With spring just about detectable in the air (apologies if I’ve just jinxed it), Endura has launched the latest update to its top of the range Pro SL bib shorts.
Although we gave the previous version a full five stars in 2018, time doesn’t stand still and Endura naturally claims to have made a number of improvements for 2020.
To mark the launch of the bib shorts and announce some new brand ambassadors, Endura invited BikeRadar up to Portavadie on the west coast of Scotland for a chance to test out some of its kit on a couple of rides and pick the brains of the people behind the brand.
Kit tested
- Pro SL Bib Short: £119.99 / $194.99
- Pro SL Bib Tight II: £159.99 / $229.99 with chamois or £139.99 / $199.99 without chamois
- Pro SL Waterproof Softshell: £169.99 / $229.99
- Pro SL Primaloft Gilet II: £119.99 / $164.99
- Pro SL Long Sleeve Jersey II: £89.99 / $129.99
- Engineered Baselayer: £44.99 / $62.50
- Pro SL Helmet: £149.99
Hardcore roadie
Having stepped back from its WorldTour partnership with Movistar Team, Endura is refocusing its efforts on what it calls the “hardcore roadie”.
Endura defines this rider as the kind of cyclist who’ll still be riding when it’s no longer cool (though this does raise the obvious question of ‘when will it no longer be cool to ride bikes?’).
Endura was keen to stress that it wasn’t going down the ‘ex duris gloria’ route. Instead, its aim is to cater for the cyclist who goes out on the bike no matter what the weather, but also wants to stay comfortable, warm and have a good time.
To help it do that, it has recruited the services of a number of cycling legends and experts to provide feedback and guidance on the development of future products.
The list of names is quite long, but most notable are Marcel Kittel (former WorldTour pro and winner of 14 Tour de France stages), the ‘Flying Scotsman’ Graeme Obree (former hour record holder and builder of iconic bikes), Jenny Graham (the fastest woman to cycle around the world unsupported) and Phil Burt (former head of physiotherapy at British Cycling).
Endura is also continuing its relationship with aerodynamic specialist Simon Smart of Drag2Zero.
Smart was one of the key minds behind the Encapsulator skinsuit that was banned by the UCI in early 2019, along with other similar skinsuits from the likes of Castelli, ostensibly because it conferred too great a performance advantage.
Endura pointed out that cyclists not competing in UCI sanctioned races (i.e. the vast majority of us) can still enjoy those potential performance benefits, though. So, while it plans to continue to develop UCI legal skinsuits, it doesn’t plan to stop selling the Encapsulator suit anytime soon.
Endura Pro SL Bib Short
Bib shorts are a refined product and space for innovation is reasonably narrow, so it was refreshing to hear Endura say its latest iteration doesn’t claim to be a revolution in the saddle to rear end interface.
Instead, Endura has simply looked to improve on its previous effort.
The new Pro SL bibshorts have an updated version of Endura’s 700 series chamois pad, which is still available in three different widths (Endura has a pad fitting tool on its website). They are available in both standard and long leg lengths.
The overall chamois thickness remains the same, but Endura claims the new foam is more breathable than before.
Endura says this can reduce the incidence of saddle sores because the warm, wet environment created during riding substantially increases the risk of generating issues. Anything that can help that area dry more quickly is a good thing, according to Endura.
The Lycra has also been updated to offer a more compressive feel, in line with other high-end offerings on the market. This doesn’t necessarily offer any measurable performance benefit (the fit thankfully isn’t as tight as a true compression garment), but it does give the shorts a more premium feel.
- £119.99 / $194.99
Endura Pro SL Bib Tight II
It probably won’t surprise too many to hear it was quite cold and wet up in Scotland for most of the launch.
Fortunately, Endura provided us with its latest bib tights as well, and though one hard as nails journalist (not this one) did wear shorts on a shorter ride, I chose to wear tights throughout the event.
The bib tights are constructed with breathable windproof panels, to which a DWR treatment is applied for added water resistance, and are available with a medium sized pad or with no pad at all (if, for example, you prefer to wear your standard bib shorts underneath).
I tested the version with a pad on a reasonably lumpy, four and a half hour ride in all weathers and, as someone who suffers a lot in the cold, found them to be generally very warm and comfortable.
The only negative I could find on initial impressions was that the windproof panelling isn’t quite as stretchy as a standard Roubaix fabric, meaning the fit suffered slightly on my skinny pins.
Those with normal sized legs are probably less likely to have this issue, however.
- With chamois: £159.99 / $229.99
- Without chamois: £139.99 / $199.99
Endura Pro SL Waterproof Softshell
Endura describes this as a softshell but the fabric and fit is more reminiscent of a standard waterproof jacket, with much less stretch than a Castelli Perfetto or Sportful Fiandre jacket.
All of the seams are taped, and the fabric itself has a claimed waterproof rating of 15,000mm and a breathability rating of 15,000g/m2/24hr.
The waterproof rating stacks up well against competitors, but the breathability rating is a fair bit lower than some other jackets claim – Endura’s own Pro SL shell jacket II claims a 40,000g/m2/24hr breathability rating, for example.
Rated as suitable for 0 to 15 degrees, it kept me warm and dry on a big, wet ride in single figures, but I did find myself reaching for the zippered underarm vents when climbing or when the pace picked up.
I appreciated the three rear pockets on the back of the jacket, though. As this isn’t a packable jacket, the additional material isn’t a compromise and the extra storage space was handy.
- £169.99 / $229.99
Endura Pro SL Primaloft Gilet II
The addition of Primaloft (a synthetic microfibre thermal insulation material that's essentially lightweight padding) to a gilet certainly adds a lot of warmth without adding weight, but it does reduce packability a fair bit.
This is a gilet to wear throughout a ride on cold days, rather than something to put on for early starts when you expect it to warm up. With that in mind, the three rear pockets are, again, greatly appreciated.
The cut is ‘athletic’, but it’s not race tight. There’s plenty of room for a winter jersey underneath.
Endura recommends a temperature range of -5 to 15 degrees Celsius, though it doesn’t make any specific claims about water resistance.
- £119.99 / $164.99
Endura Pro SL Long Sleeve Jersey II
Made from a 100 per cent recycled thermal stretch fabric, this is a lightweight long-sleeve jersey for milder days or for layering under a jacket.
Curiously, the fit of this jersey was much tighter than everything else I tried (all of the upper body garments I tested were size small), with the stretchy fabric hugging my figure closely and eliminating excess material.
Despite its low weight (211g in a size small), it was surprisingly warm when paired with the Primaloft gilet.
- £89.99 / $129.99
Endura Engineered Baselayer
Unlike my colleague Jack Luke, who runs so hot he wears a string vest all year round, I love a winter baselayer.
Endura’s Engineered baselayer uses a knitted yarn that varies in thickness across the body, with pre-shaped arms and a wider knit on the back for greater breathability.
- £44.99 / $62.50
Endura Pro SL Helmet
Endura’s top of the range road helmet is constructed in part using Koroyd tubes.
These are claimed to dissipate force more effectively than traditional EPS foam found in most helmets. I thankfully didn’t have to test the efficacy of that claim during my time in Scotland, but the look, fit and comfort impressed.
The sunglasses port worked very well too, both with Endura’s own FS260-Pro sunglasses and my own sunglasses, a set of generic shades that are similar to Oakley Jawbreakers.
- £149.99
First ride impressions
To give us a chance to put some of the kit through its paces, Endura organised two rides for the assembled journalists: a short, flat ride on day one and a longer, hilly ride on day two (it was around 110km – I had some technical issues with my Garmin 810, so I don’t have a Strava file for this one unfortunately).
The event was supported by Cannondale, who loaned me a lairy, high-vis yellow SystemSix. Needless to say, it’s a great bike (as you’d expect of something that costs around £5,000). I’d change a few of the components if it were my own bike, but there’s no doubt it’s a fast, capable race bike.
Somewhat miraculously, we had sunshine for the short ride. It was still cold, so I wore the Pro SL bib tights II, with the Engineered baselayer, the Pro SL long sleeve jersey II and the Pro SL Primaloft gilet II. All things considered, it was hard to find anything I didn't like on such a short ride
The second, longer ride was always going to be a better test. When I opened the curtains on the day of this ride, I was greeted by more typical Scottish weather (that’s cold, wind and rain for anyone who hasn’t had the pleasure of visiting). It was obvious the demands on the kit would be a lot higher.
Not wanting to get cold, I put on all the same kit as the day before, but swapped the Primaloft gilet for the Pro SL waterproof softshell and added a buff and a thermal headband.
I was glad I did. It essentially rained for most of the day, though it may have just felt that way because no one had mudguards, so the kit had to work much harder.
For the most part, it all performed very well, but the devil is the detail.
The water resistant, windproof panelling on the bib tights worked really well, for example, but it also made the fabric just a little bit less stretchy than normal Roubaix fabric, so I found the fit suffered a bit because of this.
Likewise, the Pro SL waterproof softshell did a great job of keeping me warm and dry, but the fit is looser and less aerodynamic than I’d expect from pro level kit – though at 183cm/64kg, I am particularly skinny.
I needed to use the underarm vents to help regulate breathability when the pace picked up.
Finally, I have to mention how good the riding is in that part of the world. The roads, climbs and scenery were absolutely spectacular. I’d thoroughly recommend a trip there, just remember to pack your rain jacket.
