Assos myth or rip off

[wicker]

Warning to all Assos fans/owners.

I bought three pairs of Assos F1S13 bibs two weeks before last years Epic.Only used two pairs for the event.Post event used 1 pair for weekend MTB races which were few and far between in CT.Did the odd Saturday training ride in them.Used only the one pair.In less than a year of only one day a week use ,not even 40 weeknds it has deteriorated to a dull grey and has become see through to the point of not being able to wear them.WE Cycles return them to the "distributor" who alleges that I must have a high "acid" level causing the shorts to deteriorate to such an extent and must have left them unwashed for some time.I religiously followed the washing instructions ,bag ,hang dry (indoors ) etc.

So "buyer beware" before you go out and pay  3x more for a pair of Assos than any other brand ,check your acidity levels.At age 53 I would have to  be crippled with acidity for the bibs to have deteriorated to such an extent!!I have Sanitin's ,Panda's ,Castelli's and numerous Anatomic's that are 6-8 years old showing hardly any wear.

[Sean Badenhorst]

Shew.That's weird. I have two pairs of Assos bibs (one is a F1S13) which I have been wearing regularly since 2006. They've outlasted every other brand of bib shorts I have and continue to be my favourites. 

[GFishy]

Also wear these, no problem at all. The Assos branding fades but it is because it is printed.

 

You do get detergent for cycling gear. (Can't remember the brand - but then again it will cost you a couple of rand in SA)

[pixi]

also got three pairs... took a tumble a month ago...bruised my hip to such an extent that I had to walk with crutches ... only started riding a week ago....First thing I did after the fall was to look see if my ASSOS survived....when dusted off you wouldnt even know that I took a tumble !!!

[ASTANA]

How long do bibs last ?? What other brans would you guys reccomend ? What about FIRST ACCENT bibs?

[zee]

also got three pairs... took a tumble a month ago...bruised my hip to such an extent that I had to walk with crutches ... only started riding a week ago....First thing I did after the fall was to look see if my ASSOS survived....when dusted off you wouldnt even know that I took a tumble !!!

had the same experiance,had a fall during argus 09 bruised my upper left led badly looked at my shorts expecting it too be ripped but too my surprise not even a scratch on the shorts. 

[Marius]

Mine also just lasted a year and a bit. Tried anothe rpair and same story. The fabric is not very strong, mine always start to "torring out" and becomes see-thru-e - not on, will never buy Assos again, a complete waste of money.

 

That said, I trained in them 5days a week for throu out the year.

Marius2009-03-18 01:46:37

[TitusTi]

Yeah, my favourite pair of Assos has been doing service since the 2006 Trans Baviaans, got a new pair last year as well, both still rock.

[wackwack]

**Hijack On**

 

Is there real benefit in Bibs vs Shorts??

 

**Hijack Off**

[steveO:K]

My first assent bibs are falling apart.They fit nicely but simply do not last.I would not recommend them.Have three pairs and they are all the same.

 

Purchased a pair of adidas adistar bibs.Hoping for better.

 

Thanks for the heads-up Marius will need to investigate further before dropping 2.5k for a pair of assos bibs

 

[LazyTrailRider]

How long do bibs last ?? What other brans would you guys reccomend ? What about FIRST ACCENT bibs?

 

I had a pair, and the padding was slightly too narrow at the back for me, so it started chafing.

 

I now ride with Capestorm's Matrix bibs. They rock, and at just under R700 they're great value.

[TNT1]

R2500 for these shorts? Did I read that correctly?

[Brighter-Lights]

How long do bibs last ?? What other brans would you guys reccomend ? What about FIRST ACCENT bibs?

 

My First Accent bib's stitching started tearing loose after only 2 months of use... highly disappointed...

 

My BBBs are still fine, with the No Fear's stitching coming loose now, after 3 years of use...

 

After 22+ hours in the saddle in 24hrs solo, my BBBs so far the best bib I've used... I didn't have a scaff mark or nothing... I rode a whole 24hr solo with one bib and did'nt have a hint of a mark the next day... on a SLR 135 saddle...   

[ASTANA]

How long do bibs last ?? What other brans would you guys reccomend ? What about FIRST ACCENT bibs?

 

My First Accent bib's stitching started tearing loose after only 2 months of use... highly disappointed...

 

My BBBs are still fine' date=' with the No Fear's stitching coming loose now, after 3 years of use...

 

After 22+ hours in the saddle in 24hrs solo, my BBBs so far the best bib I've used... I didn't have a scaff mark or nothing... I rode a whole 24hr solo with one bib and did'nt have a hint of a mark the next day... on a SLR 135 saddle...   

[/quote']

 

Where do you get BBB bibs ? What is the price ? Thanx for the info, will look at them

[Brettski]

The best bibs I have ridden with are Pearl Izumi bibs. Had a few different types of bibs for the Epic and rode with them on alternate days so that the seams weren't in the same place two days in a row. Out of the South African made bibs, I found the First Ascent bibs the moct comfortable. I also had an issue with the stitching on a pair I bought recently, but I returned them to First Ascent, who replced them with a brand new pair, no questions asked. I thought that was pretty darn good service from them, and would recommend their bibs as a reasonably priced alternative to the imported brands.

[ridr]

First Ascent service is great - had the previous version of the shorts which stretched terribly and were way too loose. Emailed First Ascent - they told me to post them back.  They replaced them AND reimbursed me for postage!!  The new material is much better, but the fit and the shammy still doesn't compare to my Assos. (But neither does the price - R300 vs R1900)