Road Cycling - ASSOS clothing--what's the deal????

What's the deal with ASSOS cycling clothing. How good is it ??? Are they really the best cycling clothing manufacturer as they claim, or is it all HYPE??? Are the extremely high prices, as compared to other manufacturers justified??? What's the deal with their bibs??? Do bibs offer any advantages over regular cycling shorts????? Is a $180 for a pair of ASSOS bibs justified????I need to know.

I was just like you. My LBS started carrying Assos clothing and when I first saw the prices I thought they were nuts. I bought a jersey, wore it on a ride when it was really hot outside, and completely changed my mind. The jersey was so comfortable and never got wet. The stuff is so good, you feel dry all the time. Since then I have bought a long-sleeved jersey, the undershirts, bib tights, bib shorts, leg warmers, a jacket, and a cap for winter riding. About the bib shorts - they are really comfortable too. The pad is the best I've felt. I wore them often this summer. My legs always get tired before my butt does. I've been riding bicycles since the 70's and this stuff is the best!

Originally posted by cane
Is a $180 justified for a pair of ASSOS bibs justified????
Not to me, since I can ride centuries comfortably in bibs that I get on sale for ~$50.
:confused:

Like with any article of clothes it is personal preference.

Assos does make very nice quality items and if bought legal they carry a nice warranty. Sadly many shops sell them throught illegal channels thus no warranty.

Hype? I defiently think so. Just like Colnago, Seven and many items out there.

Cycling is a hype driven market. The best products necessarily do not make the sales. Sadly with the internet it gets worse. Usually find a salesman posting great comments about his products and no one knows. That is how it starts. Also works in reverse to slam a product.

Assos does a very good job maintaining prices higher. Great for shops like me as we can actually make a profit. Other items are so low due to illegal buys from discoutn websites that it hurts the industry.

Basicly many people see high prices and assume it is superior. That may sound stupid to many but I see it everyday.

There are other nice items out there like Etxe Ondo and Santini.

I think I have ASS OS 8.6 on my computer. $180 is justifiable for a bullet-proof vest I suppose, but I wouldn't spend that much on any cycling attire.

www.gearlink.com is selling the renowned ASSOS Intermediate long sleeve jersey for $110. Colorado Cyclist is selling the same jersey for $155. Why the Massive Price difference??? Warranty? Why do you need a friggin' warranty for a shirt?????? Sounds like an excuse for LBS's to rip consumers off big time.

Try the Nalini Pro Stuff http://www.nalini.it/main/main.html
About 1/2 the price of ASSOS and just as good.
Here's a partial list of pro teams currently using Nalini - http://www.nalini.com/profiteam2002/findteam.htm

Also, the pro level stuff from SANTINI is great as well.
Again, half the price of ASSOS as just as good.
http://www.santinisms.it

Heres some of the pros suing SantiniSMS - http://www.santinisms.it/campionioggi.html

You don't need ASSOS. Save on 1/2 the price and get the "REAL" stuff!

thanks knifun

OK, you guys should put things in perspective. Assos does charge a premium but it also is premier quality.
I used to think Performance made good shorts for a cheap price. Then I tried REAL shorts like Castelli's. You really can't appreciate the higher quality unless you use them.
Of course personal fit factors in. For example, I don't like Pearl Izumi as it doesn't fit very well and I'm not a huge fan of some of the fabrics.

As for Nalini and SMS, they are good but just because they are Italian or worn in the pro peloton doesn't mean they are just as good as ASSOS.

I think ASSOS is certainly one of the very best cycle clothing makers. I am happy with Castelli and for 1/2 the price can get 80% of the comfort so I stick with Castelli.

I personally like Etxe-Ondo and Castelli.
The Etxe-Ondo is IMO a little better quality
than the Castelli.
A bit less expensive too.
Bulltek has em on sale currently. check it out.

Marty

Update!!! Just bought the Assos intermediate jersey. ASSOS is good stuff. Pricey, but probably worth it in the long run.

Why the price difference

Well Assos has an official distributor and they ask all official retailers to post SMRP prices. This keeps everything fair for everyone and shops can survive.

However some places buy these good 'grey market' and scew up the whole healthy industry.

Consumers do not care until say Assos raises prices even more or stops selling to US buyers. It has happend with other companies.

Then is whan consumers will feel it.

Besides it is very easy to advertise something super cheap and just disapppear. A few sites out there simply sell goods and then you cannot return or get any service. That is what happens with low prices.

I as well as COlorado Cyclist can efiently offer ASsos much cheaper. However I will not be able to take returns or service any Assos goods.

Originally posted by Xavier
Consumers do not care until say Assos raises prices even more or stops selling to US buyers. It has happend with other companies.

Is that what happened to Descente cycling gear? Available in Europe, but not here.

Descente I could not really tell you but I feel they felt they did not want to compete with the other items sold in the US.

What happens here is many clothing manufacturers simply put junk out there at low prices and people love it. Nothing wrong with that, but some companies simply do not want to make cheaper products just to compete. They are small enough to be able to do as they want.

In some cases there ends u being many fakes sold without people knowing. This was a problem not to long ago with so many mail order companies wanting to sell pro gear at give-away prices. I sold the real stuff here and cannot compete with the fakes and in the end it may drive the manufacturer from selling the goods here. Hard to compete when I buya pair of real quality bibs at say $45 and some other source buys the lower uality materials for $25. Customers never know becaus they are never told and if told they do not care until they have a problem with that item.

Descente will be available in the USA next years but to select dealers to prevent major problems and a very select line of goods to be able to maintain profits and not losses by flooding the market with the goods. I really like the way Descente will approach the US market for 2003.

I just purchased 2 Assos Intermediate long sleved Jersey's, a Hydro II Undershirt and 2 sets of leg warmers. I am also ordering a jacket and bibshorts. I think Assos products are on par price wise, with many other products but constructed to last longer. I had to go to their largest size to fit my shoulders, 46" chest and 35" waist , and the purchase was worth it to m wife and I.

I am very hard on cloths that I work out in... Assos Jersey's have a great deal of comfort, warmth, yet breath well and an excellent fit while riding. I'd rather spend more on a few products that last then spend less and buy more.