Pantani shows how to do it.
Whenever something tries to be something it isn’t, you wind up getting into trouble. Those Cutlass Cruisers in the 70’s and 80’s with vinyl wood panelling weren’t fooling anyone. Neither are those linoleum tiles in my kitchen; not one person in history has ever mistaken them for being marble. And Lycra has never tricked anyone into believing it was a pair of jean shorts. Despite the extra effort to add a fly and pockets to them.
Which brings up an important point. Looking Pro is not the same as Looking Fantastic. They mostly just stumble into looking cool because they’re on their bikes so much that everything becomes natural for them. But Pros frequently look completely crap, often because their sponsors are paying them to wear something no one in their right mind would ever wear. Like denim-printed bib shorts. But sometimes, when you’re baller enough, you can pull off the most horrendous of kit and still Look Fantastic.
Pantani is the only rider on the long list of those who rode for Carrera who ever pulled off this look. Shit, he even pulled off the all-denim-print long sleeve jersey. He might even have special-ordered it, just to prove he could do it.
Don’t try this at home, kids. You are not this cool, and you can not pull off that look. Pencils down, class dismissed.
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JORTS
At the risk of being soundly ridiculed ... denim shorts ... in my much younger race days.
This thread needs some Castorama. Not even Cipo could make that look good.
Well if jeans with a denim jacket is known as a Canadian Tuxedo, what should this be known as? An Italian Fiasco?
On another note. I once actively enjoyed making myself look terrible. I was a child of the 'oughts - the bigger the pants, the cooler you were. I had a pair of absolutely tremendous royal blue velour pants that I would wear with the loudest paisley shirt (complete with coast-to-coast collars) I could find at Salvation Army. All that being said, maturity is a beautiful thing. Had I been into cycling in high school, I would have sought out that kit desperately. A decade later, I realize that no amount of panache could make me look good in that.
I think Claudio Chiapucci rocked it just as well, a decade before Il Pirata.
Chiapucci skinny jeans! No one wore them better.
Never in doubt.
This is not a victory salute, this is " who the fck designed this shit looking kit "
Marco would've rocked it though !
@chuckp
Well...the bike is still just as cool!
I would argue that Claudio Chiappucci and Stephen Roche also filled the faux-denim with aplomb.