[music] Speaker:
Modern-day clothing has come on leaps and bounds from when cycling first began. Technology and
science has advanced what we wear for the better. What are the key revolutions in cycling clothing
that have changed for good? Here are top picks. [music]
Spandex, or as we cyclists like to call it, lycra, was invented in 1958. I guess Madonna ruined the
word spandex [unintelligible 00:00:39], but whatever you call it, lycra is a synthetic
fiber known for its incredible elasticity, and it revolutionized cycling clothing completely. Lycra
just fits the bill, and it's the perfect material for cycling. It's tight-fitting,
it's aerodynamic, it's lightweight, it's quick-drying, and it's strong,
and due to its incredible elasticity, it returns to its original shape after being stretched.
Before the world of lycra, it was a woolly place. It was the go-to material for pros even though it
was stretchy and itchy, and when it was wet it sagged like a bag of potatoes. I am thankful for
the invention of lycra, to say the least. Oh, and you can see Hank trying to ride in woolen
clothing right here. [music]
Another cycling clothing revolution we are all extremely grateful for is the synthetic shammy.
Pre-1930s, the shammy just didn't exist. You just sat on your wooden shorts on a leather saddle and,
well, you just dealt with the chafing. Sounds very unpleasant. Post-1940s, shammies were made
from leather. A mild improvement I guess, and you needed a cream to help soften the leather.
The leather of choice was of course dear, a soft and supple leather apparently. It wasn't until the
1980s that a modern-day shammy became a staple for clothing manufacturers made from microfiber
with a foam padding. It revolutionized comfort on the saddle, and I think our bottoms are quite
grateful for the shammy. [music]
The Assos Chronosuit was the first-ever skinsuit to be used, and that was in
1978 at the Track World Championships in Munich. It was a game-changer at the time,
and a definite aerodynamic advantage compared to the shorts and jersey combo. Other manufacturers
scrambled to copy Assos's design and make their own version of a skinsuit. It only took
two years until every rider at the Track World Championships in Moscow wore a skinsuit. These
days skinsuits are the TT garment of choice, but they have snuck into road races with most
riders wearing them with every race they do. The speed suit is basically a skinsuit but
with pockets in the back, making it easier for riders to carry gels and race food. However, it's
surprising how much time it actually took to catch on. Many riders still wear shorts and jersey. I
remember just a few years back, if you turned up to a race in a speed suit everybody thought you
were weird. Fashion can be stubborn sometimes. [music]
Maybe not clothing but a clothing accessory, I guess. In the very first Tour de France,
riders used glasses similar to motorbike goggles, which were used on descents and on very dusty
roads. Modern-day sunglasses are dramatically different. They have different shade levels,
anti-UV, anti-fog, lightweight, and shatterproof. Oakley's Factory Pilot Eyeshades were the first
of what can be described as the modern look of cycling sunglasses. First used in 1984, they set
the tone for cycling shades in the modern era. [music]
The first real helmet was invented by Bell Autoparts in 1975, and it revolutionized head
protection. It consisted of a hard outer shell with foam-like material inside, and that was
the beginning of the modern helmet we see today. Before 1975 riders either didn't wear a helmet,
which is something I just can't imagine, or they wore this leather sort of hat tied together with
wool. They were shown to be pretty ineffective at protecting your head, and they had the tendency
to rot too. 1975 can be seen as a turning point in helmet safety, but it wasn't until 2003 that
helmets became mandatory in races. [music]
With the invention of the modern-day helmet, manufacturers were trying to find ways to
make them more aerodynamic. Now, vents kept the head cool, but they also created drag,
which is aerodynamic's worst enemy. Greg LeMond pioneered the first-ever aero time trial lead when
he famously beat Lauren Fignon in the 1989 tour, taking the yellow jersey by eight seconds. LeMond
used Giro's Aerohead helmet, a model which is still going today. A hard shell helmet designed to
cut through the wind. It revolutionized slippery helmets and set the tone for years to come.
[music] We here at GCN are a big fan
of a cap or casquette, and are definitely of the view that caps, and not hats, belong in cycling.
They are just the key part of cycling culture. From the early 1800s, caps were synonymous in
cycling. It was the flat cap. They used to protect riders from the elements. It wasn't until the
1950s that the cycling cap we see today became commonplace. Sponsors began branding the caps,
and they became the true mark of a professional cyclist. As a cheaper item of clothing, they were
the perfect symbol to support a rider or a team. [music]
Gabba jackets were the brainchild of Gabriel Rasch, and these came about in 2010. Until
then rain jackets were fully waterproof, but riders tend to sweat too much and overheat in
them. Rasch wanted a jacket that was waterproof yet breathable. Keeping the reader warm but not
overheating and causing them to sweat too much and then getting wet from their own sweat, going
against the purpose of a waterproof jacket in the first place. Castelli partnered with Gore to
develop a short-sleeved jacket that kept most of the rain out but also allowed the humidity to get
out. The Gabba jacket was born, and Gabriel Rasch became immortalized in cycling clothing history.
The Gabba and his imitations have become a staple for pro riders, with many riders
opting for the Gabba jacket in the early years. Thomas Voeckler, a French rider, was
rumored buying each rider in his team a Gabba a jacket at top price. All praise the Gabba jacket.
[music] Yes, I know it's not really clothing,
but wait for my point. The M71 marked a big change in cycling, and it was invented in 1971. Before
Cinellii debuted the first clipless pedals, riders used to use a toe strap system without the cleats.
The M71s allowed the riders to clip their shoes straight onto the pedals. From this point onwards
cycling shoes were made with this in mind. The M71s can be seen as a revolutionary year that led
to the shoes we wear today. [music]
Possibly one of the best revolutions for keeping us warm, Gore-Tex. It was invented in 1969,
and it changed riding in the rain. It was lightweight, breathable, and waterproof. Gore-Tex
is a fluoropolymer material, and repels water in drop form and allows it to pass through as vapor,
which is very good for the active cyclist. It's quite weak on its own, so it's usually
mixed between two stronger materials. We see Gore-Tex on many modern cycling clothing,
and I personally am very grateful for it, especially on cold winter wet rides. Those
were some of the key clothing revolutions in cycling, but what ones did we miss? Let us know
in the comments section below or on social media. What are your favorite clothing revolutions in
cycling? [beep] is the perfect material for cycling. It's tight-fitting. The
speed suit is now-- [beep] These days skinsuits are the TT garment of choice,
but they have a-- [beep] These days skinsuits are the time trial clothing garment. These days--
[beep] Modern-day sunglasses are dramatically different. Different shade levels, anti-UV,
anti-fog lenses, lightweight, and shatterproof. [beep] First worn in 1978-- [beep] Oakley's
Factory Pilot Eyeshades were the first of what we can describe that has set the looked at the
modern look. [beep] Also on the cheaper end of the clothing spectrum. [beep] All praise
the Gabba jacket. [laughs] [00:10:15] [END OF AUDIO]