Rapha does marketing extremely well but their emphasis on splattering their clothing with the brand is in danger of making the brand the product.   When product design is exceptional and a line of product is deep and relevant to customers’ needs  {& Rapha does both of those things well} you don’t need to bludgeon the customer with the brand name; let the product speak for the brand.

Today [Tuesday 07-17] is a rest day for the riders in the Tour de France.  You’ll find Wiggins wandering around town, lounging in the hotel or on the team bus, dapper and mod in his “Après-Attack” attire fashioned by Fred Perry.

“My goal has been to develop an authentic, non technical range of off cycle wear that is inspired by the best of the sport’s unique heritage – something I am hugely passionate about. Fred Perry offered me that opportunity.”

Visit Fred Perry to see the details.

The shoot was done in the legendary shop in Finsbury Park, London: Sargent & Co.

I love these shirts. I’m gonna have to get one in black or maybe all three.
Yuz OTB LuLu-Lemon!

Muy Fashionista Animaux!

Today, Outlier clothing is defining a new paradigm for “performance wear” and no one is even close; everyone is off the back, chasing and some seem yet to discover there’s a break in the peloton.  Before you know it, their wears [wares] will be pushing Boss, Klein, Theory, Vince and Armani off the racks and giving them cause to scramble.  American style is undergoing another vibrant transformation; it’s being formulated by an active lifestyle and at its center is a fashion sense defined by the need for mobility through alternative transportation and the solution offered by cycling.

Pictured here is Outlier’s Minimal backpack {worn over their Soft-Core Wool Vest} - it’s bad-ass.  Click the picture to see other examples of the bag.  Visit their website to see their clothing.  You’ll want to take up City-Riding just so you can wear their shit.

Visit Outlier’s website

Muy Animaux!

‡Irascible 18: Willem De Kooning, Adolph Gottlieb, Ad Reinhardt, Hedda Sterne, Richard Pousette-Dart, William Baziotes, Jimmy Ernst, Jackson Pollock, James Brooks, Clyfford Still, Robert Motherwell, Bradley Walker Tomlin, Theodoros Stamos, Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko, Weldon Kees, Fritz Bultman and Hans Hofmann.

47 tHoUsAnDtHs.(oF) 1% (0.047%)

El Cuñado {Cuño} (brother-in-law / jOeL; the DaGwOoD) and Guero are neck in neck in the final days before Tabula Rasa 2012 when the mileage tallies drop to zero faster than the ball in Times Square.

El Cuñado and Guero have ridden their two wheel ponies 8547 and 8543 miles, respectively, to date (Wed 12/28).

The boys are separated by a mere 4 miles after 12 months of battling for dominance with only 3 days to go.  That’s about 0.047% of Guero’s total miles  (47 thousandths of 1 percent).

They’ve both got their chests all puffed out acting laid-back, nonchalant and indifferent but everyone knows it’s just a show.

They’ve got the gloves off going toe to toe.

According to the Freddie Network of shared data from the Training Journal, El Cuñado logged Wednesday’s ride (12/28) so we know his stats are up to date.

Guero’s last log was Monday (65 miles through Laguna Canyon). 65 miles on a Monday; what’s that tell you?

(Ah-huh, that’s right! Not so laid-back, nonchalant and indifferent.)

The proof is in the pudding.

Vamos a ver Animaux!

Well, Mr. Fashionista, your velo-style inspiration has been jacked wide open.  I stumbled upon his backpack through a link from the very groovy site;  JJJJound.com.

As Mr. JJJJound demonstrates the highest in esthetic regard, applying the associative property of style influence [ (a•b)•c = a•(b•c)]  we can conclude Mr. Fashionista has subscribed to a groove. Q.E.D.

The bags are created by Makr Carry Goods at http://makr.com.

The back pack is the Farm Ruck Sack ($160.00)

The shoulder bag is the Farm Messenger Bag ($195.00)

If you’re gonna get in some urban city riding and trade a few automobile miles for commuting miles [you know you better jack-up your annual total on two wheels for bragging rights], you gotta get geared up for the convenience and fashion of moving around town on two wheels {in style}.  Also, it’s essential that you have a bag to keep the Bev-Mo goods stored for the ride home.

Makr Carry Goods offers some very distinctive items.

Personally, I love canvas but would prefer nylon to leather straps.  The leather closure straps on the bags look too dangly and give the bags a sloppy appearance.  Leather works well in some applications but often seems a throwback to early design ideals when applied as straps to bags for carrying stuff while on the bike.  I love the size and shape of these bags but the leather ruins it for me here.

Muy Fashionista Animaux!