Assos Mille GT Spring/Fall Knickers

It's that time of year for covering up the skin to keep warm on chilly rides, and a really good choice for autumn and early winter are three-quarter-length shorts. These Assos Mille GT Spring/Fall Knickers are a really good example of the genre, with a superb fit, warmth and comfort that makes cycling through inclement weather a breeze.

• Pros: Comfortable, warm, fit,
• Cons: Not as versatile as bibs and knee warmers

The Mille GT knickers (or three-quarter-lengths – 3/4s – as we prefer to call them around these parts) are based on the bib shorts of the same name, but the fabric extends to below the knee to provide the right protection when it's too warm for tights but too cold for shorts.

> Find your nearest dealer here

I know 3/4s aren't for everyone, some people can't see the point of the halfway house approach, but I know many who favour them over shorts and knee warmers, or even full-length tights unless it's perishingly cold. Personally, I often go straight to leg warmers, such is the unpredictability of our weather, but I've found a new love for 3/4s. Their use can also be extended into three-season wear too, for cooler summer rides.

Assos has long been known for its premium prices, but the Mille GT range is aimed at providing a lower entry point into its clothing. The price is still reassuringly high, though you can pay a lot more, but you're getting a lot of experience and top quality design here. Still, they need to deliver.

And that they do. Comfort, fit and warmth are all first class. In fact, I found the comfort exceptional. Pulling them on really is a luxurious experience, the soft lining feels lovely next to the skin. They feel like they were custom-designed for me.

The fit is perfect, snug everywhere it needs to be but not taut where it doesn't want to be. It's a slightly compressive fit, but more relaxed than Assos racing attire.

Warmth is ideal for current temperatures, though they can deal with sunnier weather too. They're made from two weights of insulated fabrics. RX Heavy does the heavy lifting when it comes to insulation and is used on the front panels, with added water-repellency to protect in showers, while the back is made from RX Light, which helps warm air escape and adds extra stretch for fit and comfort.

The shaped panels and articulated legs ensure the fabric sits very nicely over the knee. There's no restriction when pedalling, no bunching of material, and after a few miles, they fade away. I found it a lot more comfortable than wearing knee warmers with shorts, or the added weight of full-length tights.

The length has been well judged: nicely below the knee to avoid irritation in this area when pedalling, but not so low that you have that weird tiny gap between them and socks. Reflective details have been added to the back of the legs to help you stand out on gloomy training rides or commutes.

Saddle comfort comes from the Assos Mille S7 Evo padded insert. It features a plush 8mm of memory foam with a 3D waffle perforated foam and 'goldenGate', which involves the sides of the pad being detached from the shorts for extra freedom of movement.

It sounds like a complex design but it's stupendously comfortable. The chamois is a big part of the Assos appeal, and – silly names aside – this one delivers comfort for mile after mile. It doesn't feel bulky and stays dry on warmer rides. The pads used to be pink, but they're now black which is a bit more practical.

Wide stretchy bib straps converge into a mesh back panel, and the front of the shorts comes up a little higher than some but still provides easy comfort breaks.

These are great shorts with superb comfort, fit and warmth. They are quite pricey, though, and they lack the versatility of shorts and knee/leg warmer combo and the protection offered by full-length tights. Their window of use during autumn and spring could be long or short depending on the variables of the UK weather, but when the weather window is right, nothing quite beats them.

Durability should be good too. I've got a 10-year-old pair of Assos 3/4s I still wear when the weather suits, which is a good innings. That's good, because they don't come cheap.

> How to dress for cycling in autumn

There aren't many we've reviewed to compare them with, perhaps showing how out of favour 3/4-length shorts are at the moment, but they are twice the price of the Primal Dawn Men's Bib Knickers, which got a brilliant review last year.

They're also £20 more than Castelli's Sorpassa 2 3/4 bib tights.

Verdict

Superb fit, comfort and warmth for three-season cycling