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.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/j.andrews3@comcast.net/Best Kit Ever/”/]

Gianni

Gianni has left the building.

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View Comments

itburns says:

Sep 14 2012 at 1:42 pm

No kit nomination, but the first thought when seeing this article was "The Blue Line Of Pain". Made my day.
wiscot says:

Sep 14 2012 at 1:47 pm

@sidi3058

Great thread for a first time poster...

I believe La Vie Claire, PDM and Carrera were groundbreaking kits and therefor one of the best ever. From the legendary kits I would nominate Peugeot and Renault.

But the kit I never stopped loving was the Malvor - sidi kit. First with the hot Bottecchia, later the Colnago name. They had the nicest bibs of that time and the jersey was super gesoigneerd.

Not a bad choice, but look at the gorgeous Atala kit in the background. See how fantastic it looks! Alata: the aesthetes choice.
tessar says:

Sep 14 2012 at 2:01 pm

One day, I will get the full T-Mobile outfit. It will match the T-Mobile Giant TCR that's hanging in my parent's living room.

To go on this bike, with full Campag Record 10, old-school-yet-carbon aero seatpost and period-correct (2004) stem and bars.
Mark1 says:

Sep 14 2012 at 2:05 pm

@EricW

@torvid

I'll probably get excommunicated for this but modern kit that a really like is the rapha condor kit

It's nice and simple not many colours not to overt on the sponsors everywhere. All time kits I like the 1993 Banesto kit as worn by Big Mig.

Second the RCS nod. Along with SKY, I think they're the only kits that are anywhere in the classiness ballpark as the classic kits listed in the article.

Me too, the first modern kit that came to mind that doesn't have "too many sponsors, too much sublimation". Sorry, but I can't agree on the Sky kit, just don''t like it for some reason.A lot seem to though, certainly plenty wearing it.
Gianni says:

Sep 14 2012 at 2:41 pm

@lanzer

Gianni,

you blind tit.

The some kid in photo 7 is Steve Houanard. http://www.cyclisme.ag2rlamondiale.fr/equipe/steve-houanard.asp

You spent 20 minutes looking at him before Paris Roubaix 2012.

You really need some Malteni

Ride the crest

William

Faaack. Yes, I need much Malteni. I am a blind tit, a dumb one at that. I will correct. Bianchi Denti would have nailed me on that if you didn't. cheers.
sthilzy says:

Sep 14 2012 at 3:05 pm

I've always had an affinity for the Raleigh-Panasonic kit, including bike.

When my LBS got some jerseys and caps I spent all my paper-round money on it. I even stripped the paint off my frame and painted it the same.

Even now when Lego house building, the base level is blue, next level red, yellow and the rest up is white with a black roof.
Buck Rogers says:

Sep 14 2012 at 3:10 pm

@lanzer

Gianni,

you blind tit.

The some kid in photo 7 is Steve Houanard. http://www.cyclisme.ag2rlamondiale.fr/equipe/steve-houanard.asp

You spent 20 minutes looking at him before Paris Roubaix 2012.

You really need some Malteni

Ride the crest

William

Wait a second, this cannot be the real William, there was not one "fuck" in the entire post!
mcsqueak says:

Sep 14 2012 at 3:16 pm

@Buck Rogers

Well, "blind tit" pretty much made up for lack of it...
Adrian says:

Sep 14 2012 at 3:47 pm

@Dan_R

@Adrian Yes, the Simpson Peugeot/BP jerseys were nipple lube!

+1
xyverz says:

Sep 14 2012 at 3:49 pm

@jimmy - Ugh. That guys looks how I feel when I'm in my kit. This is why I've again started on my weight-loss plan. My too fat to climb arse needs to get skinnier.