Art and elegance meet at Berg & Bush
Riders at the 2019 Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush can look forward to another eye-popping rider jersey, courtesy of Ardmore and Enjoy.
...Riders at the 2019 Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush can look forward to another eye-popping rider jersey, courtesy of Ardmore and Enjoy.
One of the more recent innovations at the Grindrod Bank Berg & Bush has been the inspired addition of the Ardmore designed rider jersey.
This year’s rider jersey is made locally by the innovative and proudly South African company Enjoy. The product is an unconventional new style, designed more for the free-rider who enjoys some room to manoeuvre on the trails.
Ardmore, which has it’s roots in the same region as Berg & Bush, is renowned the world over for its inspired designs, stunning collections and partnerships with brands like Hermes. The families responsible for Ardmore and Berg & Bush also share a strong connection, making the partnership much more than a business transaction.
Since 2017, the Berg & Bush rider jersey has been the standout amongst South African cycling-event rider jerseys. Inspired by local flora, fauna and the unique landscape of the central Drakensberg, the recent Berg & Bush rider jerseys have become as much of a talking point as the Berg & Bush trails themselves.
Last year, the jersey design took inspiration from Ardmore’s Qalakabusha range, depicting cheerful monkeys, cunning crocodiles, regal leopards, joyful zebras and singing birds amid protea and other floral designs.
For 2019, riders can look forward to another conversation-starting design. “In the last few years, we have grown into the cycling world and reached out to a new audience,” says Ardmore’s Catherine Berning.
To keep the look fresh and fabulous for that new audience, Berning and Ardmore have delved deep into their creative vault. “We wanted to do something bold this year,” says Berning, “so we have featured our beautiful “Hippo Flower” and "Bird Crossing" design on the jersey with highlights of “Leopard Lights” on the sleeve and collar. We have a wide variety of Ardmore designs and we bring out new collections every two years.”
For race organiser Gary Green, having Ardmore involved adds an extra touch of elegance to the Berg & Bush events.
“Thanks to my wife Nicky, daughters Roxanne and Spoen, and Jani Maritz, I think our race village has become one of the most festive and best looking around - there are subtle touches of their combined brilliance everywhere.
Having Ardmore on board as our rider jersey designer adds to the elegance, class and quality that the Berg & Bush ladies already bring to the event. On top of that, it’s actually just great fun getting so many comments from other riders when they see a Berg & Bush jersey for the first time; it really makes you stand out!”
From a technical standpoint, Enjoy’s jersey was inspired by the Berg & Bush ethos. “For the average bike rider podiums are not why we invest in a bike,” says Enjoy’s Richard Cornish. “The reality is we do it because we enjoy the freedom and the adventure. Slacker geometry, technical trails and carefree riding are gathering more and more momentum so this year Gary and Roxanne were after a garment that captured this ethos.”
Aligned with this philosophy is Enjoy’s latest 2019 Trail-Tee. Forget race cuts and pockets to store all of your household belongings - this year’s garment is about maximum comfort.
“The slim fitting Trail-Tee is made from a 125gsm Flux™mesh and Flow polytrail which are both highly breathable, great for keeping you cool when temperature goes up. There are a few pockets for the essentials but this top is all about the harnessing the carefree feeling of riding your bike. By all means put your favourite bib on, but please don’t forget the trail shorts to complete the look!”