I’d be shocked if this hasn’t been blogged somewhere. I love Rouleur magazine. I don’t love RadioShack nearly as much. But the Fort Worth, Texas company’s entry into pro cycling as a main sponsor for the team that includes Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer and Chris Horner illuminates an obvious brand irony. I don’t have to point it out. It’s darn close. The designistas and global font police can point out how different the “circle R” icons are. I choose to marvel at how similar they are. Who would have ever thought it possible? The U.S. company originally known for selling CB radios to rednecks and soldering irons to geeks might ever be confused with classic U.K. branding, and indirectly to the black and pink of Rapha and its storied collection of cycling merchandise? I’ve got double vision. Who has dibs on capital Rs in a circle? I can only imagine the confusion if RadioShack started selling pin badges or musettes.
Related posts:
- Passport to understanding The furor over Michael Smith’s attempt at humor on ESPN regarding the crash of Johnny Hoogerland and Juan Antonio Flecha at the Tour de France brings to mind one thing: A strong American bias to its home-grown sports like football (not the World Cup). It’s easy to poke fun at...
- Going postal Quick quiz: In the pro peloton, who else besides Lance Armstrong wears black socks and black shoes? Hard question, eh? Mark Cavendish and George Hincapie wear black socks but pair them with white shoes. So do other riders. But that’s as far as they’ll go. Black and white if not...
- How to wear a cycling cap Do you ride with cycling cap underneath your helmet? Maybe just alone into the office? For a walk down to the corner for some espresso on a lazy Sunday? Then consider me your friend. One of the easiest fashion statements you can make is not necessarily with your colorful racing...
- Thanks Lance The 2009 Tour de France will go down in the books as the one that saw Lance Armstrong come back after an absence of nearly 4 years. Say what you will, Lance proved beyond any doubt that he’s a worldwide draw. The sport, sponsors and fans all benefited. I watched with...
- Crash diet I want to get off this crash diet. Not a fad food thing. No. I’m tired of watching pros hit the deck. I’m full. Satiated. No mas. Why the steady parade of fallen riders, snapped bones and torn flesh? I don’t get it. On a good day, things look quite advanced,...
