Endura’s new GV500 Gravel Collection adds another category between the lines of their long-running MTB and Road cycling kit. The new gravel riding clothing benefits from happy-medium close fits that won’t flap on fast paved sections but look relaxed off-the-bike, a mix of natural & synthetic fabrics to keep you comfortable in changing weather, and plenty of adventure-ready storage to keep you fueled and ready for anything, on or off-road…
Endura GV500 Gravel Collection on & off-road ready cycling kit
Endura’s new Gravel Collection starts off small for Spring/Summer 2021 with just two jerseys and two pairs of shorts. But the GV500 designation (echoing the popular MT500) suggests that Endura is targeting the top-tier for performance, and is likely to keep expanding. And that means it gets all the best tech and detail-oriented features the Scottish clothing maker has to offer.
(For comparison, MT500 now gets something like 30 unique products – from full-face helmets to one-piece foul-weather suits, with versions for Men, Women & Kids.)
Dirty Reiver & Aberfoyle-ready on & off-road jerseys
The two Endura GV500 Gravel jerseys look simple and casual enough, but offer extra storage for long gravel adventure rides, and extra-durable arm & shoulder panels for the inevitable scrape with the local prickly flora.
The red (or soon green too) £90 / $120 GV500 Reiver jersey is a conventional-looking short-sleeve jersey made of 80% recycled, light & wicking polyester, with an endurance road-inspired “no-flap” athletic cut. On top of a standard 3 rear pockets and 1 rear zippered pocket, another zippered pocket on the chest gives you somewhere to safely stash your off-road brevet card.
The red or green £60 / $80 GV500 Foyle T-shirt is a more relaxed, still “flap-free” fit casual tech tee with a similar aesthetic thanks to the reinforced, slight contrast color sleeves. The Foyle tee is made of 40% merino mixed with synthetics to balance comfort, wicking & breathability. It gets a classic open t-shirt chest pocket, plus a mesh-lined zippered security pocket above your hip.
Dirty Reiver & Aberfoyle-ready on & off-road shorts
The two shorts offer similar race-fit or casual-fit to suit your gravel persona. Going for the racer’s edge, the £120 / $170 GV500 Reiver bib shorts are built for long-distance riding, with the 600 Series II chamois pad that Endura rates for rides over 4 hours in the saddle, the same as in their best-selling road FS-260 Pro bibs. They also use “lumbar support panels & power straps” like were developed for Endura’s top Pro SL bibs for all-day comfort over any surface.
Extra storage will help you go the distance too, you get mesh cargo pockets on each thigh, and two small pockets above each hip that are designed to be accessible while not interfering with regular jersey pockets. Plus, double-layered side panels under those cargo pockets are designed to protect from gravel rash, without making you overheat.
The green or black £90 / $120 GV500 Foyle slim-fit baggy shorts take more inspiration from light trail bike shorts. The Foyles were designed to fit over the Reiver bibs, but also include Clickfast snaps, to securely snap onto any of Endura’s other padded shorts or snap-in liners.
The stretchy baggies get printed-on silicone grippers and an elastic waistband with adjustable tabs to ensure a secure fit, zippered front hand pockets to carry essentials, and an eco-friendly PFC-free DWR coating to keep dry. On top of perforated vents to keep cool, zippered openings on the thighs let more airflow through, or let you get to the snacks in your bib cargo pockets.
All four new pieces of Endura GV500 Gravel kit are available now, ready for all-day grinding and adventure riding.
Scottish Gravel Collection inspiration
If you don’t know the inspiration for the GV500 Gravel Collections names, it’s worth going deeper on some of Scotland’s premier gravel riding. The Dirty Reiver is a one-day, up to 200km fun gravel grinding race that takes cyclists back-and-forth on the gravel tracks along the border between Scotland & England. It had to get postponed last year, but is expected to return in Sept 2021.
As for Foyle… a bit deeper into Scotland north of Glasgow, Aberfoyle is making a name for itself as one of the best places to ride gravel anywhere in the UK. Dubbed Gravelfoyle, there’s a push to share a bunch of new gravel-exploring routes and events later this spring.
