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.

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Brett

Don't blame me

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  • @wilburrox

    Black is just a flat out good color when it comes to cycling. Shorts, shoes, kits,bikes... I like black. I even like black Jags with bikes on top of them. Black works. Even works well on plastic bikes... and though probably not a lot of fans of this one, I happen to really dig it, cheers all:

    She's a beauty!

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

  • Mapei seem to do business in Dubai and I often get a little thrill when I see their cars, decked out in the Mapei pattern. I'll try to grab a picture of one.

  • Oh, good I can post again... for now. I seem to have been sent to the spam queue for the last few days.

  • As a complete kit, including steed, ANC-Halfords did a nice job. Jersey did get a bit sponsor heavy, but the colors of the kit flowing onto the Peugeot with orange tape/saddle topped off nicely with Cobalto brakes.

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  • @sthilzy

    As a complete kit, including steed, ANC-Halfords did a nice job. Jersey did get a bit sponsor heavy, but the colors of the kit flowing onto the Peugeot with orange tape/saddle topped off nicely with Cobalto brakes.

    1 / 2
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    ANC's kit was about the best thing about that team. Note in background: the great blue and yellow KAS kit from the tour. Usually it was mostly yellow, but because it was the tour they had to alter it. Ace looking piece of gear.

    I'm seriously concerned about the number of Velominati who think the Mapei kit rocked. I mean, look at the shorts alone FFS. Awful, just awful.

  • @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" 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

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Brett

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