Assos jackets?

[lph]

Anyone here have experience with Assos clothing, more specifically their jackets?

My beloved Gore winter jacket needs replacing at some point, so I'm looking for a good quality winter softshell jacket. People talk about Assos clothing as though it were the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel, and they sure look good, but I'm unsure of the sizing and temperature range. The men's winter jacket, Airjack, looks like it's made to wear right on-body (snug), and is suggested for temps of +8 to -2 C (45-28 F). I need a jacket that will work down to about -12C/10 F with a thin layer or 2 underneath, but still slim-fit, not baggy.

I'd go for another Gore jacket in a heartbeat, but I have an older unisex model. The womens cut doesn't fit me as well and they don't make the men's cut small enough.

Anyway. Happy for any feedback on Assos clothing and jackets in particular.

[Mr. SR500]

Assos stuff is excellent quality. I wear bibs all the time, but also use tights, knee warmers, jerseys, socks, gloves, etc... I would love to try a jacket, but they are really pricey. Everything I've read has been positive, but you should try one on if possible for the best fit.

[Bluetree]

Amazing piece of craftsmanship, the airBlock stuff is the best around. Total coverage is a bit too warm for me, though. The Asso Evo Intermediate is perfect for SoCal winters. Nothing like it. Truly the best.

(P.S. They do run a slightly short torso for women)

[Trigress]

I have tried some Assos summerwear, a sleeveless top that use as a tri top more specifically. I think they should fit you well, as their fit is quite slim. I've asked Triger, my DH, to comment on it as well, he has the winter jacket and uses it for work, he can probably tell you more about the temperature range of it. He's quite pleased with it I think, but it cost a fortune (he asked me to look away when he paid...).

How about club clothing - aren't there any winter jackets from Ceres? If not I suppose swapping for Frøy is an alternative, our winter jackets cost a mere "sheet"!

[Triger]

I have _a_ winter jacket: This one (Readers not fully fluent in Swedish will excuse me, I hope). The recommended temperature range is from 8º to -2ºC, and that seems about right. 8º is absolutely max of what I can bear. Above that, and I'm boiling. On the road, mind you. And I'm not ashamed to put on clothes. You'll never see me in short sleeves if the temperature creeps below 20ºC.

In the low end: not sure yet. -5º is fine with two thin layers underneath. -12º may be a tad chilly, but I'll give it a try. Assos makes another jacket with a somewhat lower recommended temperature range. Even more expensive, of course, but I have no reason to doubt it's good value.

Fit is an important point. If anything is slim, this is it. My tights will absolutely not let anyting slip between them and my skin. So try them on before you buy!

[lph]

Hi trigress - yeah, I'd love to hear your dh's experience with the horrifically expensive Fugu jacket Ceres has a jacket but not in my size..

I've been searching the web for info on this jacket, and came over this really amusing article:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/lif...cle3171054.ece

But reading reviews I'm sort of surprised at how many people, like the guy in the article, want a waterproof jacket. I want something waterproof only if it's raining, or in very wet snow. (In the latter case I'd rather not ride, actually..) But on most rides I'm wetter from the inside than than the outside, som for most winter conditions I'd prefer a softshell that breathes really well and that's just water repellent.

[Trigress]

The review from Triger is here now, it seemed to be stuck with the moderators for a while, so this is just to open the thread again so that you can see that something's new here!

[lph]

Thanks Triger and Trigress!

The jackets sound like good stuff. But looking at the price again gave me hiccups, so I guess I'm just fantasizing for now... you never know, I might win the lottery...

[Trigress]

Triger tried cycling to work through Østmarka yesterday (-8,5 over here) and found out that the trousers were a bit cold for those temperatures. However, his trousers are very tight and leave little room for extra woolies. The jacket was fine though.

[g19]

Maybe i can give you my 2 cents in experience with assos jackets.

Firstly i own both the fugu and the uma jacket.

Secondly about the temp range Assos is using/advising. This is a guidance only and not a pre set temp range for everybody for all kind of reasons. The body temp is a very important factor in warm/cold weather, but sadly due to the fact that english is not my home language i can't explain clearly enough to explain the importance, but the materials used by Assos do help in creating the most ideal body temperature to perform in.

About the uma.

The Uma is very, very well designed with just one flaw and that is the sleeve ends. They don't have the regular elastic style ends, but it's the same aterial like the sleeve itself so putting in on is just not as easy as it could have been, but than again that's just the only flaw.

The jacket is fully front protected with a 851 windblocking material which does the job in a perfect way. The neck/shoulder are protected too with a different windbocking material and this is where this jacket really stands out as when ones body is warm after a while the wind starts hitting the neck/shoulder area (remember this jacket is used in cold weather) and you don't feel a thing due to this material which add's to the comfort this jacket gives. Further the large pockets (i call them lady style pockets) are so easy to put one's stuff in and it is much safer than the regular 3 style pockets.

Finally the fit is made for being on the bike and here is where all comes together.

Also the temp range is a bit depending on each persons feel of when cold is cold, but it rangers in more regulare temps from about just above freesing to 12 to 13 degrees celcius.

The Fugu is even a range lower in temps just above/below zero.

This is a awesome jacket that has been so brilliantly designed not only by it's materials (851 windblocking material) but the fact that in the front of the jacekt is a fleece inner jacket that keeps ones body even warmer realising the temps one is using it in and the fact that it has a superb collar which prevents wind creeping in.
It's hard to explain more about this jacket, but it pretty much is the same as the above jacket and maybe the price is not the biggest issue, but the fact that the needed temp ranges are not as often as one is hoping for .... it's that nice en well designed.

The same can be said about theire pants as the beauty of this 851 windblocking material is that it's not stiff at all and around the elbows of knees it bends easily and this is a comfort thing compared. Further they use in on the parts of one's leg that needs the coverage the most and not where it's not needed.

Further one thing many times overlooked is that the return stretch of the materials used by Assos is what keeps these items tight even after many many times used. The price tag really reflects more than just the product.

All in all.
Yes, the are very expensive, but remember Assos is a textile laboratory and R&D is the most expensive on any product and Assos is no exeption.

With Assos you don't buy the garment, but the result ........

My final note is that Assos is not needed to have fun on the road it's just a option of what is out there to buy. When it suits you needs or riding style it's there. Just like you don't need a Litespeed to have fun in riding a racing bicycle.