Assos' newly released long-sleeved jersey showcases an innovative feature that is unusually extraordinary
In the world of cycling, two brands stand out for their commitment to quality and innovation: Koo and Assos. Let's take a closer look at some recent developments in their product lines.
Koo, known for its stylish eyewear, has been producing glasses with the Billy Clip pendant, a front-mounted lens holder on the stem, in recent years. These glasses can be found in specialty eyewear stores and online retailers specialising in designer or niche collections. However, the Billy Clip, while offering a unique storage solution, has been criticised for its impracticality while riding.
Assos, on the other hand, has been making waves with its commitment to sustainability. Their new POLAR textile found in the GT Spring Fall Bib Tights C2 uses 50% recycled fibres, a testament to their dedication to eco-friendly practices.
Assos' jerseys, including the GT Spring Fall Jersey C2, boast a longer list of available colorways, providing cyclists with more options to match their personal style. However, the sunglasses storage loop on Assos jerseys, while innovative in theory, has been met with mixed reviews. The loop, located on the back of the jersey, is prone to flapping around and getting covered in detritus from the front wheel, especially when riding without mudguards.
While Assos does not actively promote the sunglasses storage loop as a glasses-storage feature, the author, after testing various cycling glasses, finds this loop clumsy and impractical. The loop is unlikely to be used by many cyclists, who prefer other methods of storing their glasses, such as on the back of the head or folded over the back of the jersey.
The sunglasses storage loop on Assos jerseys is not likely to negatively affect the jersey's performance, but it may be compared to some of the biggest tech flops in the bike industry, such as Vittoria's reversible tyres.
In Assos' latest collection for the upcoming cold and gloom, a sunglasses storage loop can be found on the upper right arm of some jerseys. Whether this feature will prove to be more practical than its predecessor remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Koo has been refining its cycling glasses design. More recent editions have adopted a typical hinge, a significant improvement over early models that rotated about their hinge through 180 degrees. However, the solution to the rotating Koo glasses, the Billy Clip, never caught on, largely due to its impracticality while riding.
Despite these challenges, the author has yet to find a pair of cycling glasses that cannot be stowed in one of these three ways, demonstrating the resilience and adaptability of the cycling community.
In other news from Assos, the Equipe R Habu and Johdah winter jackets have been praised as the best the author has ever tested. The Equipe R Spring Fall LS Jersey S11 also received high praise, being described as sensational.
The Cyclingnews team has received numerous autumn/winter collections from various brands, and we look forward to bringing you more insights and reviews in the coming weeks.
