENTO EVO elastic interface insert has evolved. Now in a black colorway, and with a proven 10mm of memory foam, the insert is perfectly positioned at the intersection between comfort and performance.

The Cento Evo shorts use the Y-Carrier bib construction method, rather than the traditional bib they 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, that reduces the number of seams used in the garment for increased comfort and better aerodynamics which is further enhanced by Assos' new UltraLight leg grippers - a light silicon treatment woven into the leg bands, which reduces fabric bulk and secures the shorts in place without any excessive pressure. Ultimately this leads to a more stable and comfortable short.

Another feature is the Stabilizator V3 essentially this is a solid mesh fabric with limited vertical stretch that is designed to offer dorsal stability through the pedal stroke - not disimilar to the Lumbar Support Panel created by Q36.5.

Lycra has always been a compression fabric but we are all now aware of the benefits of supported musculature. As such the Cento shorts feature construction from Type.439 Diadema, a textile design created with our fabric suppliers to meet the demands of performance, comfort, and durability. The weave has two different rates of 4-way stretch, one of which is directionally cut and stabilizes and supports muscle elongation while the second lends better vibration control to keep muscles fresh. With that said, as a function of their target rider, Cento Evo shorts feature a regularFit: optimised for total comfort in the riding position, with a more relaxed cut than the racingFit. Slightly less compression and a less restrictive fit on the waist and abdominal areas with a raw-cut fabric for the smoothest transition between body and fabric.

The s7 insert is the heart of the beast. Constructed from Memory Foam which, like mattresses return 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.

Though using the same basic construction as the rest of the range, the stand out feature of the Cento is undoubtedly the pad. Whereas all other models in the range use 8mm of memory foam, the Cento uses 10mm giving obvious additional comfort. It also features a very special ASSOS invention, kuKuPenthouse. The front section of the Cento 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!

Part of Assos' AEPD construction ethos has been to minimise bulk in their garments and this is most evident in the Cento shorts. 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, reduces 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, even over the course of the most epic rides.

The Assos Cento is a performance piece. It is most suited to riders who are spending serious time in the saddle and for very long distance rides. As a function of their construction and their less restrictive fit the Cento bib shorts are also ideally suited to those less race focussed.