Transitional weather creates the most frustrating gear decisions in cycling. Full jackets cook you on climbs, bare arms leave you shivering on descents, and the temperature swing between morning start and midday finish can span 20 degrees. The Assos Equipe R Spring Fall Gilet S11 targets exactly this problem, providing core protection that works whether you're building heat or trying to hold onto it.
The gilet uses Assos's Sphere Ultra fabric across the front panel, a tightly woven textile that blocks wind without trapping excess heat against your chest. The back panel switches to a highly breathable mesh construction that allows the heat you're generating to escape rather than accumulate. This front-to-back differentiation matters more than overall insulation weight—keeping wind off your chest while letting your back breathe matches how your body actually thermoregulates during effort.
Assos cuts this vest on their regularFit platform, which provides a close fit without the aggressive compression of their race-oriented pieces. The gilet layers cleanly over a short-sleeve jersey or under a jacket when conditions deteriorate further. The collar sits high enough to protect your neck from drafts without creating pressure points under your helmet straps.... Read More
The pocket arrangement mirrors a jersey layout, with three rear compartments that remain accessible even with the vest layered over your primary jersey. A full-length front zipper allows ventilation adjustment on the fly—crack it open when the climb gets steep, zip it up when you crest and point downhill. The sleeveless design eliminates the bulk and bunching that can plague jacket shoulders, keeping your arm movement unrestricted regardless of how many layers you've stacked underneath.
At 98 grams, this vest stuffs down small enough to fit in a jersey pocket for insurance on days when the weather forecast looks uncertain. The packability factor makes it easier to bring along even when you might not need it, which is exactly the kind of piece that saves a ride when conditions shift unexpectedly.
