"The Cycling Jersey", Veloart and the history of cycling

Veloart - a mix of disgustingly expensive modernity with stitched cotton shirts

Veloart is probably the most controversial seat on the cycling map of Warsaw. At least if we take into account those that drink coffee and spend money. There are very few advanced amateur cyclists in our country who have not once clicked on Facebook in their project (link to their profile). In Veloarta, bicycles are composed - dreams, works of art. Indecently expensive, uncompromising, often better than professional equipment ... even ProToures. This is a place that represents the hateful policy of being a cyclist: always clean and well-groomed bike, a break before training, carefully packed rice cake while driving, and after the end: a natural regenerative cake with organic strawberry, torn by virgin white hands , walking naked and with a smile on the field, in search of the best and the most red (I would write further, but I miss breath because I think I'm too long and I'm not sure about grammar; P). This is a place where we can also meet some of the cycling celebrities and take part in interesting events (events are such events, only more pro - you, American;) ).

But…

And when you read these praises, you start to get the impression that someone paid me for this description, or at least I got gratis, the second, darker side is reminded. A website that no one writes loudly, just as you do not write about getting uncomfortable to Lamborghini. Because there is also no other service and store in the city, which is said to be so bad at the same time. It may be a bad word, but with a slight contempt and a smile under the mustache. You may say it is not so, but it is enough to delve into the cycling world and backstage conversations, and it will turn out that it does. Because each of us knows at least a few people whom Veloart bothered. This is quite normal, sometimes something of a bungler. Only there you pay for the premium service (basically like a few premium services). If you pay for something much more than in other places, information about any failure goes faster and better. With two bad ones, it's better to pay less. I do not know people among their nearer-casual-ambitious-amateur riders who would visit this place regularly. This meeting confirmed that they are generally not there. There are some other people whom I have never had the opportunity to meet on the Gasses, Ronda or races.

An embarrassing joke.

It's like in this joke:

- Hi Rysiek. You know what, I do not want you coming to us anymore.
- What happened?
- No, just do not come.
- But what the hell happened?
- When you last stayed with us, 150 zlotys died.
- You do not think it's me?
…
- No no! The money came ... but the taste remained bad!

Unfortunately, I'm just as far from the ideology of coffee and rice cake as to regularly lubricate the chain, let alone Ceramic Speedach. That's why I'm rare there.

People.

But I should not write about it. This entry will be about one of the events. The premiere (though maybe more, the first official presentation) of the book "The Cycling Jersey - Craftsmanship, Speed ​​and Style". As for those more familiar people who appeared on the spot, one could meet: Tomasz Marczyński (professional cyclist from Lotto-Soudal), Dariusz Baranowski (3x TdP winner, 11 completed Grand Tour, 9x Polish Champion), Eligiusz Grabowski (the best Polish cyclist according to PZKOL in 1957), Marian Więckowski (3x in a row winner TdP in years ~ 50) and Adam Probosz (Eurosport cycling commentator since '99). It could not be missing out there and us!

Book.

Briefly about "The Cycling Jersey": 1.5 kilos of nice paper and decent printing, over 200 pages, over 400 photos, andkicks on Kickstarterand all this to illustrate the history of cycling shirts. No putty, this is a book about t-shirts. One of those you will either read with interest or you can look at the pictures and put them on the shelf. But that does not matter - the shelf also looks nice, and 35 euros is a very fair price. This is one of those things that is perfect for a December gift for a cyclist. Big, nice, ambitious and minimal chance to double with another gift. Something like albums with the best mountains from Rapha, with the difference that the best mountains have already been seen many times, and here there is a lot of content outside of the look. The content we did not know much about. Not only that - a topic that practically does not move.

I would recommend. Maciej Hop.

Let me say straight: "The Cycling Jersey" is probably the most beautiful cycling jersey I've ever seen. The subject matter is as specific as the original one, for which the author should receive huge applause. The quality, however, is overwhelming: where did he get these photos from the previous era, how did he get to the shirts, how did he get interviews, where did such good pictures, so many clothes? Wow. I will probably worry you as I write now that the printout is limited to some 600 copies (from what I understand).

It shows how the evolution of cycling costumes has progressed, both technologically and visually. Patterns that once had to look great, and have recently brought a smile on their faces, now slowly return to favor. Chessboards, bold combinations of colors, large inscriptions - in the era of minimalism and neat design, somewhere inside you want to return this obscure, vintage project. When you browse through the pages, you can also see how many current racing shirts refer to the style of your ancestors by several dozen years old.

For the very possibility of acquiring this book along with the signature, it was worth going.

Because when it comes to the meeting itself, everything went classical. Hours of talks of cyclists from various eras led by Mr. Probosz with the guest participation of the author of the book. A couple of jokes, a few trivia, movie releases - nothing a man would not know or have heard before. The ancient inventions with modernity, which hangs on the walls: Cipollini, Pinarello, etc., are very nice. Everything is decorated with a classic, veloart climate, that is, a jacket, shirt and hat with a perfectly ironed visor. Interestingly, for some 50-60 people, friends face up to a few. However, this is definitely not our atmosphere.

Raso

By the way there was also a chance to see some clothes from Raso. Not much, but it is enough to say that Raso is currently at the forefront of Polish producers in terms of quality and design. It seems that it can easily compete with the best brands from the west, also those considered premium. How do they work in practice? When I buy one day, I will tell you - on this day the budget ate the book;)

Was it worth it?

As far as alone event somehow he did not particularly charm us (and I do not mean the lack of free food, stiff atmosphere and very poor sound system), it was definitely worth coming to meet the author of this work. I do not often recommend anything on this blog, but "The Cycling Jersey" is both an ideal gift and a brilliant decoration on the shelf, which will show our guests passion and just a beautiful album with a lot of cycling history. Something like that does not happen often. KUDOS for this gentleman - I sincerely envy him and would like to create something like this one day. 

(as I will have blogs okajki, I will give one here)

If you missed the event, the author goes on a further promotional tour around the world and you can meet him eg on November 15 at Rapha London or on November 19th at the Rapha Clubhouse in Amsterdam.

Details of the book, chapter description, photos, history and note from the author are available on the previously mentioned Kickstarter collection website -> I invite you.

From similar books I managed to find:

The Art of the Jersey: A celebration of the cycling racing jersey - link to Amazon

The Art of the Cycling Jersey: Iconic Cycle Wear Past and Present - link to Amazon