Three top pieces of kit from Assos’s women’s spring/fall collection

Selecting the right outfit during the shoulder seasons can be tricky with the changeable and somewhat unpredictable weather. Often, you’ll find you need several pieces during one ride, and/or piling on the layers to combat this issue. Now, Assos says it’s found, well, in truth, developed, the perfect solution for fall and spring riding.

Assos women’s spring/fall SS skin layer

The Assos women’s spring/fall SS skin layer ($105) forms the base of the Assos spring/fall layering system. It’s my favourite item within the three-piece group. The carbon/polypropylene fabric wicks moisture away from the skin to ensure you stay dry and maintain a comfortable temperature. As such, the seamless, short-sleeved design is soft, lightweight and delicate, but does its job well. The complementary women’s specific fit also boasts longer length torso for greater coverage. You avoid the under-layers from coming untucked during the ride.

Assos UMA GT spring/fall LS jersey

The long sleeves on the UMA GT spring/fall LS jersey ($195) offer good coverage against the wind and any other elements you might need to tackle. In comparison with the skin layer, however, the length of the torso comes up a little shorter than I might expect for a full jersey. At 5’11”, I am quite tall but all my height is in my leg and, as such, I rarely come across this problem. The slightly shorter length does allow for a better fit once I’m in a riding position. It reduces any excess material gathering at the front, so I can see Assos’s reasoning. The jersey’s shaping works well with the hipClick design—a waist construction of elastic and mesh—of spring/fall half knickers.

I do not have particularly wide shoulders, but I found the fit of the jersey quite stretched in this area. Perhaps these notes point to selecting a size up in future. Thankfully, the raglan cut sleeves on both the UMA GT spring/fall LS jersey and the women’s spring/fall SS skin layer increases the range of motion so the shoulders don’t feel overly restricted. In addition, having worn Assos gear in the past, I am confident the material will relax over time and so the slightly tighter fit may benefit the longevity of the kit.

Taking my attention to the other end of the sleeve, I would have liked to have seen a laser cut finish on the cuffs. The basic stitching doesn’t close the cuff against the wrist and as such allows the wind to penetrate the sleeve. A laser cut finish, or similar, would offer a…