PDX messenger and Jack Taylor enthusiast, Joel Metz, forwarded along this amazing french catalog for Unis-Sport, an early sponsor of the Tour de France. I’m reposting product highlights in case you’re in the market for a tailored ensemble for bike camping or cyclo-tourism. My own mail order form – post marked 1938 – will include a request for a wool pullover with the Tour de France logo and a pair of the Raynaud model leather cycling shoes. Shop for yourself…
| By Lesli Larson | 2 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival cyclists, cycling shoes, cycling wear, cyclotourism, plus fours, shopping from france, shopping from the past, socks, tour de france |
Jackson & Gibbens got going in Archival’s hometown – Eugene, Oregon – in the 1970s when Mark Jackson couldn’t find a good bicycling jacket for a good price. They’re still going strong, and everything is still made in Oregon.
We’re thinking about carrying the J&G cyclist’s rain cape, which, as long as you have fenders on your bike, is a highly underrated garment.
| By Tom Bonamici | 2 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival bicycles, archival cyclists, Bicycling, capes, cycling wear, eugene, J and G, Oregon, synthetic exceptions |
John Boultbee Criterion jacket (via Brooks of England blog)
Many of the Criterion’s technical features are borrowed from traditional hunting garb. For example, the Criterion comes with integrated carrying straps for t.
The Beretta Maremmana jacket (a traditional Italian hunting jacket) makes use of the same hands free shoulder strap design. The Maremmana, in moleskin or corduroy, would also make for a terrific cycling jacket in cooler weather.
The Criterion features an “action back” to facilitate free upper body movement. This feature can also be found on traditional field and waterfowling jackets like the Red Head or this Filson Upland jacket.
Unlike most heritage brands, Brooks has designed a version of the Criterion jacket for women. As far as a I can tell, the jacket mirrors the version for gents but is sized for women.
The UK has a strong history of producing stylish, beautifully tailored cycling wear like the Criterion. I’m mail ordered the hip lenght, M-45 Zipp jacket. Impatiently awaiting delivery.
Another modern UK alternative for cyclists 0r cyclo-commuters is the unlined Hilltrek double ventile jacket. The jacket can be custom ordered in a single ventile layer for greater breathability. In general, I prefer light, unlined jackets for use on the bicycle.
If you cannot afford the Criterion (1000.00 €), we recommend the Carradice Duxbak waxed rain cape. For slow speed, upright cycling a rain cape provides terrific rain protection while permitting you to wear pretty much any outfit you like underneath.
I’m partial to wearing non integrated cycling clothing on the bike. Most suit jackets or blazers work perfectly well for short distance commutes. Here is a terrific modern example:| By Lesli Larson | 1 Comment | Share:
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| Tags: archival bicycles, archival cyclists, beretta, brooks, corduroy, cycling wear, engineered garments, heritage collections for women, hunting clothing, Shopping from the UK, ventile |
Here’s a shopping opportunity for vintage climbing packs and apparel from Seattle based Yak Works. AC reader Alan Wenker was kind enough to supply me with these original scans. Alan is interested in vintage backpacking apparel from 60s and 70s. Like Archival, Alan wants to see as many of these original catalogs made available for general viewing. So many have disappeared from view. Where else can you see evidence of lost products like Scottish Polarwear, Norse net shirts, Gore-tex cycling chaps and Swaledale mountain shirts from the Lake District?
Alan’s vintage yakpak| By Lesli Larson | 5 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: 1980s, climbing, cycling wear, print ephemera, Seattle, shopping from the past |
| By Lesli Larson | 5 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: corduroy, cycling wear, Hebden Cord, Jackets, moleskin, shopping from the past, Shopping from the UK, smocks, tweed, vests |
by Lesli Larson
Archival Clothing readers are well acquainted with my obsession for Hebden Cord, an out-of-business UK clothier. Hebden Cord offered made-to-measure jackets, trousers and breeks in a selection of moleskins, cottons and tweeds. Upon request, Hebden Cord mailed out a sizing guide and matchbook sized fabric swatches (some quite shopworn or sun damaged). From overseas, one could spec the size, cut and finishing details of any garment in the Hebden Cord line. At the time Hebden Cord went out of business, I was plotting my order for double seated cycling shorts in heavyweight twill whipcord.
The nearest contemporary match to Hebden Cord is Old Town Clothing where one can still customize the fabric on a fixed range of garments, but not the fit.
Hebden Cord print catalogs were simple, rarely changing from year to year. For this reason, I like to collect ebay images of Hebden Cord items to monitor how patterns were customized over time. Here is a recent tweed shooting jacket which would be perfect for either game poaching or Tweed Ride use.
Hebden Cord Tweed Shooting Jacket (ebay item: 180458736173)
| By Lesli Larson | 11 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: cycling wear, extinct brands, from the archives, Hebden Cord, Jackets, shooting jackets, shopping from the past, tweed |
by Lesli Larson
On Saturday, I’ll be joining friends for the third Eugene Tweed ride. Here’s my ride report from the Spring 2009 edition. For novice participants, I’m setting aside a few garments for your Saturday ensemble. Since the forecast calls for rain, I’m suggesting you layer with a Hilltrek ventile cycling jacket in lieu of the more traditional, heavy overcoat. For dryer conditions, substitute a Huckecote tweed shooting jacket: the Clunie for ladies or the Redford for gents (matching caps and breeks available).
Purdey shooting breeks
| By Lesli Larson | 3 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival bicycles, cycling shoes, cycling wear, eugene, Eugene tweed ride, Hilltrek, Hucklecote, Jackets, lavenham, musettes, Oregon, tweed, ventile |
| By Lesli Larson | No Comments | Share:
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| Tags: country clothing, cycling wear, Hebden Cord, moleskin, tweed, ventile |
Originally uploaded by zbillster
Birthday money in hand, I’ll be placing an order for some sueded Avocet touring shoes and hand crocheted, long fingered wool cycling gloves from the now defunct mail order company, Palo Alto Bicycles.
Thanks to zbillster for making vintage bike catalogues from Palo Alto Bicycles and Bikeology available through his flickr pages. Flipping through the endless selection of new old stock bike bits, I found an August clearance section with some questionable deals on Campagnolo Nuovo Record cranks (still spendy in 1976 @ 89.00 dollars) and Silca floor pumps (pricier in 1976 than now?).
Originally uploaded by zbillster
| By Lesli Larson | 4 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival footwear, cycling shoes, cycling wear, shopping from the past |
A wintery May has forced us to shop from the home archives for our Spring cycling ensembles. My usual heavy rotation of heavyweight Barbour coats has been exchanged for the simple, “breathable” construction of a Carradice Duxback cycling jacket (discontinued). Sara is opting more for the sheriff’s work crew, hi-vis daylight yellow look of a Burley rain suit (also discontinued).
| By Lesli Larson | 19 Comments | Share:
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| Tags: archival bicycles, archival cyclists, birkenstock, burely, carradice, cycling wear, rainlegs, synthetic exceptions, waxed cotton |
