Quality problems with Assos bib shorts

MarkMcp

A couple of years ago I treated myself to a lovely pair of Assos F13 bib shorts and they are by far the most comfortable pair of bibs that I own. Now though the stitching has come undone at the top of the v in this picture http://www.totalcycling.com/index.php/p ... _fi13.html

Now I'm really disappointed. When you pay top dollar for a premium product sure you expect great performance but you also expect reliability and longevity. I've got some bibshorts double the age of my assos without any problems at all. Anyone else have a problem with Assos quality ? Can someone pass me on to the UK's Assos supplier please ?

Cheers

andyp

The UK supplier is Yello Limited but personally I'd avoid them and go direct to Assos. I'm sure if you return them directly then they'll repair them (as a number of people on here have already experienced). They detail how you go about this on the following page;

http://www.assos.ch/en/user_information/warranty.aspx

Personally I've never had problems with my Assos shorts and they last and last and last (I have two pairs that are in their fifth season of use).

MarkMcp

Cheers Andy. I'll send them back. Sounds like they've got good customer service.

Monty Dog

A friend crashed in his Airblock tights recently, tearing the knee - sent them back to Assos and they came back expertly repaired with a brand-new Mille pad fitted - great considering they were unpadded in the first place.

MarkMcp

Hi Monty any idea how long it takes ?

robbie the roadie

Monty Dog wrote:

A friend crashed in his Airblock tights recently, tearing the knee - sent them back to Assos and they came back expertly repaired with a brand-new Mille pad fitted - great considering they were unpadded in the first place.

hmmmm depends on your point of view. Not everone likes a padded tight prefering to use shorts underneath. If you fell into that category you might not have been so chuffed about this, despite their best intentions.

andyp

MarkMcp wrote:

Hi Monty any idea how long it takes ?

They say their goal is to resolve your problem within 3 weeks so I'd imagine it'll be around a month with postage. The Swiss postal service is very efficient so once they send them you'll have them in 2-3 days I'd think.

giant_man

Who doesn't prefer a built in pad compared to shorts underneath? doesn't cause chafing for one thing, plus if your shorts are a tight fit, you have shorts as double the thckness.

Assos kit is brilliant and their after sales services even more brilliant.

robbie the roadie

giant mancp wrote:

Who doesn't prefer a built in pad compared to shorts underneath?

Lots of people actually which is why so many companies do tights without a pad.

Reasons

1. When riding out of the saddle the two layers of fabric prevent you getting 'cold bits'

2. If you already own several pairs of decent shorts and ride several times a week it is more ecomonical to buy one pair of good tights. That way you can wear the tights all week without washing them but wear clean shorts each time you go out. The alternative is to buy lots of pairs of tights with a pad or try and get the same pair washed and dried several times a week

Floodcp

I sent back 2 pairs of shorts that had a few stitches loose on the pad. Both shorts were sent back within 2 weeks with brand new pads.
Excellent service I would have thought considering one of the pair were the original FI.13 and were about 6 years old.
Only cost was postage which was about 7 pounds so well worth it

Monty Dog

I actually dislike wearing normal bike shorts under tights in winter - the lycra holds the damp and gets clammy as you often have too many overlapping layers around your midriff - I prefer to use a padded undershort made from a wicking material, or a tight with a built-in pad. A windstopper-fronted tight in particular is fairly restrictive and an extra layer often makes it worse.

portuguese mike

robbie the roadie wrote:

giant mancp wrote:

Who doesn't prefer a built in pad compared to shorts underneath?

Lots of people actually which is why so many companies do tights without a pad.

Reasons

1. When riding out of the saddle the two layers of fabric prevent you getting 'cold bits'

2. If you already own several pairs of decent shorts and ride several times a week it is more ecomonical to buy one pair of good tights. That way you can wear the tights all week without washing them but wear clean shorts each time you go out. The alternative is to buy lots of pairs of tights with a pad or try and get the same pair washed and dried several times a week

I fall into this category. While i'd love to have 5 or 6 pairs of padded bib tights on top of the 6 pairs of bib shorts i have i simply can't justify the cost (at least £500-600 if i got assos like the rest of my stuff). instead i wear a pair of endura windtex tights (£45) over the top of my shorts in winter and whilst it isn't quite as comfortable and it is bit more restrictive its really not too bad. I wear knee warmers at this time of year for the same reason - otherwise i'd need another 5 pairs of 3/4 length tights as well.

giant_man

I personally disagree. All my bib tights are very close fitting, and any extra layers underneath would cause chafing. I would rather have a decent built in insert for comfort.

But I do take your point regarding the washing aspect.

MarkMcp

I just got my bibshorts back, with the seams repaired perfectly ,and the assos transfers reapplied. So all in all as good as new. What great customer service all for the £5 cost to send them back. Top marks Assos.