Comments on: Team Player

By: Daniel P. Johnston

Daniel P. Johnston — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 18:39:57 +0000

Thanks for the comments, Nigel,

First of all, thanks for the compliment on the jerseys. Since I left that team, they’ve gone through several iterations of jersey designs, but most were actually based on the one above, so you must not be the only one who liked it. I imagine Recycled Cycles could even make a buck or two if they sold them in their store (if the team members would let them).

Regarding the general state of contemporary cycling team jerseys, they’re definitely an acquired taste. I don’t think it’s just the graphic designers that are to blame for the sponsor cacophony, though. Bike racing is expensive and few single companies are willing to put up enough money to pay for an entire team. That Recycled Cycles team was small and the shop owners were generous, which was what allowed us to have such a simple jersey. On the other hand, I think a lot of people DO like wearing jerseys with lots of sponsors on them because A. They think it makes them look more important or something, and B. People like logos (You might have noticed that logos are getting bigger on everything, from sweatshirts to sunglasses).

Now, to the very important topic of how to wear a cycling cap like a pro. First, you need to get a cap from some obscure European professional team (don’t worry, they’re all obscure to most people). Second, you need to make sure that it has a tiny little bill and plenty of volume in the head area. When you wear it, it should be perched as high on your head as possible without falling off; it should be at least 90% full of air. Then tip it down far enough in the front so that little bill actually hinders your vision.Voila! Euro. Note: only crisp, perfectly clean caps look pro, and you can’t wash them, so you should have a good stock on hand should you run into a spot of weather.

Good luck.

By: nigel

nigel — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:28:07 +0000

3 comments, first I actually love the jersey design because it is clean, simple, and elegant. Great job. I would be proud to wear it were I good enough to race as part of a team or even buy the thing from a store. Second, what is up with cycling jerseys? They are nothing more than a gaudy billboard/shill for sponsors that end up looking like an explosion in a Letraset type factory. If Graphic designers of the world were to do us all one grand service it would be to overhaul the whole cycling jersey industry. Looks like you were about to start that. Third, please describe exactly what you mean by the perfect cycling cap placement. Please I must know how to place my cap lest I appear part of the egregiously un-hip.

By: Daniel P. Johnston

Daniel P. Johnston — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:11:36 +0000

I could never forget the white season. There will be more on that later; I guarantee it. But one man does not a team make, as much as I enjoyed toying with the notion.

By: Ingy döt Net

Ingy döt Net — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 03:59:40 +0000

You forgot Team Johnston. The years in (all) white.