The Assos FI.13 S5 bib shorts are not just another pair of shorts you wear on your bike, they are the ultimate, uncompromising technological leader in cycling apparel. Now you may be thinking, considering the price tag they better be. And you may ask yourself, are they really worth it? I know I asked this same question. Well, the past few months I have finally had the privilege of riding a new pair of FI.13 S5 bib shorts, and I am a believer. You know they are special from the moment you remove them from their conspicuously extravagant packaging. Along with the bib shorts, Assos also provides you with the means to care for your investment. Inside you will find a wash bag and trial size containers of Active Wear Cleanser and Assos Chamois Cream.
Assos FI.13 S5 in their package
In the world of bike clothing, often times there isn’t much more than style and design to differentiate one pair of bike shorts or jersey from another. At first glance it is obvious that the Assos FI.13 S5 is different, and once you wear them those differences are undeniable. You will notice that they are constructed of multiple different fabrics. Each one is specially designed and selected by Assos, and used specifically for its unique properties. The main body of the bib is constructed of Assos A.430 spandex, a special blend that provides just the right amount of compression and support while maintaining a soft, sheer feel. The crotch and inner thigh are feature a variation on the A.430 fabric that is lightly textured and has less stretch. Since this is the portion of the bib short…
that is subject to the most wear, the fabric is extremely durable and the textured surface glides easily across the surface of the saddle. The limited amount of stretch helps keep the S5 chamois from shifting too much while you are in motion so that it can perform as it was designed. The front mid section and straps utilize yet a third fabric; this material is lighter weight than the others and vented resulting in less compression of your private area and increased air flow, both of which go a long way to enhance overall comfort.
Assos FI.13 S5 Bib Shorts (front)
Everything about the Assos FI.13 S5 is designed with purpose. For instance, the mesh panel on the back in between the bib straps doesn’t just enhance ventilation. It is infused with carbon fiber to dissipate static buildup between your bibs and jersey, ensuring that your jersey continues to fit properly as you shift around. Admittedly the asymmetrical colored leg grippers are just to catch the eye, but their function equals their form. Instead of a solid band the insides of the grippers are lined with a row of small silicone dots, the dots create just enough grip without inhibiting expansion and contraction of the leg opening. I find the leg grippers to fit just right but those with massive sprinter thighs may find them slightly constrictive. This feeling may just be exaggerated due to the compliant characteristics of A.430 fabric on the legs. The compression and movement, so refined, that even the slightest constriction elsewhere is more noticeable. I guess that’s the price of pursuing perfection. Deviation can be more easily detected. In the sea of mediocre bike clothing, such subtleties would never be detected or even considered.
The core, both literally and figuratively, of any cycling bib short is the chamois insert. That little patch of material can truly make or break your experience in the saddle. Comfort, and to a large extent performance on the bike, is directly affected by contact points — hands to bars, feet to pedals, and seat to saddle. The first two greatly impact your output and control, but the connection between you and your saddle is by far has the most influence on comfort and endurance. I have ridden many a pair of cycling shorts that are generally outstanding in all areas, other than the chamois. If they look great, are highly breathable, have a perfectly contoured shoulder straps, just the right amount of compression, and are cut properly in the cycling position, but your butt still hurts thirty minutes into a ride, then it’s all for naught.
Assos FI.13 S5 Bib Shorts (back)
Modern chamois design has primarily been focused on material density, compression, rebound, and other properties that enhance shock absorption. While this is a highly important quality, its effect is diminished if the chamois does not come in contact with the right parts of your body, or if during vigorous movement it shifts out of the optimal position. With the new Assos S5 chamois system featured in the FI.13 bib short, Assos has not only hit the mark regarding the physical properties of the pad, they have also gone to the next level in design with respect to shape and construction. When you look inside the FI.13 you will not find a slightly contorted triangular slab of foam. In fact you will only be able to determine the shape of the actual padding by feeling through dimpled cover or observing the stitching pattern from the outside.
While physically feeling the chamois, several unique features are revealed. You will notice a cutout with very little padding towards the front of the insert. While your sit bones rest firmly on the densest portion, this cutout provides comforting relief to your perineum. I have found this feature of the S5 chamois far more effective than any saddle cutouts which simply transfer the pressure back to your sit bones, potentially increasing the risk of saddle sores. In addition to the cutout, the material surrounding the front of the chamois is contoured to create a “pocket of relief” for your sensitive parts as opposed to simply compressing those parts with a flat panel of spandex. These features go a long way in warding off the numbness that all men have experienced on the bike.
The most unique difference of the S5 chamois is that the pad is actually divided down the middle so that the left and right side function independently. Look at the stitching and you will see that the pad is not connected in front of the cutout and that the rear portion is divided as well. If you think about the mechanics of cycling it really makes sense. At any give time one leg is in the exact opposite position of the other. Correspondingly, at all times your hips and sit bones are also shifting between two completely opposed positions. The S5 design allows for the chamois to continuously adjust to this motion. I didn’t really give this much thought until a few weeks ago when I was wearing the FI.13 S5 bib shorts while riding on my trainer: During an extended effort I noticed an unfamiliar feeling. I felt a slight shifting beneath me. I actually reached down to see if my saddle or seatpost were loose. When I was sure that they were not it occurred to me that the left and right side of the pad were actually shifting forward and backward ever so slightly as I pedaled. I had never noticed this on the road because the sensation is drowned out by road vibration and the movement of the bike, but sitting stationary on the trainer, it was evident. This innovation has two significant benefits. If the pad is shifting with the movement of your body then your skin is not constantly moving across a fixed surface. No matter how much Chamois Cream you apply, continuous rubbing will eventually cause irritation. Second, if the insert moves with you then the most substantial portion of padding always stays in touch with the primary point of contact. The S5 chamois eliminates the need to reach down and adjust mid ride to get your chamois back into position.
If you are the type of rider that only buys the very best when it comes to cycling apparel then you probably didn’t need any convincing. You already know and appreciate the value of a truly great pair of cycling bib shorts. If you have been a skeptic, hopefully I have convinced you that wearing the Assos FI.13 S5 bib shorts offers more than just announcing to everyone you ride with that you spent more on your bike shorts than they did. They honestly enhance the experience in a way that no other article of cycling apparel has. Value is not just a function of price, it is equally determined by the benefit and utility gained. And with that in mind the Assos FI.13 S5 is a greater value than many bib shorts I have tested at half the price.
Get your own at Indie Bike: Assos FI.13 S5 Bib Shorts
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