If Epic Series riding gear means something to you, Ciovita won’t be an unfamiliar name. The South African cycling apparel brand is an official kit partner to the Absa Cape Epic and Epic Series mountain bike events, with stage winners and category leaders present on the podium in Ciovita mountain bike jerseys. 

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Launched in 2016, Ciovita designs and produces its garments in Woodstock, South Africa, literally at the foot of Cape Town’s Table Mountain. Popular among demanding African mountain bikers and gravel riders, Ciovita is now expanding to the British market, with a presence first seen at the 2023 London Cycle Show. 

Designed by riders, for riders, Ciovita’s latest product range shows its premium intentions with the Merino Odyssey jacket. Before synthetics became the default fabric for off-road cycling, merino was the choice for those pioneering mountain bikers and gravel riders of the 1970s. 

2023 ciovita riding.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Ciovita’s Odyssey jacket features a merino blend material composition, delivering all the vaunted merino temperature and odour regulation, with excellent wash cycle durability and fabric integrity over time. The Odyssey jacket is designed for dry conditions and low temperatures instead of griding gravel in a downpour.

Extensively tested in South African gravel riding conditions, including long routes into the arid Karoo wilderness, Ciovita’s Odyssey combines that natural fabric feel on the skin, with the moisture-wicking properties of merino blend material. The Karoo desert contains some of the world’s best gravel and adventure riding routes, but it can experience plummeting temperatures under its massive skies, with dry air windchill that can feel near arctic. 

2023 ciovita close.jpg, by Liam Mercer

Influenced by the size of South African riders, who tend to be sturdier in build, Ciovita’s garments are shaped in three size tiers regarding their cuts: Sport (relaxed), Race (tighter) and  Pro (skintight). The Odyssey jacket is proportioned to Ciovita’s intermediate ‘race fit’ cut, a performance shape close to European brand standards.

A robust YKK front zipper guarantees secure adjustment, even with gloved fingers. And courtesy of that YKK 2-Way zipper’s oversized design, you never have to worry about those zipper teeth and mechanism fouling up and getting stuck, even on a muddy ride, thanks to the generous mechanical clearances. 

Off-road endurance rides imply self-sustaining nutrition, and with three rear panel pockets, Ciovita’s Odyssey jacket will carry all the Haribos you need for that 100-miler day on the gravel or XCM mountain bike. The Odyssey’s pockets are deep and tensioned to prevent sag when laden. The middle pocket has a side-access zipper for storing valuables like keys or cash. 

The Odyssey jacket features reflective binding on the rear pocket to increase visibility and safety when navigating to and from your gravel ride at first or last light.
Available in sizes from S-3XL, the Odyssey jacket comes in a single olive green colour and retails for €160,00. 

• ciovita.co.za

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