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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  • @Chris   Gutted that I can't make Sunday.  Had it all planned to do the middle 100 from the stop after Bakewell.  Unfortunately H has had to go up north to sort something relating to her Mums house rental (her Mum is in a care home).  So I can't get a drop off/pick up.  Doing an Imperial Ton Saturday down to and over the South Downs tomorrow by way of penance.

  • @Rom

    @wiscot

    @Al__S

    It does have too many logos, but the Loto-Belisol kit this year at least seems to have been designed by someone rather than a committee. Takes quite a strong person to tell the lead sponsor that you're writing their name in block lettering, not using their expensive corporate logo.

    Spot on. The Lotto Belisol kit is ace - and stylistically a bit of a throwback too. Proof that team kits used to be better.

    Their Ridleys look awesome too.

    Another blight is the scourge of charity ride jerseys. Big ups for the charities but they're usually shocking colours and overdone with logos.

    Agreed. I regularly ride various charity events. The free t-shirt is often bad, but the ride jerseys are often just hideous. Probably because they are designed by a well-intentioned volunteer with no knowledge of the history of the sport or any semblance of a grasp of aesthetics.

  • @Teocalli Damn, I was hoping you'd turn up in V-Kit and do a quick ton on my bike whilst I had a snooze in the back of your wife's car. Or at the very least you'd tow me for bit.
    Enjoy your Imperial (proper) ton on Sunday.

     

    we should set up a spring cogal

  • @Chris

    @Teocalli Damn, I was hoping you'd turn up in V-Kit and do a quick ton on my bike whilst I had a snooze in the back of your wife's car. Or at the very least you'd tow me for bit.
    Enjoy your Imperial (proper) ton on Sunday.

    we should set up a spring cogal

    Ha Ha - I doubt I could reach your pedals!  I was planning to be as much of a sacrificial tow for you and whoever else was around.  Shame, I was looking forward to it.

    Agree re the Spring Cogal - also planning on a 1 or 2 day cross Channel Cogal if folk are interested.

  • @Teocalli Stage Cogal - now there's a thought.

    That said I might be keeping my multi day, overseas options open in case there is KT15.

  • @Chris

    @JCM

    From Peleton Magazine. Photograph by KÃ¥re Dehlie Thorstad.

    I think this kit is quite nice, assuming one is the British champion of course. I'm not fond of the translucent jerseys, but I understand that Spain can be rather warm this time of year so I'm willing to let it slide in this instance.

    Peter Kennaugh is indeed the current British champion. From memory he was recently awarded an MBE by @Gianni for excellence in field of fabulous shoes and socks.

    Assuming he's on the way to the Vuelta team presentations or a stage sign on, those sun glasses are fucking awesome as well.

    If I was to stray from the path and forego Rule #16 or Rule #17, that kit would be the one.

    With those shades he does seems to be doing his best to channel Cioppi?

  • @Mike_P

    @Chris I had the very unfortunate experience of coming face to face with a bloke in that lederhosen abomination in Italy recently. Even more scarily, he probably weighed in at a little over 18 stone. That coupled with his Project One Madone certainly made him stand out from the crowd, in a bad way.

    Thats the hard thing about us normal folk looking fantastic. We (I really mean me) have to drop the extra weight before anything will look close to fantastic. I don't think it would matter if you lederhosen friend was wearing the most bad-ass jersey shorts combo ever. At 114kg nothing's going to look Fantasic. Even if he was a bodybuilder it just wouldn't look right, let alone fantastic.

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