Over the past 2 years, like it or not, we have become accustomed to the actions of an egotistical, self described rebellious, bad-boy fashionista wanna-be. Good or bad for cycling, and the opinions run the gamut, Michael Ball's concept and direction has always left me viewing him as little more than the nerdy kid who tried too hard to be different; the kid who had the homemade Misfits tattoo and traded first pressing Effigies and Government Issue 7"s for a leather jacket and spiked dog collar before going home to listen to Spandau Ballet, Naked Eyes and Romeo Void cassettes. He tries too hard to be different that everything comes across as an act...and all of it simply to make himself look better in the small hope that someone will think he is cycling's saving grace even as a martyr.
He always reminded me a little of a pro wrestling manager, all talk with little follow through except to let his international caliber team with several members with questionable pasts - an one now retired doped national pro champion) lay waste to fields in mostly regional Pro/1/2 events. But I digress...Most of the folks (and I would actually estimate none) I race with on a regular basis are not club going, coke snorting, trust fund party hounds with a taste for fashion and female D-list celebrities and models with complex eating disorders. My limited marketing education would lead me to believe that the target demographic of team sponsors would be to glean some exposure with US cycling fans and participants who are generally the middle income folks with a moderate disposable income. I'm not talking European teams, simply the domestic US market which arguable is very different than the Euro one in which cycling is second only to soccer for numbers of fans, interest in the sport and the money that circulates through. The bottom line is, I know of no friends of mine who have enough dispoable income to currently afford a pair of Michael Ball's Rock and Republic jeans at $175 a pop. Personally, I cringe when I pay over $25 for a pair of Levi Strauss jeans that I know will last 5 or more years. Those Levi's will certainly be more comfortable in my opinion, than something meant to be worn so tight you can tell my religion in them. Shockingly, just as Ball's exit of cycling seems eminent along with his crumbling Rock and Republic empire and mess of a cycling team, George Hincapie appears poised to fill a gap, that as I mentioned above, doesn't seem to need to be filled. As most know, George and his brother Rich own Hincapie sportwear, makers of fine cycling clothing. I have worn their bibs and jerseys in past season, and found them as well made as any mid-level competitive cycling clothing company (Garneau, Pactimo, Champion, etc), but recently they have moved into something more removed from "sportwear". Yep, you knew it was coming.....designer jeans. Introducing Hincapie Premium Denim, where the jeans are priced at more than the cost of a Giro TT helmet.
Seriously George? And to top the whole thing off, a quick internet search reveals that the most often sited retail location to buy these wonders of denim fashion - Competitive Cyclist! They are being advertised as "apres ride" garments. I have to admit though, the euro model poses of Rich and George on the website, make me smile. Is George the new Cipo, I bet there are several out there who would hope that is the case, but I'm not sure his wife would approve.
