With gravel season in full swing, PEARL iZUMi released its latest limited edition to celebrate how the terrain of the Earth shapes our rides. The Contours collection includes the Expedition PRO bibs and PRO Mesh jersey in both men’s and women’s cuts. To round out the kit, there’s also an Expedition Gel full-finger glove and Transition 7″ sock.
Gravel rides typically take you away from civilization, away from cities with designed layouts. Events like the Lu Lacka Wyco in northeastern PA take you out into the mountains where the course is dictated not by a civil engineer, and instead by the mountains and creeks. The Contours collection celebrates this part of gravel with subtly contrasting colors and topographically inspired prints.
Each piece of the collection not only looks good but is made to perform on your ride. Starting the bibs, these are the most gravel-specific part of the collection. From a high level, PEARL iZUMi started with their range-topping PRO bib shorts with the Levitate PRO chamois and Italian PRO Transfer fabric, and add cargo pockets on the sides of the shorts and a small pocket on the back, just below the bib straps. The Expedition PRO bibs have also been treated with PI Dry water shedding technology which provides some water resistance for tire spray and light rain.
Up top, the PRO Mesh jersey keeps the same great jersey, but adds a fresh new print. This light, airy jersey is designed for the hot days, with PRO Transfer Mesh to keep you cool and dry. In-R-Cool technology uses your own sweat to improve thermal regulation and GoFresh anti-odor technology helps keep the funk away, even with multiple rides between washing. Longer sleeves, lower profile collar, and sleek fit add to the speed focused jersey. Three rear pockets on the back help carry the majority of the load for long rides, while leaving the pockets on the Expedition PRO bibs for smaller items you want to keep handy.
The Expedition Gel full-finger gloves add a small pop of color while also adding comfort and protection. Personally, I ride full finger gloves all year long for road and gravel, mainly for the extra protection they provide in the event of a crash. The 1:1 Control Gel palm adds cushioning in just the right spot to provide comfort and support to the natural curve of your hand without taking away from the feel of the bar. The pad helps to reduce the compression on nerves in your hand which lead to numbness that many riders can feel. The synthetic leather palm adds durability, washability, and a tactile bar feels. The slip on design keeps the bulk down, making them easy to pull on and off, even in the middle of a ride. The pointer and middle fingers are touchscreen compatible and there is a microfiber nose wipe on the thumb.
To finish it off, the Transfer 7″ sock completes the look. The polyester blend sock keeps them nice and cool, allowing sweat to evaporate quickly. There is a 360-degree compression band around the arch for support, and the 7″ high cuff will keep you on trend with the sock-doping crowd.
Along with the looks and performance of the Contour Collection, PEARL iZUMi also has a strong focus on sustainability. The PRO Mesh jersey and Expedition PRO bib shorts are both part of the Pedal to Zero program, which focuses on using recycled material fabrics and sustainable production processes to keep the carbon footprint low on each piece. To offset the climate impact of each piece, you need to ride just 13 and 18 miles in place of using an automobile.
All items are available now on PEARL iZUMi’s website in limited quantities. See below for pricing and size availability for each piece.
- Men’s PRO Mesh Jersey – S-XXL – $150
- Women’s PRO Mesh Jersey – XS-XXL – $150
- Men’s Expedition PRO Bib Short – S-XXL – $265
- Women’s Expedition PRO Bib Short – XS-L – $265
- Expedition Gel Full Finger Glove – S-XXL – $40
- Transfer 7″ Sock – S-XL – $20
Heckling Editor, Image Taker, Crash Test Dummy, and Beard Master at Bikeworldnews.com
~Veggie Powered Athlete~
Location – Lancaster, PA
Current Testing Rigs – 2024 Van Dessel Arch65, 2019 Van Dessel Full Tilt Boogie, 2018 Van Dessel Motivus Maximus LTD, 2016 Van Dessel Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, 2015 Bianchi Sempre Pro, 1978 Trek TX900
Dream Bike – I’ll tell you when they make it
Discipline – Cyclocross, gravel, road and duathlons (ride/run)
Favorite Rides – Quiet country roads of Amish Country, some of the best roads around.
Food of Choice – Sweet potato roll
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