Best Kit Ever?

Celeste Heaven

What is the best pro team kit ever? I’m talking team kit only, not a leader’s jersey, national team jersey or the national champion jersey. Not the worst either, for those are legion and worthy of a much longer article than this. @wiscot and I exchanged emails about Urs Freuler and the fantastic Atala kit which led to quick discussion of best kits. He threw out Skil Shimano and La Vie Clair as kits to consider. It’s hard to disassociate the kit from the rider. Maybe the Orange Molteni kit would be rubbish if Lord Merckx didn’t own it for years. It’s also hard to come up with a great modern kit: too many sponsors, too much sublimation. Were wool kits nicer? Maybe they were in their simplicity, maybe more iconic. Sky’s kit was a excellent change for it’s uncluttered design and in years to come we may look back on it with as much admiration as we do a Molteni kit. But since that reedy weed Froome killed my VSP hopes recently, that jersey is dead to me, forever.

Here are a few nice ones. I’m sure I’ve left many nicer ones out. Let the arguing begin.

Atala-I know my love of the Atala prisoner jersey is bolstered by Urs Freuler’s ‘stach and a young Gianni Bugno in the stripes. The design was a nod to the early Atala frames made in an Italian prison by real Italian prisoners. It’s a damn good looking, especially when it made the transition to lycra.
Molteni-I can’t separate the jersey from Merckx. It’s a weird color and a nice design but without Eddie’s head sticking out of the top I’m not sure it would go far.
TI Raleigh-So much ass was kicked by riders in this jersey it was like a black leather jacket. If three guys in this jersey ride up next to you, it’s sweatin’ time. The design didn’t change season to season. Red, yellow and black: a very distinctive kit but the best kit?
Skil Shimano – If Sean Kelly didn’t wear this kit it wouldn’t be in the running. But Sean Kelly killing it in the red, white and blue Skil kit, he makes it look awesome.
Brooklyn Chewing Gum – This kit may have stood on it’s own. It’s original and beautiful. If Roger de Vlaeminck hadn’t rocked that jersey in various Paris-Roubaix wins it may have stood on its own but it would not have stood so tall.
La Vie Claire – Hinault never looked quite menacing enough in this Mondrian inspired jersey. He looked mean all the time but this jersey made him look too sophisticated, someone who actually cared about design instead of just ripping legs off.
Bianchi – Like Atala, the bike manufacturer as sponsor keeps the kit simple. Bianchi’s beautiful color and simple design really do it for me. When Bianchi again sponsored a team and big Jan was the captain, everyone won.

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View Comments

mcsqueak says:

Sep 15 2012 at 7:51 pm

@minion

Heh, I actually thought it was neat that it wasn't named after a sponsor's business, the usual naming convention.
minion says:

Sep 15 2012 at 8:27 pm

@mcsqueak

True, I think rusty switchblade is currently the only two word combo featuring 'rusty' without an urban dictionary entry. What was the team kit that featured unicorns?

Team Super Awesome, I think.
JFT says:

Sep 15 2012 at 8:57 pm

It's borderline blasphemy to consider a modern era (still in production) design when attempting to classify a kit with the G.O.A.T. badge of distinction. There's nothing wrong with a best modern era kit design thread, but this is asking for the G.O.A.T. which is entirely different in my opinion. True, it's hard to separate the "performance bias" when looking back at some of those classic designs, but I don't necessarily think one should disregard that emotional connection when making their choice(s). I believe a kit that is G.O.A.T. Worthy must have that design-legendary performance-rider connection. A kit can be great on it's own of course, but it becomes legendary and G.O.A.T Worthy only after it's been ridden to glory by the heros of the professional peloton. Only after it's been glorified via relentless sacrifice, competitive drama, ridden to victory, and retired into the professional peloton hall of fame.

My choice for G.O.A.T. Kit is...

1. Bianchi

High Honorable Mentions (in no particular order) include Mercatone-Uno (TdF version), Renault-Elf, Peugeot-Michelin, Raleigh, BIC, Molteni, and 7-11... all of these stand together as ultra-baddass kits!
Barracuda says:

Sep 15 2012 at 9:11 pm

@wiscot

I just want to go on record that any Mapei kit sucks. Just awful and ugly. Looks like someone puked in technicolor all over bibs and jersey. I know this makes me a heretic around these parts but I can't help it. Yes, I said II llked the AG2R kit but you have to give them credit for using brown in a good ay - unlike Footon whatever hey were called. That is in the running for worst kit ever.

I shall now duck and run for cover.

My post of Footon Sevetto was, how shall we say, ummm , definately tongue in cheek ..... Ugliest Kit I have even seen.... pity ..... cause their bikes rocked.
brett says:

Sep 15 2012 at 11:07 pm

I wouldn't go around saying you don't like the Molteni kit in Sydney...
mxlmax says:

Sep 16 2012 at 7:13 am

Best (winter) base layers for cycling by BikeRadar, March 2012
GORE
ChrisO says:

Sep 16 2012 at 8:33 am

@Oli

@ChrisO Derivative of what? Mondrian's work?

Yes. When I see that kit I think of Mondrian. When I see the Peugeot kit I think of Tom Simpson.
Ron says:

Sep 16 2012 at 9:17 am

Wow, what a nice Sunday morning - got to watch the TTT WC, then the end of the Tour of Britain. Nice long "sprint" from Cavendish. Ha, just him and Eisel with over 2 km to go. Nice work.

Cool and rainy here, going to head out for some cross riding and muck it up!

Hope everyone is having a boss weekend!
Gianni says:

Sep 16 2012 at 10:33 am

@Oli

I humbly have to state

that my all-time favourite has to be my self-designed Roadworks kit though...

Is that a sublimated campagnolo badge? Very nice. Irish colors on the sleeve? All Black colors wouldn't stand out on the sleeves. Well done, it is a good looking design.
Winelli says:

Sep 16 2012 at 1:32 pm

Gentlemen, be upstanding for The V.