Yeah, I don't know about that. Does anyone have anything bad to say about Assos, besides the price? Maybe no one hates on Assos because they're Swiss.

I'm swiss and I dislike assos because it fades like crazy.

My shorts are now grey and my airjack jacket went from bright green to something greenish that even a Grateful Dead fan wouldn't be found dead in it.

And yes, those garments have always been washed with the assos cleanser.

That would be annoying. None of my Rapha stuff noticeably has faded so far. It's all two or three years old. My Castelli bibs faded within a year. My Etxe Ondo lasted two or three.

Stitcing zipper on my assos 3/4 bibs are starting to run, have not even used them that much because I like my Rapha 3/4 more (better fit)

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Parlee Z5 ML

I liked the Rapha 3/4 better as well. I bought two pairs, loved them and got another two pairs on sale last year for $140 each.

Crazy, thats surprising as my Assos have not faded at all... 2+ years. Not to sound like my mom but, are you washing in cold?

Cheers,

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My Bikes

at the top end it's more about fit than some measure of pure quality.

To illustrate, I recently was in the market for a winter windstopper jacket so I tried:

Assos (2)
Capo (1)
Mavic (1)
Castelli (6!)
Pearl Izumi (2)
Sportful (2)
Rapha (1)
Campag (2)

All were clearly 'good' and well made but the fit was all over the place, and some just didn't suit me. It was clear to me that the best technically wasn't necessarily the best fitting, so there's no point in arguing that X is 'better' than Y because it depends on the fit.

I quietly wanted a Castelli but it wasn't to be. The best ones (for me) were the Sportful and the Campag and I went for the latter.

Bibshorts, jerseys, whatever, it's all the same. Find the best fitting one.

Bravo for this post. Some honesty in the matter.

Here is a really interesting article about Rapha doing sky's kit:

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2013/01/from-wind-tunnel-testing-to-washing.html

I have never been crazy about Assos look. I prefer Rapha style. Assos has a deeper line, in some regards, less so in others. They definitely have a more complete winter offering, less so on the casual side.

I love my Deep Winter Bibs, 3/4 Knickers, Long Sleeve Jersey, Baselayers, Winter Jersey, sock, hats, and softshell from R, but their gloves and shoe covers don't cut it for real cold. Maybe next year?

I dont think you know what you're talking about.

Xenophobia means fear of outsiders. If I was xenophobic it would mean I would be preaching buy American, not Bulgarian or Swiss. I think you meant I say racist. But while China may make some good products go to Walmart or a dollar store and tell that the vast majority isn't really inexpensive, disposable products.

Again, it is not short sighted to not want to buy race bike clothes from a country that isnt one with a big race cycle culture, or one in which I may want to road bike. I dont even know how you stuck the term shortsighted in there. What does that even mean? It means nothing. If you were to buy a Race car would you buy it from the middle I the amazon rain forest where there are no roads or cars? Or would you buy it from somewhere that had roads?

Lastly your post about the raid on the immigrant factory in Italy. Yes some of the factories have migrant labour, but you were referencing h and m and not really the high end clothing, I've seen Assos' factory, it is not a third world hovel transplanted into Italy. But we can I ly really do what we can an at least try to buy from nice countries. But doesn't the whole pout of that article were the Italian police raid the factory prove my point? The whole point of the article was that once the authorities found out about the conditions they put a stop to it, that is a REASON to buy from Italy, they CARE about working conditions.

We're totally OT, but just for mere information; in Italy lately there have been many raids against those hidden "factories" where illegall chinese works for few euros each day.
At first even the pubblic opinion was against chinese people, but then they realized that it's the big brands fault for this situation and it seems that even italian police might start to take some actions against the big brands.

Getting back on topic, Im not a big Rapha fan, but as Ive visited China a couple of times and have friends into the cycling clothing manufactering, I can say that there are many other well known companies (especially for the US market) who produce their stuff in China.

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ciclismo-espresso.com

Regardless of all the labor practice / human rights / etc.. .to say you would not want to ride a bike in China really displays your ignorance.. It is a massive country that has amazing landscape and is relatively unexplored by cyclists.. i would jump at the chance to ride there..
By the way Rapha also makes clothing in Italy, Portugal and other Euro country's... just be honest with yourself, if you don't like it .. don't like it.

I love Assos kit but have to agree with earlier post regarding fading as my Milles are also now grey after only 2 years!

You say: it is not short sighted to not want to buy race bike clothes from a country that isnt (sic) one with a big race cycle culture

You then state: I dont (sic) even know how you stuck the term shortsighted (sic) in there. What does that even mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYFQZFL0yoo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;