With all of your choices for women's shorts in the marketplace, one ride in the Assos' T FI.13 Lady S-5 will make you a devotee. They stand apart from the rest, both aesthetically and functionally. They're 25% lighter and 35% more breathable than Assos' other women's shorts -- making them especially delightful for warm weather riding. And they offer 18% more compression, which maximizes your muscular power and endurance while minimizing fatigue.

Assos' wisdom led them to that funky backward-seeming bib. It isn't backward, it's future-forward. It is the ABC-M, Assos Buckle Closure Mechanism. Knowing that their shorts will fit a wide range of women, the adjustable buckle can slide into any one of three loops stitched into the front of the short. This allows you to customize the fit of the short as a whole. And, unlike a regular bib-less short, the short is held in place primarily by the tension of the bib strap, which means you won't have an elasticized waistband putting pressure on your tummy as you ride -- this is the exact reason why the pros who race the Tour de France all choose bib shorts, not regular shorts. Comfort is paramount!

The design of these bibs is an easy visual cue to indicate that Assos has totally re-engineered their shorts. Just about everything on these shorts are different. It's easy to notice the different-colored exterior grippers (one silver and one black) and the external tags in back -- both details are driven by comfort. But the green, Assos calls this color "clinique," panel in the middle of the bibs? While a striking color, it's a carbon fiber mesh material that is lighter than spandex, breathes better than spandex, and is substantially less prone to odor than spandex.

The stretchy material in the rest of the short is also different than earlier Assos offerings. It is A430 on the outside panels, and A431 panels on the inside of the legs. The A430 spandex has greater venting than other varieties of spandex. And A431 is Assos-speak for compression spandex. Furthering the squeeze is the stitching. The flat-panel stitching results in less stretch. On the negative, it takes a bit more work to get these on. But that's the only negative. Once they're on, which will be for far more time than you spend pulling on a garment, the shorts stay in place, squeeze the muscles gently and fit even better when in riding positions.

The biggest change, even with the bib, is actually the chamois. The clinique color is used here again to call attention to the change. The smooth clinique-colored top layer is light and breathable and transfers moisture to the outside of the garment. Under the cover, and stitched to the outside of the short, is the actual padding. While the two separate pads are right next to each other, they're not stitched to each other so they operate independently. The result is less heat and moisture buildup, less sliding on the saddle, and even greater comfort for those long miles in the saddle.

One note to keep in mind: Assos designs all of their clothing with their AEPD (Assos Ergonomic Pattern Design) philosophy. When you put these shorts on, they will pull and bunch when you're standing straight up looking in the mirror. But they're not designed to be comfortable when you're standing in your bedroom -- rather, they're designed to "click" into place when you're on your bike. When you're on the saddle reaching for the handlebars, that's when you'll experience the beauty of Assos fit.

The Assos T FI.13 Lady S-5 comes in a thermo-foam box with a small jar of Assos' highl-regarded Chamois Cream as well as a small bottle of Active Wear Cleanser, plus a wash bag. Available in Black and in White.