Scotish brand, Endura, continues their quest for speed with the release of the new D2Z Aero Collection. Developed in cooperation with Simon Smart of Drag2Zero and tested at the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 wind tunnel, the new collection uses innovative fabrics and production methods to help cyclists cheat the wind.
Endura’s partnership with Simon Smart is not a new one. Smart has worked with the brand in Alex Dowsett’s quest to break the World Hour record and continued support of Team Movistar. Dowsett’s attempt was a success, and Team Movistar has gone on to claim almost 100 wins, classifications, or national/continental titles since 2015.
“You have to specialize in the thing that you’re good at,” Smart explains. “Ours is aerodynamics, so it made sense to partner with Endura, who are so far down the road with textiles, having built up an amazing resource in Scotland with their prototyping and manufacturing facility, which seems second to none.”
With only 350 miles between Endura in Livingston, Scotland, and the wind tunnel in Brackley, Northamptonshire, England, Smart is able to work with Endura’s rapid prototyping team to take the data he is seeing, and translate it into working prototypes that are farther along than what most other brands can do.
“That seemed to be the big difference with Endura, compared to a lot of brands”, Smart explains. “They are so agile and able to turn around prototypes really quickly. We’ve just been able to chip away at the development process by making garments and testing them on a regular basis.”
Traditionally, cycling apparel used seams and panel construction to affect aerodynamic properties of a garment. More recently, the type of material used has also been used to reduce drag. At the 2017 Tour de France, some members of Team Sky caused a stir as they raced in Castelli skinsuits that featured patches of dimpled fabric in key areas that were said to produce vortex to help them slip through the air faster.
Endura takes a different approach than Castelli did, as they integrate the enhancements into the fabric, instead of adding patches to the kits. Through textured material and silicone printing, they have created and tested a product that is shown to be faster than the competitors. Silicone printing isn’t necessarily an easy task, but Endura brings together modern skills like 3D Scanning, 3D to 2D rendering, digital printing, and ceramic cutting with traditional skills like pattern cutting to make it happen.
“It’s that mix between old school craftsmanship – attention to detail, completely understanding what you’re doing – and then being completely open to using the latest tools to do it,” said Endura’s founder and managing director Jim McFarlane.
Testing went further than just one speed in the wind tunnel. Endura understands that their products are going to be used at the WorldTour level, but also by enthusiast and recreational riders. The brand went through over 80 different configurations to find the fastest suit for Team Movistar, but also made sure they would be the fastest across a wide range of speeds to help cyclists at all levels reach their goals.
The Endura Drag2Zero range consists of three different kits, focusing on three different rides. The headline kit is the D2Z Encapsulator Suit. This is their fastest suit, aimed at time trials and riders looking for all-out speed. While optimized for speeds of 45kph (about 28mph), Endura’s testing shows it to be faster than competitors over a range of speeds. The D2Z Encapsulator Suit uses Silicone Surface Topography (SST) technology, which uses 3D silicone printed chevrons in specific regions to affect the airflow around the body and helping to reduce drag. They are mainly focused around the upper arms and sides of the torso, which remain relatively stable during TT efforts.
The 1000 Series Aero Pad, a chamois created from a single block of foam and used specifically for the aggressive position of a TT, uses Continuously Variable Profile (CVP) technology to smooth out the transitions from one density of thickness to another, keeping it smooth and comfortable under you. A BioCeramic high stretch, fast wicking cover provides the antimicrobial properties of the pad, and a TRS perforated foam second layer helps to improve blood flow and dryness during longer efforts.
A major highlight of the D2Z Encapsulator Suit is the Encapsulator Pocket. This clear mesh pocket holds your race number, allowing you to be pin free, and keeps the kit as aero and breathable as possible. While first banned by the UCI, it has since been allowed. As any racer will tell you, pins destroy kits, so while there are also the other advantages, something like the D2Z Encapsulator Pocket is a well thought out addition.
Next up is the D2Z Roadsuit. In the simplest of terms, it is the marriage of a jersey and bibs into one suit. While it is a lot more complicated than that, Endura sees this as being the kit for traditional road racing and grand fondo and recreational riders looking to gain an advantage when they are going for a personal best. Like the D2Z Encapsulator Suit, the D2Z Roadsuit uses five different materials to create a blend of comfort, speed, and durability.
The D2Z RoadSuit uses heavily textured sleeves and side panels along the torso to aid in aerodynamics, along with SST prints on the legs to maximize aerodynamics. The one-piece construction makes for a more tailored fit over a traditional jersey and bib short combination. It has a full length zipper that, when unzipped, allows the front of the jersey portion to open up more than the D2Z Encapsulator Suit, which should make it a little easier to get in and out of, or for nature breaks. It is made for riding in a road racing position, and Endura and Smart were able to find a sweet spot of 32-50kph (about 20-30mph). The D2Z RoadSuit uses the same 1000 Series Aero Pad as the D2Z Encapsulator Suit, but also includes three pockets on the rear with a windproof spoiler to cover the openings and keep the transition smooth. This might make it a little bit harder to get to the pockets when riding, but every little bit counts when it comes to aerodynamics.
This type of kit, in my opinion, is the future of cycling kits. We’ll have an article coming out in the future talking more about these types of kits, along with some reviews from various brands that we have had a chance to ride.
Finally, there is the D2Z Bibshort and Jersey. Similar to the D2Z RoadSuit, the D2Z Bibshort and Jersey provide the versatility of a two-piece design that many cyclists prefer. A silicone gripper along the hem of the jersey helps to keep it in place, and a full-length zipper allows you to customize the ventilation. The D2Z Bibshorts feature SST technology along the legs and a high wicking, lightweight mesh bib for comfort. The Chamois is a 1000 Series pad, similar to the pad used in the D2Z Encapsulator and D2Z RoadSuits, but optimized for a less aggressive position.
Also launched in the D2Z line is a new helmet, the D2Z Aeroswitch, but unfortunately, it will not be making its way to the US for now. From what we have seen though, it can be used as a TT helmet with the attached faring, or as an aero road/track helmet without. There is an attached shield, similar to a Giro Air Attack helmet, but a bit more nicely integrated.
As you are probably guessing, pricing is on the steep side, but not as bad as you might think for some items. All items are listed on Endura’s website, but showing out of stock at the time of publication.
D2Z Encapsulator Suit – $574.99
D2Z RoadSuit – $449.99
D2Z Jersey – $199.99
D2Z BibShorts – $239.99
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
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