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review

Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9

9
£200.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Great quality shorts with just that little bit of extra warmth and protection, though long legs won't suit everyone
Very comfortable chamois
Soft, insulating materials
Secure fit
Wind protection makes the chamois area a little too sweaty
No pee-break feature
Weight: 
198g
Contact: 

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Finding the kit for those in-between seasons of spring and autumn can be a challenge, but I think it's completed that challenge well with the Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9. They offer a high-quality, figure-hugging fit and an extremely comfy chamois.

Their quality and comfort come with a reasonably high price tag, but these shorts have very little missing from them. They lack any feature for easy pee breaks, the legs are a little long for shorter people like me, and they have a rather specific look which might attract more attention to your crotch than you would've wanted... but that's about it for downsides.

I tested these shorts on those rides where the temperature is just below double digits, when it's too cold for short-shorts but too warm for full thermals, and they performed extremely well.

Fit

These are a snug and compressive fit, designed for racing and more performance-focused riding, but still extremely comfortable. That being said, I do recommend a good look at the size guide – I am a size larger in Assos than in many other brands.

Also, the legs on are longer than normal (either with Assos or other bibs I've used), perhaps so as to pair nicely with leg warmers. For me they're a little too long, and sit just above my knee.

2022 Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9 - cuff logo.jpg

Chamois

I found the chamois extremely comfortable, and Assos' 'Golden Gate' design leaves the sides of the chamois unstitched, allowing it to move with you more freely. This, for me at least, eliminates the need to adjust the chamois after I've stood up or shifted position on the saddle.

2022 Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9 - chamois.jpg

The chamois never feels bulky despite not being the thinnest, though does it takes a while to dry after a wash and – unlike the rest of the shorts – it is not very breathable.

Keeping these shorts comfortably in place are the 'rollBar' braces. These offer varying degrees of elasticity, being very stretchy at the front, then connecting to a non-stretchy X section at the back, and then stretching a little before attaching to the waist. The brace-like nature feels strange at first, but when riding, I did not even notice the wide straps and the shorts stayed well put.

2022 Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9 - back detail.jpg

The design also allows the shorts to be a lower cut than I'm used to, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much it helps with heat management.

2022 Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9 - strap detail 3.jpg

The legs have ultralight, silicone-free grippers that work just fine.

2022 Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9 - cuff gripper.jpg

These shorts are well made, with neat stitching and no loose threads hanging anywhere. The waist is reinforced with a soft, flexible tape at the back and the strap attachment is reinforced with suede-like patches at the front.

The Dyoras feature a range of materials; the thighs use a heavyweight brushed material which feels very soft against the skin and works as the insulating layer, and that's paired with a warp-knit layer to offer compression and support.

The crotch area also has a windproof layer and, while it works, it does look a little strange in a 'superhero pants on the outside' way and tends to trap heat. Overall, I found the bibs were breathable, except in the chamois area.

> 38 of the best cycling bib shorts – get comfy on longer rides

One thing that is missing is an easy pee-break feature – you're stuck doing the usual core-chilling strip of the upper body layers. Okay, these are not technically winter bibs, but I do think that any women's bibs meant for anything but warm days should have some sort of easy-pee feature – at least when they have as high a price tag as these.

Value

At £200 these are certainly not cheap, but for a premium quality bib short offering warmth and wind protection, they are fairly priced. The Velocio Women's Thermal Bib Shorts retail at £192 for instance, and Cafe du Cycliste's Adrienne Women's 3/4 Thermal Cycling Bib Shorts are £191. Some brands make thermal bibs for men but not women (Rapha, for example), and many of those retail around the £200 mark too.

Overall

These are a great quality pair of spring/autumn bibs that can be worn well into low digits when paired with leg warmers, and I think also have a place in early morning rides in the British summer. The windproof section makes them less breathable than I would like, but they still offer ultimate comfort for long, cool training miles with their well thought-out design.

Verdict

Great quality shorts with just that little bit of extra warmth and protection, though long legs won't suit everyone

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9

Size tested: Small

Tell us what the product is for

Assos says these are: "Low-volume shorts that fill the gap between summer race bibs and spring/fall knickers for pros and serious year-round riders with their insulating materials and aerodynamic fit."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Assos says: "The shorts' thigh panels are constructed with Assos' brushed-back OSMOS Heavy textile, featuring a fleecy interior that's highly insulating, breathable, and super soft against the skin. The warp-knit outer acts as the 'shell' of the shorts, supporting your leg muscles with the compressive structure. SPHERE Ultra is applied in the double-layer twinDeck construction to the front panel, locking out icy cold air from the crotch."

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
10/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

The only downside is that you can't easily pee in these.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

The legs are long and the fit is snug - following the size guide is essential. When on the bike these bibs need no re-adjustment; they stay in place perfectly.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
6/10

These size up small, as often seems the case with Assos.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
10/10
Rate the product for value:
 
4/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Handled multiple washes looking like new.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well. On chillier morning rides they offer a little extra warmth without the full winter kit feeling.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The 'barely there' feel when on.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The need to strip down when going for a rest break.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

These bibs are not cheap, but when compared to for example the Cafe du Cycliste Mathilde Women's Audax Bib Shorts, these are cheaper. The Assos Dyora RS Spring Fall Bib Shorts S9 offer something unique with the fleecy interior - not many women's bibs like these are available.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

These shorts deliver exactly what they promise, and there's very little to fault them on.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 30  Height: 164cm  Weight: 53kg

I usually ride: Specialized Tarmac Sl6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, general fitness riding, Ultra-distances

Suvi joined F-At in 2022, first writing for off-road.cc. She's since joined the tech hub, and contributes to all of the sites covering tech news, features, reviews and women's cycling content. Lover of long-distance cycling, Suvi is easily convinced to join any rides and events that cover over 100km, and ideally, plenty of cake and coffee stops. 

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