Today’s jerseys ain’t got the same soul.
Maybe it’s the history of the team that makes me love them. Maybe it’s the riders that made them famous, that makes me love them. Or maybe, just maybe it’s the simple bold, stand out in the bunch great graphic design that makes me love them. But no matter what the reason, old school cycling jerseys are hands down the best in my world. No contest to the modern cycling kit.
Give me wool or give me death! Too much? Well okay, maybe not the best feeling or most aerodynamic material in the world but when it comes to classic, nostalgic cycling jerseys, wool is king.
Simple is better.
Have you ever looked at a photo or helicopter shot of the modern peloton, except for the Yellow Jersey, they all look the same. Multi-colored billboards filled with sponsor logos, messages and marketing phrases. They’ve gone too far, too many words, too many sponsors.
Give me simple any day. Faemino, Peugot, KAS, Molteni, Bianchi – the simple life. And with graphics that stayed the same for years. Modern cycling kits change every year now – and it’s all to drive sales of stuff! Nothing to do with the racing, just the marketing of the brand. I know you’re going to say they need to do it to make money to pay the teams. Yep, I get it. I just don’t like it. Give me that old school rock and roll forever.
Vive le velo! -and thanks Bob Seger for the lyrics.
The images here are the start of a project to create large paintings of cycling jerseys. And then prints. If you have a favorite, let me know, send me a photo and maybe I can add it to the work. Thanks. [email protected]
Want to see my current “Jersey Collection” select this link.
