Categories: KitNostalgiaReverence

When Kits Were Cool

The modern day Pro cyclist has many disadvantages stacked against them by comparison to their forefathers. They have to ride plastic bikes with little or no distinguishing character or discernible caché; they must willingly or perhaps unwittingly subject their body to an array of questionable “training techniques”; and they have to spend every waking hour poncing around in public wearing gaudily coloured outfits plastered with a myriad of logos, half of them (thankfully) not even readable. No one wants to be a the face of gastric reflux relief, no matter how glamourous it sounds.

How they must wish they were born long ago, in a simpler time, when bikes were made by artisans, not robots, and they were shiny and classy, much like the automobiles of the same era. When the only substances they need ingest came from a decanter, and they could enjoy a quiet smoke along with their tipple. And they certainly long to be able to wear a long trenchcoat and Aviators on the way to the podium, or a crisp single-breasted suit with a smart Trilby, perfect attire for lounging after winning a Classic, or attending a Gentleman’s Club, rather than wrapped in nylon and dipped head to toe in fluoro paint and topped off with something more commonly seen at Yankee Stadium.

Just look at these pillars of style. They never had to fear the beginning of the season, when their DS would toss them a few plastic bags and tell them “this is what we wear this year.” They knew exactly what they were getting; solid colours, no fancy fonts, the main sponsor easily read in bold lettering, and black fucking shorts. There was no apprehension when moving to a new team about what hue of pink or aqua or yellow they would be subjected to. They knew hey were going to Look Fantastic.

Unless, of course, they’d signed for Atala.

[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/brettok@velominati.com/old kit/”/]

Brett

Don't blame me

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  • @wiscot The Mapei jerseys would have looked pretty good with all BLACK shorts ! So would that blue stripey jersey shown earlier in thread. Black shorts just work. Big reason I suspect for the Lotto kit being a favorite. Astana baby blue shorts?? Cannondale green??? Ugghhhh... my opinion anyways.

  • @wilburrox

    @ChrissyOne Thank you Chrissy. That bike does not get raced often as I prefer my CAAD10 for that, though will race the Roubaix this weekend at state RR championship. I'd spent a little time prepping it this past w/e and couldn't resist a snapshot and posting it. And I think your hot Synapse qualifies as black! The Synapse is getting quite a following here local as I've seen a super six evo just swapped out by a racer, racing less, for a "74"³ model Synapse frame set then built up with some gold Chris Kings to offset the black white frame. Smokin' hot look. Also, a young lady just jumped on her new Ultegra equipped Synapse and was blown away vs her old steel frame bike. We might even see her racing it this w/e! I'm guessing you dig that bike. There is something to be said for the ride on these "endurance" type bikes. And there is some craftsmanship/artistry involved in the engineering, design and carbon lay up used to build these bikes. Cheers, RC

    The Synapse is actually a very dark blue. It looks bloody brilliant in the sun. =) I spent all day Monday detailing it so I just wanted to show off.

  • @RondeVan

    The Mapei kit is was one of the best, these Gents are stylin' on the Atala prisoners kit.

    Is having the legs of your shades under the straps of one's Belgian hairnet a Rule #37 violation or do you get a pass for Awesome

  • Wooo there!  Let's take it easy on the Castorama kit.  Fignon himself designed it and was actually very proud of it.

    You want bad? How 'bout this little gem from the 90's, Chazal.  Could you imagine going to battle in the Classics against Museeuw or Tchmil wearing this kit? Just slipping into it probably dropped your hematocrit level 20 points:

  • @the Engine

    @RondeVan

    The Mapei kit is was one of the best, these Gents are stylin' on the Atala prisoners kit.

    Is having the legs of your shades under the straps of one's Belgian hairnet a Rule #37 violation or do you get a pass for Awesome

    Being as that is a hairnet, not a helmet, perhaps the rule does not apply.

  • @Teocalli

    errrr.....?

    That's how a kit is done.

    In the spirit of Sir Mix-a-Lot:  "I like old kits and I cannot lie.  Velominati can't deny. . ."

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Brett

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