Assos T.MilleShorts_s7

Assos has long been a byword for quality, and its standout products have always been its bib shorts, considered by many cyclists to be simply the best that (quite a lot of) money can buy. Costing £100, the T.MilleShorts_s7 offer exceptional comfort and fit for the money and might just be the best bib shorts you can buy at this price.

The T.MilleShorts_s7 are a new entry-level design for the company, and combine much of the design, features and padded insert of the neoPro_s7 shorts previously tested by road.cc and which they now replace, but with a more accommodating fit. Top-level comfort for those not sharing the same BMI as Chris Froome, then.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy these online here

Key to the comfort of the shorts is the purple padded insert. It's one of the best on the market. It comprises 8mm-thick memory foam with a waffle and perforated composition, providing the dimpled surface, to increase the breathability and increase comfort. The way the pad is attached to the shorts is different from the norm. A 'goldenGate' construction sees the chamois stitched to the bib shorts only at the front and back, leaving the midsection to move independently of the shorts; it also removes seams from a potentially delicate area.

The chamois feels instantly comfortable the moment you pull the shorts on, even before you get on the saddle in a way that few other shorts manage. It's without a doubt one of the most comfortable padded inserts I've tested, providing superb seated comfort without much bulk at all.

Assos says the shorts are designed for long rides in the saddle and a couple of seven-hour rides are testament to that claim. No issues whatsoever on those long rides. The goldenGate might sound like a gimmick but it does appear to create a more harmonic interface between the chamois and your undercarriage, improving the freedom of movement and eliminating friction and chafing concerns.

The fit of the shorts is excellent. The focus on making them a little more generous in the waist has worked well, striking the balance between the need to be slightly compressive to hold everything in place but not restrictive. The wide, flat bib straps are placed out wide which further enhances the comfort as does the low waistband – which makes nature breaks easy – and there's no unwanted pressure over the shoulders, and the mesh back panel adds breathability.

The bib shorts are made from the company's own Type.429 Lycra and it is soft to the touch with an expensive feel about it. It's a supportive fabric with a bit of compression noticeable, and the panels are cut in such a way that the shorts fit perfectly in every area. It's a durable and hard-wearing fabric, too: with hundreds of miles racked up on and off-road and dozens of machine washes, they're not showing any sign of distress. The Lycra copes well in the heat or really high-intensity rides that produce a lot of sweat and feels noticeably drier for longer than some other shorts in the same testing conditions.

> Buyer's Guide: The best cycling bib shorts

Wide hems with gripper tape keep the legs in place with no discomfort at any point during a ride, and contribute to the overall comfort. Branding and details on the shorts are low-key, just a few small Assos logos. A couple of reflective details on the backs of the legs is a nice touch for commuting and evening rides when you want a bit of extra visibility.

For many, £100 is still a lot of money to spend on a pair of bib shorts, but if you want to make an investment in your cycling wardrobe, especially if you've got some big long-distance rides planned this summer, you really can't go wrong with the T.MilleShorts_s7 shorts. Comfortable, well fitting and durable shorts.

Verdict

Seriously impressive comfort and a great fit puts these shorts up among the best