Assos Laalalai S7 women’s bibshorts

£160, assos.com

ver the past decade, Assos may have been more infamous for its female model than its female kit. Assos Girl, as she came to be known, usually wore a set of bibshorts and nothing else. But now the brand has decided to alter its Eurotrash approach so it’s the kit itself that takes centre stage.

The Laalalai bibshorts are different to your average bibs, having been rethought to suit women. Assos has long championed a central Y-shape strap rather than two separate straps from the shoulder. It believes a strap between the breasts rather than to the sides offers more comfort and sits flush to the body for a tighter fit. The shorts use a modified S7 generation insert that floats inside the shorts to reduce friction.

The real innovation, however, is a magnetic clasp that fixes the front strap to the shorts. ‘We previously used a hook clasp that came undone on occasions,’ says Dalany Watkins of Assos UK. ‘The magnetic clasp is more secure and quicker to fit.’

Finally, the shorts have a high waist, improved elasticity in the material on the legs and a name that doubles neatly as a harmonising exercise should you happen to be an enthusiastic singer.