Wow. I mean, really. Just 24 hours after Team Radio Shack released this image of a team jersey, the Twitterverse is still going on about a jersey. Last night it was thumbs up! Yes! Love it! And then today, more of ugh! Is this the best you can do? Some are not satisfied. OK. That’s cool. So let’s read the fine print from Team Radio Shack’s TwitPic: “Still some tweaking to be done but here you go for now…”
Operative words? Tweaking. Still to be done. For now. Here you go.
My bibs are not in a bunch over this. And frankly, we haven’t even caught a look at the full team “kit.” That would include shots of the bibs front, sides and back. We also haven’t see the full side of a jersey — or the back. So I’m going to relax. Eat a pffernüese cookie. It’s December, by golly. There’s a long way to go. And it’s the perfect time to ask this question: Do you have a favorite pro cycling kit of all-time? Here are my five:
Bianchi, specifically Fausto Coppi in the Celeste 227 and black wool shorts. The black and white photos of Coppi can’t convey the beauty, but trust me, one of the best. Complete with pockets in front and full collar.
Brooklyn. How can you go wrong with this?
Test Team Cervélo, circa 2009. For the modern era, tough to beat this very strong design with flexibility. Black goes with everything. So does white. Brilliant.
T-Mobile, formerly known as Team Telkom. Pink, white, black and adidas striping. Classy. Highly memorable. Looks good on Germans. What else is there to say?
Molteni, the great sausage brand emblazoned across the chest of Eddy Merckx in his prime. Simplicity. Stellar contrast. Still in style today.
While I have a retro taste that could be best described as “less is more,” I do appreciate many of today’s modern pro cycling kits. The biggest challenge isn’t coming up with great stuff. It’s trying to design through what is likely a group process in which each sponsor / brand must have a “voice.” Pretty soon, the noise level either kills design, or the designer is forced into compromise. What pro cycling kit would you most like to wear and why?
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{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
How about “Super Mario’s” Zebra kit? You better be damn fast to pull that off! And somehow, the Lion King managed.
bright colors always look better. the new radio shack jersey is so dull, however they are nice fitting and look like that are made with a high quality lycra. i’m on board – go with something brighter and certainly easier to see when you’re watching a pelaton – oh, look for the grey jersey – lame. are the helmets going to be grey too? ugh.
natasha, aka @pedalpedal, Bright is pretty right. I have faith that Team Radio Shack will deliver the good. Nissan may be the “gray” influence. Hard to know how they are working creatively in December.
Ryan, I dig the zebra kit from Domina Vacanze era of Super Mario. You’re right, the only way to pull that off is to be king of the sprints. Chapeau MC