Every cyclist wants to ride as many roads and see as many different landscapes as possible. Pursuing that goal can naturally lead to some tough and painful moments, but there is always that guaranteed moment where you think to yourself, "This ride today is the best!"
When you imagine things like that, you might start wanting a fast, light, and exceptionally high-performance bike. A bike like that lets you cover more distance in less time. But that’s not all there is to it. When you're in the saddle and pedaling away, how comfortable you can stay is also incredibly important.
Take this time of year, for instance. Cold winds that bite into your skin, the restricted movement from thick layers, getting sweaty only to have it fail to dry, feeling clammy—there are so many factors that can cause stress, but try to imagine being able to eliminate them as much as possible. Without shivering from the cold, your body moves just as you want it to. When that happens, you find ease not just in your body, but in your mind as well. What follows? You can cover more ground, feel the road more directly, and see the passing scenery more vividly. When you look at it that way, you can understand that your choice of apparel is crucial—and, in fact, that is the truth.
For those who have arrived at that conclusion, I highly recommend wearing ASSOS apparel. It will surely make your rides more comfortable and enjoyable than ever before.
A jacket for throughout the winter, from start to finish
ASSOS
Mille Gt Winter Jacket Evo
Color : Stone Blue, Bolgheri RedGrey, Torpedo Grey
Size : XS, S, M, L, XL
Material : 46% Polyamide, 35% Polyester, 19% Elastane
Price : ¥48,400 (tax incl.)
A winter jacket for the entire season, neither too warm nor too cold
The Mille GT Winter Jacket Evo is the optimal solution for winter days that range from around 5°C to 12–13°C during the day. It features various functionalities, but by keeping the specs at a level that "doesn't get too hot," it is easy to regulate temperature by layering with shells or mid-layers, making it a piece you can use for a long time from the beginning to the end of winter.
Uses windproof softshell NEOS material and RX fleece
NEOS MEDIUM (10,000mm water column, 14,600g/m²/24h breathability), a thin material with high windproof and cold-resistant performance, is placed on the front of the body. For the outer arms and from the shoulders to the upper back, the even thinner NEOS LIGHT (10,000mm water column, 27,000g/m²/24h breathability) is used to improve breathability and prevent heat from building up inside. As no windproof material is used on the center of the back, heat expelled from the back is quickly released outside the garment.
In addition, RX fleece, which provides excellent body heat retention and sweat management, is placed on all interior sections. This keeps cold air out while effectively warming the upper body where the internal organs are concentrated. Conversely, the panels on the inner arms and back, which aren't exposed to the wind, use a single layer of RX fleece to improve heat dissipation.
Wool-blend base layer for the dead of winter
ASSOS
M’s Ultraz Winter LS Skin Layer
Color : Calypso Blue
Size : 0, I, II
Material : 50% Polypropylene, 31% Wool, 10% Polyamide, 6% Elastane, 3% Carbon Fiber
Price : ¥24,970 (tax incl.)
Among the SKIN LAYER series, the Ultraz Winter LS Skin Layer offers overwhelming cold-weather protection. Constructed from a thick-gauge knit blend of polypropylene and wool, it demonstrates its functionality during mid-winter rides.
Wool, accounting for 30% of the total, is blended to fill the gaps in the synthetic fibers, providing maximum heat capacity. The high-density fiber structure also provides windproof qualities. This structure retains body heat closest to the skin while allowing sweat to transition smoothly to the outer layers.
It is also worth noting that the interweaving of antibacterial carbon fiber helps suppress the growth of bacteria that cause odor.
The collar is designed to be high, ensuring the neck is not exposed to the outside air, thus preventing the blood flow from cooling down and protecting the heart, the body’s engine.
ASSOS standard winter bib tights
ASSOS
Mille GT Winter Bib Tights C2
Color : Black Series
Size : XS, S, M, L, XL
Material : 76% Polyamide, 24% Elastane
Price : ¥39,930 (tax incl.)
Enhanced insulation for a more comfortable winter ride
The Mille GT Winter Bib Tights C2 are winter bib tights with enhanced insulation and a thicker insert pad.
Adopting the new "RX EVO Plus" textile, which features high heat retention, they can now handle even colder conditions than previous models.
By intentionally placing seams behind the knees, excess fabric is prevented from bunching up during bending and stretching, achieving a superior fit.
The bib suspenders have been updated to the X-frame design used in the EQUIPE series and MILLE GTO bib shorts. This suppresses sagging fabric at the waist and stabilizes the insert pad and its surrounding area. These are winter bib tights that add higher insulation, comfort, and fit to your winter cycling and training.
In a typical mid-winter, I often add a vest or a thin jacket to these three items, but with this year’s milder winter trends, these should be more than enough.
For those who want to comfortably enjoy the winter rides that are still ahead of us, I truly recommend these items, so please check them out.
ASSOS has a wealth of other items that are useful for your rides, so please be sure to check those out as well.
