When it comes to riding on a gravel bike, there is mixed opinions on the perfect attire…
Casual? Comfortable? Aero? The choice is yours! Some riders swear by comfortable padded Lycra shorts and a well fitted jersey. Others opt for causal baggy fit 3/4 shorts, with a nice loose fitting jersey. There is even now gravel specific gear like this Castelli Unlimited Sterrato Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey, which does look quite ‘gravelesque’ in practical features and colour scheme.
Endura’s GV (gravel) range brings tapered and well fitted waterproof gear to the market and it really does both look and feel incredible on the bike. You don’t need to worry about the weather with this Singletrack II Jacket and GV500 Trouser combo!
You only have to take a look at what our staff wear on their rides to see that gravel riding attire can be quite a personal choice and show off your ‘riding heritage’, meaning you don’t have to ditch your impeccable style just because you’re entering a new cycling discipline. Here’s a few of our staff sporting their gravel attire…
The Smart Casual
Mechanic Will (pictured below) opts for Merlin Casual Tee tucked into his Casual Shorts with a luxury leather belt. Paired with Mountain bike shoes and SPDs.
The Baggy Short, Road Jersey Combo
Steve here is showing you can embrace both your MTB and Road style with a set of baggy shorts and zip short sleeve Merlin Jersey. You will notice he opts for an Endura MTB helmet matching his Sidi mountain bike shoes and Blue Merlin Frame.
Roadies on the Trail
Both Shaun and Julian are seen in full road gear, ready for full send speed and aero advantage… Castelli and Sportful can keep you feeling fast and comfortable whilst gravelling!
MTB Inspired Stylin’
Troy Lee Designs kit can be used for both MTB and Gravel if you already have a collection, go ahead and rock it on the gravel trails. Comfort and style you can’t beat on the bike…
Flats or Clipless?
Both have their advantages on gravel. We would recommend Clipless if you are wanting maximum stability and efficiency and flats if you are hopping on and off the bike regularly or are bike packing and only want one pair of shoes on the ride. Of course this comes down to personal preference.
Final thoughts
Here at Merlin we’re here to tell you perhaps there is no wrong way to dress for gravel (be as courageous as you like). If you come from a Road or MTB background and have a wardrobe full of gear, you’ll be fine using what you own or even mix and matching to achieve your perfect combination of comfort and style…
Let us know what your preferred attire is and why?
