Putting my Money Where my Mouth Is

I'm always complaining about ugly kits in the peloton are. But could I do better? I am a seasoned professional designer with massive experience in sports and entertainment. I've done everything from movie posters to professional team uniforms. I have done work for major sports leagues in the U.S., soccer teams in Europe, the WWE, Sony, adidas, blah, blah, blah. Point being, I should be qualified. So, I decided to give it a try.

What better kit to start with than the monstrosity that is Androni Giocattoli. It took a while to find all the sponsor logos in a format I could use and I ended up recreating a few, but once I did that it was pretty straight forward. I must admit it was harder than I thought. I know that I didn't have 13 marketing execs in my ear wanting their logo bigger and in the correct PMS colors, but I tried to keep the hierarchy of sponsors about the same. I hope you enjoy.

Feel free to make fun of me in the comments.

I grouped all the minor sponsors and used grey for their logos in an attempt to avoid the dreaded logo soup effect. I know the sponsors wouldn't be happy, but I think I could convince them. I'm really good at bullshitting clients.

This one is what would happen if Venezuela was no longer a sponsor and Bianchi stepped up. More of a dream scenario, really.

Episode 81: 90% of the Speed Metal Cycling Staff is 2.7

And the winner is...

Subscribe to Podcast on iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)

Our contest winner is Dan Gerous from Montreal

Intro and outro music by Amorphis 

WTF WERE WE TALKING ABOUT?
- Vote the SkullKrusher's WCA kit design
- H.G. Wells / Jack The Ripper movie: Time After Time
- Rushlee Buchanan new NZ Champ
- Meet Bill Humphreys at the Rapha Cycle Club in NYC

MAKE THE LOTTO BELISOL JERSEY BETTER CONTEST
The winner of the contest is Dan Gerous (I'm sure that's not his real name). Dan will receive a copy of The Jersey Project book by Bill Humphreys courtesy of Gage+Desoto. 

Scroll down to see some of our favorite entries.

Alzate's "classy" family portrait

Our three Honorable Mentions

GET IN TOUCH
Email:
SpeedMetalCycling [at] gmail [dot] com

Links:
Gage+Desoto
Cycling Inquisition

Twitter:
Speed Metal Cycling (@SpeedMetalCycl)
The SkullKrusher (@TheSkullKrusher)
Gage+Desoto (Mike Spriggs) (@GageDesoto)

Other:
Speed Metal Cycling on Facebook
SkullKrusher on Instagram
Speed Metal Cycling on Tumblr

2014 vs. 2013 Kits

A work in progress, of course. As the new ones get released I will update.

Enjoy and share your opinions in the comments.

Jan. 14 - added Tinkoff, Giant and IAM.


Pro Teams

AG2R LA MONDIALE (ALM) - FRA

Overall: 8 / Improvement: Yes / More brown!

BELKIN-PRO CYCLING TEAM (BEL) - NED

Overall: 7.5 / Improvement: Yes? / Is that a new tone of green?

BMC RACING TEAM (BMC) - USA

Overall: 7 / Improvement: Same / "Just use whatever you have left from last year, boys!"

CANNONDALE (CAN) - ITA
Waiting for better images.



FDJ.fr (FDJ) - FRA

Overall: 6.5 / Improvement: Yes (if blue will be their main color) / Very similar to last year's blue kit, which was nicer than the white.

GARMIN SHARP (GRS) - USA

Overall: 7 / Improvement: Yes / More white and a panda.

LAMPRE-MERIDA (LAM) - ITA

Overall: 7 / Improvement: Yes! / Love the darker blue.

LOTTO BELISOL (LTB) - BEL

Overall: 7 / Improvement: Not sure / Radical change, but is it better?

MOVISTAR TEAM (MOV) - ESP

Overall: 7.5 / Improvement: Meh. / I do like the addition of the green bands on collar and sleeves.

OMEGA PHARMA - QUICK-STEP CYCLING TEAM (OPQ) - BEL

Overall: 6 / Improvement: Slight / Got rid of the hideous half-tone gradient.

ORICA GreenEDGE (OGE) - AUS

Overall: 5.5 / Improvement: Same shit, different year

TEAM GIANT SHIMANO - NED

Overall: 4 / Improvement: YES! Hideous, generic jersey, but NO more white shorts!

TEAM EUROPCAR (EUC) - FRA 

Overall: 5 / Improvement: Whatever / No comment. WTF.

TEAM KATUSHA (KAT) - RUS

Overall: 5 / Improvement: Nope / Still looks like a shitty club jersey.

TEAM TINKOFF-SAXO - DEN

Overall: 6.5 / Improvement: Sure / Looking more like the Swedish National Team, but it's nice.

TEAM SKY (SKY) - GBR

Overall: 8 / Improvement: Nope / Adding more logos, ugh.

TREK FACTORY RACING (TFR) - USA

Overall: 7 / Improvement: Yes? / I go back and forth on this one. The simplicity is nice. Love the pintripes.

Pro Continental Teams


IAM CYCLING - SWI

Overall: 8 / Improvement: Yes / Easily my favorite new kit. The Swiss flag detail on the chest is very elegant. Love it.

 YELLOW FLUO (YEL) - ITA 

Overall: 1 / Improvement: NO!! / Fuck this.

TEAM NETAPP - ENDURA (TNE) - GER

Overall: 6.5 / Improvement: Obviously not / No, it's not a joke.

ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI (AND) - ITA

Overall: 3.5 / Improvement: Nope / Why do they even bother? Might as well just wear Affliction T-shirts.

BARDIANI CSF (BAR) - ITA

Overall: 4 / Improvement: Nope / Barforama.

BRETAGNE - SECHE ENVIRONNEMENT (BSE) - FRA

Overall: 7 / Improvement: Yes / I liked the grey, but the white looks nice. If they had black shorts, it's be a solid 9.

MTN - QHUBEKA (MTN) - RSA

Overall: 6.5 / Improvement: Yes / Not much you can do with that shitty MTN, logo, huh?

RUSVELO (RVL) - RUS 

Overall: 3.5 / Improvement: Nope / God awful!

UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM (UHC) - USA

Overall: 7 / Improvement: Yes! / Proof that you CAN do something decent with 29 logos.

 WANTY - GROUPE GOBERT (WGG) - BEL

Overall: 2 / Improvement: NO! / The worst kit of the year, so far! HORRIBLE. TERRIBLE.

Episode 79: Douche Lemonade

Okay, Astana has taken it too far.

Subscribe to Podcast on iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)



Intro and outro music by Sepultura 

WTF WERE WE TALKING ABOUT?

- Lotto Belisol 2014 Jersey
- Hemi Engine
- Spain sweeps 2013 UCI prizes
- CN interview with Jens Voigt


GET IN TOUCH
Email:
SpeedMetalCycling [at] gmail [dot] com

Links:
Gage+Desoto
Cycling Inquisition

Twitter:
Speed Metal Cycling (@SpeedMetalCycl)
The SkullKrusher (@TheSkullKrusher)
Gage+Desoto (Mike Spriggs) (@GageDesoto)

Other:
Speed Metal Cycling on Facebook
SkullKrusher on Instagram
Speed Metal Cycling on Tumblr 

Episode 60: Ag2r-La Louis Vuitton

Carlos Betancur sports the latest G+D gear

Subscribe to Podcast on iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)

The Speed Metal Cycling Podcast is presented by NYC Velo, New York City's Bike Shop.

WTF WERE WE TALKING ABOUT?
- Intro and outro music by Ghost 
- G+D Sold Out Louis Vuitton Bottle
-"Race Coverage on TV a Mess" by Joe Lindsey
- Kreuziger refuses to talk about Ferrari
- Jeff Garlin podcast featuring Zach Galifianakis
- Klaus' Amstel Gold Post
- Uran's Instagram of Henao wearing Cycling Inquisition socks

GET IN TOUCH
Email:
SpeedMetalCycling [at] gmail.com

Links:
Gage+Desoto
Cycling Inquisition

Twitter:
Speed Metal Cycling (@SpeedMetalCycl)
The SkullKrusher (@TheSkullKrusher)
Gage+Desoto (Mike Spriggs) (@GageDesoto)

Other:
Speed Metal Cycling on Facebook
SkullKrusher on Instagram
Speed Metal Cycling YouTube Channel

SMC Jersey Presale Ended April 22

"Sumus Fortiores Vobis... Obtinebimus Aeternum."

You are out of luck, chief.

Episode 52: McLarendish* Bubble Yum

Note the three Suitcases of Courage included with the new McLaren 12C

*®Mike Spriggs

Subscribe to Podcast on iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)

In the episode:
- Tour de Jose's Guide to 2013 Kits
- Party All The Time, Eddie Murphy Video
- Young Christopher Walken Looks Exactly Like Scarlett Johansson
- Video of Car Being PlastiDip'ped
- Bubble Yu
- Hubba Bubba
- Chip Foose
- Graham Watson
- Yuzuru Sunada
- Cobbles Baby! Trailer
- Scott Coady Website

Davide Rebellin and Paolo Bettini... there's something fishy going on here.

Email:
SpeedMetalCycling@gmail.com

Links:
Gage+Desoto
Cycling Inquisition

Twitter:
Speed Metal Cycling (@SpeedMetalCycl)
The Almighty SkullKrusher (@TheSkullKrusher)
Gage+Desoto (Mike Spriggs) (@GageDesoto)

Other:
Speed Metal Cycling on Facebook
Speed Metal Cycling YouTube Channel
SkullKrusher on Pinterest 
SkullKrusher on Instagram: "TheSkullKrusher"

"What Did We Get Ourselves Into, Carlos?"

That's the question that I'm sure Domenico Pozzovivo asked Carlos Betancur during the filming of this video:

Rapha Designers Take Note: Awesome Jerseys

I know that Rapha, and that whole "retro" thing is all the rage with the kids these days, but I think they are going for the wrong "retro." Dudes, the 80s and 90s is where it's at when it comes to "retro."

Having that in mind, I'm gonna start sharing with you a few gems I came across on eBay. Unlike those lame and elegant Rapha jerseys, you can pick some of these beauties for $5.

(Don't worry, the final chapter of the Luis Herrera Story is coming soon)

Enjoy!

These two speak for themselves. Unfortunately they have a potty-mouth

I think my dad owns both of these - Cabana wear

Jackson Pollock?

Descente is being taken to an international court for these. Crimes against humanity.

Dr. Huxstable called. He needs his sweater back.

Zach Morris called. He needs his shirt back.

The limited edition Kandinsky jerseys.

Oh, boy, Gustav Klimt threw up again.

And you thought Primal Wear made ugly jerseys.

If Rock Racing ever comes back and need help with a new jersey, I vote for the green one.