Review: Assos T.Tiburu S7 bib shorts for cooler days paired with Assos Evo7 knee warmers
The Assos T.Tiburu S7 bib-shorts feel like a second skin and are made for long hours in the saddle in colder conditions.
Somehow the word has got around at bike-components that I dig premium road apparel. I want to believe that is why I was asked to review the Assos T.Tiburu S7 bib shorts paired with the Assos Evo7 knee warmers.
As long as I can remember, Assos has been the brand for first class cycling bib shorts and apparel. The family owned Swiss company was the first manufacturer of Lycra shorts and continues to spearhead the design of functional modern road cycling apparel.
Bib shorts for cooler days
Why are we even talking about bib shorts for cooler days? Why not wear tights? I have heard many fellow cyclists express this opinion. Sure, they have a point, but I beg to differ as you will find out below.
Christian on a test ride with the Assos T.Tiburu bib shorts and Evo7 knee warmers.
A product for a well-defined niche
Assos itself calls these bibs a niche product for racers and year-round riders. In their four season categories that go from Summer, to Spring/Fall, then Light Winter and finally Winter, the T.Tiburu shorts fall into Spring/Fall category that is supposed to cover 12 to 22 degrees Celsius.
And if this kind of product had not yet been invented, it would be dearly missed in my wardrobe. I might be different, but as soon as temperatures drop below 15 degrees Celsius, I start to get cold around the crotch and abdomen, although my legs and knees are still fine. When temperatures drop even further, I put on knee warmers or I wear a pair of tights without a chamois over these fall bib shorts. It’s a perfect match for spring and autumn.
Bib shorts and knee warmers are a great combination for changing weather in spring and fall.
Sizing and fit
I’m 1.84 m tall (6.0 ft) and not a light build. I wear the T.Tiburu bib shorts and the Evo7 knee warmers in size Large and both fit perfectly. You hear that Assos normally runs small and some suggest to move up a size, but this does not hold true for these two products.
Yes, they will feel a little tight and awkward when you first try them on, but keep in mind that the fit is tailored for your ergonomic position on the bike, not for standing up and walking around.
One thing that caught my eye, was the fact that the front portion above the crotch of these shorts does not come up as high as I am used to with other bib shorts. So far I can’t see a disadvantage, but a positive effect is clearly there, as rest stops have become less cumbersome. If you know what I mean.
And then, the chamois actually comes up a little higher here and is also covered with a wind blocking fabric that even wraps around the back to keep out the chill. Let me tell you, it is great!
If in doubt, chose the T.Tiburu!
On the bike
As soon as you hit the road, you immediately know what these bib shorts are made for: a lot of riding. One gets the impression that the Swiss designers have optimized every little detail so that one can spend more time in the saddle even when it gets colder. The chamois is rather inconspicuous in a very positive way. Quite a few chamois eventually cause me to suffer from saddle sores. With the T.Tiburu there is no problem, the fit is perfect. Chamois and shorts work really well together. The reason behind it might be Assos's Golden Gate technology, which anchors the chamois less rigidly to adopt to the rider's anatomy and lets it float to reduce friction where most weight is placed.
The Evo7 knee warmers fit like a second skin.
The knee warmers
The Assos Evo7 knee warmers have a different cut for each knee. The right side is marked, so no worries about mixing them up.
To me, the knee warmers felt rather thin in my hands, but they certainly fit into the Spring/Fall 12 C and up category and more importantly, they did their job of keeping my knees warm when it got chilly.
No mistake possible, Swiss apparel engineering.
The fabric of the bib-shorts and the knee warmers is water-repellent.
Water-repellent
Both, the T.Tiburu shorts und die Evo7 knee warmers are made of water-repellent fabric that is proprietary by Assos. That’s great for little rain showers and days that fall into the “it might rain” category. Again, a typical spring and fall situation when you still want to ride with shorts.
With these bib shorts you will never want to stop riding.
My verdict
The T.Tiburu bib shorts are simply great. Their performance places them among the best products on the market in this niche category. Chamois and fit are superb, no wonder Assos has such a great reputation among cyclists.
The Evo7 knee warmers combine well with the shorts. They are ideal for people that quickly get cold knees.
