The cycling cap was part of any kit: nearly black shorts, team jersey and cap. It would be matching, it would be cotton. In the day before the required helmet, the cycling cap was it. Unrestrained by helmet or hairnet, the cap was the crown upon the head. It would sit high on the head, not pulled down like a baseball cap. It sat no higher upon the head than upon Giuseppi Beppe Saronni’s fine Italian head.
Beppe wore the cap with an unrivaled sense of italian style. The cap perched up there, as if it just landed, light as a feather. How it stayed there in the breeze, we don’t know. Perhaps the Saronni skull had just the perfect shape to hold a cap. We will leave that for the Phrenological scientists and the pathologist.
Rule #22 states the wearing of a cap may be for a brief interval before and after a ride, otherwise it has to be hidden under your helmet. That is a sad state of affairs. Maybe we need a national day of helmet-free cap riding. What is the worst that could happen? Do we have to ride the old timey Strade Bianche if we long to spend a long time in the saddle wearing a V-cap? If we can only wear it for a brief time or while using toe clips, is it an anachronism? Is it time to take it back: wear it in the bathtub, in the car, gasp, while walking in public? This idea has been discussed before here; the cap is ours, we should own it. When and where would Eddy wear it?
Behold the Beppe.
[dmalbum path=”/velominati.com/content/Photo Galleries/j.andrews3@comcast.net/Beppe/”/]
This video has been posted on the site before too but it deserves a wider audience.
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I recently visited some friends in Chicago for a week and packed my pedals and shoes, but not my helmet, thinking that my friend would have a helmet I could use when I borrowed her road bike. Turns out she didn't so I ended up doing 150+ kms with just my cotton cycling cap. Made me feel a little more cautious, but it felt great to be whizzing along the lakeshore with naught but a casquette.
@Mike G
Their ironic fervor must ebb and flow. Perhaps they will get tired of fixies and caps and move on to the next obvious thing: hemp powered skateboards.
I love the team issue cycling cap we use. I wish more could see while out on rides. Ties in perfectly with the kit. Keeps the head mostly warm unless it goes below 40. I do wear it for post ride espresso/beer and get the odd looks from strangers.
I was pulling out my Visa for a V-cap before the page had even loaded.
What's the cycling equivalent of blue balling?
I get the most milage out of my caps in the winter (no way in the summer when it's hot out, I cook), and I use them as scrub caps in the OR. Occasionally I'll be seen in one for a post ride malted recovery beverage, but only while still in kit.
And ya, hipsters, your time borrowing the cap has come and gone. I'll be collecting them off your heads as I ride past. Good luck catching me on your fixey.........
The Beppster also had the magnificent good luck to wear killer kits during his career: SCIC, Gis-Gelati and Del Tongo. Nary a badly designed kit there so it stands to reason tht the caps would be matchingly sweet.
The teammate in the first color pic is Wladimiro Panizza - a tough wee bugger who was pro for 18 years and finished 16 of 18 Giri. He ate hipsters for breakfast.
Was going to post that video when the Bugno love was at full tilt in the Casually Deliberate article, good to see someone came to the party. Happy to admit to a pretty massive bro-ner for Brian Holm as well.
I prefer to just wear a cap all year round and of course have different types of caps for different climates. The only time I wear a helment is for races and when I ride with my wife, so basically when I am required. Helmets are not comfortable and look stupid but I dont judge those who always wear one so dont take offense. I like the feel of just a cap while riding and it keeps the sweat out of my eyes a lot better than the minimal padding a helmet has to offer. Plus, it makes one look very cool escpecially when tossing back a pint on the deck of your favorite bar along route.
And for the Nth time, lets see a V-cap both summer and winter versions.
V-Cap!! V-Cap!! V-Cap!! V-Cap!!
@wiscot
Wladimiro Panizza eh? He does look like a tough old school bastard. No EPO for him, just steak and pasta, thank you very much. And he got to wear the Maglia Rosa while Beppe was in the Cyclamen Jersey. Nice.
@VeloVita
And mine