how Elizabethan….

I had another thought last night while contemplating the tailored cycling suit phenomenon… considering that retro/vintage style is flavour of the month in the cycling world then why be constrained by the style of the country gentry circa 1930-1950.. lets go even further back….. how about the Rapha “Elizabethan Edition”… now considering that bicycles hadn’t even been invented the adoption by well-to-do “men of standing” of tights/leggings seems almost a premonitory style statement. Indeed, with the exception of the clergy, who then as now prefer dresses, Elizabethan attire may have been quite practical on the bike…. stretchy leggings for comfortable pedalling, a long frock coat or “skirt” (for want of a better word) to keep the backside warm when on the bike, a tightly buttoned tunic to reduce wind-flap and a ruff for keeping the neck warm… of course for time-trialling you’d want to go aero and dispense with the ruff. So come on Rapha… what are you waiting for :o)

By the way, poor Baldrick in the photo is worn out from his alleycat efforts, he did win some trendy pink Oury grips though…