Assos

UMA GT Evo Half Short - Women's

Updated and from their predecessor, the UMA GT Evo Half Short proves you can leave the bibs behind and still get the comfort and support you want and need, helping you perform your best on solo efforts or during challenging road races. Features like the revolutionary goldenGate chamois construction method allow the Swiss manufacturer the ability to attach the chamois at the front and rear while leaving the sides free to float with your body instead of against it. This all but eliminates friction from the chamois and shorts eradicating skin irritation in sensitive areas. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and we're seeing similar construction from other manufacturers but Assos is often the one who does it first and continues to do it the best. After all, Assos was the first company to bring a Lycra cycling short to market. The lack of bibs allows these shorts to remain comfortable during warm rides and make stopping for nature breaks a little easier. Whether these are your first pair of cycling shorts or a pair that you picked up for everyday training or racing, these bibs will serve you well.

Assos is known by its self-appointed name "the shorts company," and over its 40 years of experience, it has construction and materials dialed. The fabric utilized is known as Type.439 Diadema which Assos created in collaboration with its fabric suppliers to specifically meet its rigid demands for performance, comfort, and durability. The weave has two different rates of 4-way stretch which requires expertise to craft into shorts. This compressive material is arranged anatomically so your body fits into the shorts, rather than the other way around. While the panels do their jobs supporting and compressing muscles helping to reduce fatigue and encouraging recovery, a wrap-knit fabric known as aeroFit, is utilized in a double layer for the legs and abdominal area as it has a specific structure that aids in ventilation while gently contouring to your shape and prevents any unrestricted movement while reaching for the bars or climbing out of the saddle. Assos treats the shorts with a fabric treatment known as iceColor that reflects sunlight and thus reduces heat absorption to keep muscles cooler.

In addition to the goldenGate tech mentioned above, the UMA GT Half Short brings a women's specific UMA insert which is cut narrow in the front to reduce bulk and increase comfort. The same _s7 chamois technology found throughout Assos' line is utilized here with the 8mm-thick memoryFoam material with remarkable return properties. It quickly resumes its original position and shape after deformation, filling the gaps between body and chamois created by your pedal stroke while your weight shifts. As you can imagine, the free-floating, goldenGate design also facilitates this gap-free fit, which keeps contact constant, to avoid chafing.

Finally, the superAir and waffle construction of the insert's layers warrant a shout out as they increase breathability and shed weight with negative space. They also effectively increase the material's surface area, transporting moisture away from your skin to accelerate drying for hours of comfort that go beyond what the insert's low weight would suggest. As a final measure, Assos treats the insert with odorControl, an anti-bacterial treatment that reduces unpleasant odors while improving durability.