Do you have the sickness? Do you find yourself jacking up the speed on the way home on the Burke-Gilman as the yellow-jacket clad commuter sucks your wheel with pride? Or do you catch yourself burying it to catch the recumbent that just buzzed by you? It’s been a while since that last competition, and you’re ready for some.
We are approaching my favorite time in off-season preparation. After you’ve finished the race season and have recharged your batteries, it’s time to start thinking about how to improve for next season. First off, recognize your weaknesses and start work on making them better. Once your training has taken structure it’s time to get rid of all those slow old components and upgrade to the latest, greatest fast stuff. Now that your whip is up to snuff, the fun has just begun. Now it’s time to sit down and take a look at yourself. How much style do you exude? And do not tell me that you don’t care…you do. You don’t care how you look, just like you don’t care if you win…BS. Style in cycling is fun. It’s another component that can keep the game fresh. So, what is everybody going to be wearing the first day of school?
I went to NYC for Fashion Week last spring to see what’s hot, and what’s not. I returned this fall to see the what designs came to life and if any of this fashion translates to cycling.
Remember, how you wear clothing makes the design complete. You can wear anything if you’re Heidi Klum. Maybe unbuttoning an additional button and un-tucking half your shirt turns dork into rock star. Just like unzipping a full-zip jersey all the way on a hot day turns a sweaty mess into glistening poetry-in-motion. Adding a scarf to dull outfit can all-of-a-sudden make the outfit exciting. Just like putting on a wrist band can make you stand out in the group.
Knowing a couple fashion faux pas’ will help your overall look, if you avoid them: wearing your shades inside your helmet straps…better yet, one inside, the other outside…not pro; wearing your helmet like a pillow…massive forehead not a good look; race number pinned in the middle of your back, up high, or just wonky…clean it up, go low, if they DQ you you’ll be a hero and become a fashion icon, it’s like Johnny Cash givin’ Nashville the finger; dirty ride…your bike is an extension of your wardrobe, keep it clean.
So, what’s hot in the year of the tiger? Black. White is no longer the “it girl.” I’m not saying white is out, it’s now just a complimentary color. However, white gloves will be big in honor of MJ. If you can wear one, you are a baller. Matte colors are going to the forefront this upcoming season. Matchy-match (all one color head to toe) is so 2007…don’t do it. There are only two colors of bar tape, black and white choose either. Black spokes are way cooler than any other spoke…stay away from white spokes they are the opposite of cool and it would take Heidi Klum to make them bearable. Shades are always an important part of a wardrobe, but this season they are in the limelight. Express yourself with some cool shades. Get a crazy color or match it up, go crazy with it. It’s a year where anything goes with shades. Wayfarer/Frogskin style shades are cool this season on the podium…not on the bike. So if you think you’re cool wearing casual shades during a race…think again. This fashion still has to be functional.
So, go make a statement with your legs and your fashion.
-Rocket
