When we designed the V-Kit in the winter of 2010, we thought we’d arrived at the ultimate Velominatus look. But, as it turns out, Spinal Tap Black isn’t for everyone. Apparently, not every climate is like that of the Pacific Northwest, where a heat advisory is issued when the mercury hits 30C (85F) and businesses close when it dips below 0C (32F). Evidently, some places get a touch warmer and colder than that.
Just like having a perfectly curated stable of bicycles ready for each and every possible weather condition, year-round Rule #9 Cycling Awesomeness requires the kit to support it. Which meant that we needed to expand our kit options. With each season comes a different array of requirements. With each climate comes a different set of boundary conditions. Each requires a different bit of kit, and all of it needs to be Rule compliant (though the very fact that any of this is being discussed begs the question whether Rule #5 isn’t being violated in heaps) not to mention that every bit should work in perfect harmony with every other bit.
It is with this objective in mind that we present you with three lines of Velominati V-Kit, Zwarte, Witte, and Winter. (I’m disappointed that Dutch doesn’t have a more exotic word for “Winter” than “Winter”. For the Love of Merckx, would it kill us to put a “V” in there somewhere?)
The obvious place to start is with the easy stuff. The first addition to the V-Kit family was the Long Sleeve V-Jersey, which was released earlier this year; a no-brainer, really. Next came the Obey the Rules Arm Warmers released in the Spring, an even less-brainer than the LS V-Jersey. Based on the realization that there is nothing more disappointing than covering up that beautiful V-Cog on your chest with a garish YJA when the weather turns unexpectedly nippy, we now have the V-Gillet; an uninsulated lightweight wind & waterproof vest that stuffs down for easy storage in your jersey pocket.
Then things got complicated, and leave it to KRX-10, our genius V-Designer, to ask distressing questions that reveal how poorly thought-out our concepts were. Why were we offering a second kit, aside from the obvious reason that the community is asking for it. What was the purpose of a white kit? Would it be a revision of the black, or is it an entirely new design? How would it relate to the overall identity of Velominati? How would it work with the existing V-Bibs? Would we make adjustments to the black V-Kit to better support the white? Would we add V-Bibs specifically designed for the white V-Jersey? Would we only offer them in defined configurations, or would we design it with the flexibility to mix and match? Finally – and perhaps most importantly, what would we call it?
Obviously, the answer to the above questions are somewhere between “9” and “yes”. An all-white V-Jersey is paired to all-black V-Bibs in what we are calling the Witte V-Kit. While the black Witte V-Bibs* are designed to go with the white Witte V-Jersey, they look smashing with the original (now re-named) Zwarte V-Jersey; the women have been rocking this combination all season with the Women’s V-Shorts. Conversely, the Witte V-Jersey looks dapper as fuck with the original Zwarte V-Bibs.
We leave you with the choice: Zwarte, Witte, Winter. However you choose, choose wisely and choose carefully. Place your order by midnight on September 15 for the next V-Kit shipment, scheduled to arrive in early November. If you have already ordered the V-Kit and would like to switch your order to the Witte Kit, please contact us.
*Please don’t attempt to distract us with the observation that “Witte” is the Dutch word for “White” and that the Witte V-Bibs are, in fact, black. They are named in parity with the intended full kit, not individually.
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View Comments
@sgt
Ooooohhhh, if it didn't seem so damn self-serving, that adjustment would have to be made immediately. Top notch.
@Steampunk
As for the length of the shorts - I'm a leggy fuck (more girls have told me they wish they HAD my legs than that they LIKED my legs - or any other part of me) and have never known a pair of shorts that were on the long size of the Golidlocks Principle. But these are fo sho not too short, either.@Steampunk
Very, very well played.
@minion
Trudat, thanks for being my rock. That was close, funny how when you're multi-lingual (Dutch, English, and Velomis for me) you can get your wires crossed.
In Velomiskrit, of course, the number "10" is written as "VV" - not X - since we use a base-five numbering system. So it's not really a Witte V-Kit, it's a VVitte V-Kit. That's three V's. Thats enough for almost anyone.
Sometimes, we just write a "W" because it's easier. Just like the Dutch, rather than making people write a ÿ, we just write ij. It looks the same and raises less questions from the uninitiated.
@frank
Would socks be asking too much? I know the minimums are beastly for socks, but they'd be the icing on the cake.
@frank
That's why I'm on a Wilier. There's no "W" in Italian, so they use it as a contraction for "ViVa". Cool, huh?
Awesome shit Frank. I'm am do for a new bike in he next couple of weeks. Might need to add a bit of kit as well.
@frank
Thanks for the in-depth rundown on the sizing. Race-fit is definitely what I'm after so the XLs should do. I've found that if a jersey isn't skin tight, the pockets start to sag regardless of how little is in them and that is simply unacceptable. I'll be placing my order for a Swarte SS jersey and bibs as well as a Witte jersey once the purchase order is approved by the wife.
@michael
No one has ever complimented my position here. Thanks for that. Credit where credit is due, both Oli and Rob had some good feedback the last time I rode the volcano, and due to their advice I went from a 17 degree stem to a 10 degree stem, raising the bars about 5mm (17 degree - 10 degree @ 130mm length = ~1cm delta, but my 17 had a 5mm spacer under it) and I raised my saddle by about the same amount.
Overall, I feel much better on the bike; this is the first season where I've had almost no knee pain in my right knee, which was operated on when I was 18.
I've probably never thanked those guys specifically for that - so @Oli/@Rob - thanks for your input - really helped heaps.
Frank, these kits look damn sweet. I am going to indulge for my birthday I think, or maybe sooner if I get this new job I'm angling for... I have some serious lust for a nice kit. I think the new white jersey will look awesome with the original bibs as well.
Regarding your fit, I think your position on the bike looks great; it's just the saddle to handlebar drop when your bike is shown without a rider is what freaks me out. Do you get comments about it when out and about often?
@frank
Was thinking, mainly, that I'm not a leggy fuck but the length of the XL bib is not too long for me (though maybe on the lengthier end of the Goldilocks spectrum"”the BFGs are exceptionally girthful, however"”girls don't want my legs).
What?? That's, like, 15, which is far greater than 11.
@sgt
Nice work. ViVa Italia Liberata e Rendenta!