Cyclingnews.com just pushed out an article on the latest 2011 pro team kits. Here is my take on their Good, Bad & Ugly article.

The Shack...

• Is Whack...
• Cyclingnews Score: 23/25
• Riders One Score: Unlucky 13/25 + 1 for the Nissan Leaf

Katusha

• Russian city scapes are cool
• I could see this as a screen printed rock poster
• Cyclingnews Score: 19/25
• Riders One Score: 23/25

Leopard Trek

• I would be so pissed if my company sponsored this team.
• It smells like Rahpa in here, good things these guys did not have to pay for theirs.
• Sometimes less is more, not sure if now is the time.
• Cyclingnews Score: 19/25
• Riders One Score: 20/25

Quick Step

• The Belgium Boys in Blue now have a Red Pop.
• Flooring never looked so good.
• Cyclingnews Score: 19/25
• Riders One Score: 21/25

Rabobank

• Looks like they forgot to finish the design.
• All for brand consistency, but change it up just a lil bit.
• Cyclingnews Score: 19/25
• Riders One Score: 15/25

Omega-Pharma-Lotto

• Kinda Clowney?
• Don't like the white on grey Omega Pharma Logo pop
• Yet will still look good all grimey from cobbelstone grit and on the rivet
• Cyclingnews Score: 18/25
• Riders One Score: 20/25

Sky

• Modern & brave.
• Can't go wrong with the three stripes of Addidas on your arms.
• White back is smart and they get points for going simple first.
• Like the racing stripe on the back.
• Cyclingnews Score: 17/25
• Riders One Score: 23/25

HTC-Highroad

• Simple, clean, smart lines
• Soild
• Cycingnews Score: 17/25
• Riders One Score: 23/25

Astana

• Umm, its a Kazakhstan thing
• Cyclingnews Score: 14/25
• Riders One Score: 12/25

Liquigas

• Needs more cowbell
• Cyclingnews Score: 16/25
• Riders One Score: 15/25

Garmin-Cervelo

• Designed by local So Cal,  dare I say legend, Joe Yule ;)
• Thank god no more Orange
• Argyle lives on in a distinguished manner
• Cyclingnews Score: 14/25
• Riders One Score: 22/25

Movistar

• Sorry, looks like a class project
• Cyclingnews Score: 14/25
• Riders One Score: 13/25

Saxo Bank-Sungard

• Did the previous designer leave the squad too?
• Is that an Eagle popping out of your shorts or are you just happy to see me?
• Cyclingnews Score: 13/25
• Riders One Score: 14/25

Vacansoleil-DCM:

• Ho hum
• Cyclingnews Score: 13/25
• Riders One Score: 13/25

AG2R La Mondiale

• Wish the dark poo brown in the logo icon was black, would not be so bad then
• Not soo bad, unique, euro
• Cyclingnews Score: 12/25
• Riders One Score: 14/25

Lampre-ISD

• At least they stand out
• Cyclingnews Score: 11/25
• Riders One Score: 13/25

What do you think? Cheers, EC

Happy to finally say that the club kits have been ordered and a limited supply will be available around the first week in May. If you are interested in a kit secure yours today by pre purchasing one in the store or by contacting us.

Alchemy Goods currently recycles inner tubes, vinyl billboards, and seat belts and crafts them into durable and fashionable bags. The exterior of the bag is made of the inner-tubes rendering the finished product very water resistant, straps are made from seat belts and the zipper pulls are made from the inner-tube valve stems. Each bag is assembled by hand and each bag is unique and guaranteed for life... Pretty cool.



One of the most ingenious things that caught my eye was how Alchemy is using their brand identity as an experience touchpoint. From the Alchemy Goods website:

"Every Alchemy Goods bag purchased represents one less part of our world destroyed. That’s why all our products should have the highest possible recycled content, but also be superbly functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The logo intentionally looks like the periodic table. The number in the upper right hand corner represents the percent (by weight) of recycled material in the product you purchased."

Find out more at www.alchemygoods.com

Yo Alchemy! We would love to carry your junk... some pun intended.

If I were a used bicycle tire I would want to be handed over to the folks at Velo Re. Based out of London, designers Christian Baumgartner & Bettina Galizzi have been busy lovingly re-purposing bicycle tires into fashionable belts.

As you’d expect Velo Re has quite a following in the cycling community. Many professional racers like to give the belts as gifts to friends and sponsors, using tires they’ve raced on. Indeed, their latest devotee is British Olympic gold medallist Nicole Cooke. Other cyclists simply want mementos of races won or challenging tours that they have completed.

Check out www.velo-re.com to find our more information.