Ripstop camo on your bibshorts? Not quite, but that’s the Trompe-l’œil played by artist Jay Ferracane (aka Angry Bovine). The design is part of Panache Cycling Wear’s new small batch artist series, which will debut as frequent mini collections in limited quantities. For 2017, they’ll have something new every week. It may not be an entirely new jersey design, perhaps it’s socks or an accessory, but it’ll be something every week. There’s currently kits from Handlebar Mustache available, with this new Angry Bovine collection hitting their site in March 2017.
Alongside its introduction will be the new Rowdy Line designed for off road scrambles and a new, small run custom program with a unique take on minimum orders…
You may not have heard of Angry Bovine, but chances are you’ve seen his work. He’s done logos and art for Cannondale, Strava, Handlebar Mustache, Spectrum Powderworks and many more. Check out his portfolio here.
Their artist series is a good example of the benefits of a small batch production cycle. It’s done as a pre-order where they put the design online, then produce them a few weeks later in quantities from 20 to 200 depending on pre-order interest. They’ll make a bit more to sell after the pre-orders are filled, but you’ll get a 25% discount for ponying up in advance.
Panache’s lines are differentiated by use, not quality level. You’ve got enthusiast, race and uber race, with the latter being super tight fitting. They use the same CyTech endurance chamois in all three, with men’s and women’s specific versions. The particular chamois they use doesn’t look highly technical, but they say it’s the one Team Sky rode in last year and that many pros favor because it stretches well and moves with the Lycra underneath it.
The new Rowdy Collection features looser, more casual style clothing that has some unique takes on pockets and other features.
The Chapman Henley is a merino blend with small pockets on the side. The DS (Director Sportif) short sleeve shirt (on right, center in top photo) is a button up with stretch wicking fabric. The sleeves get an under arm panel that helps prevent weird binding around the shoulder when in the riding position without resorting to flapped panels on the back yoke, so it’s a little cleaner looking.. Look for it in black and this putty color.
The Joder Jersey (on right in top photo) gets two small pockets on the front for snacks or other lightweight items, plus one larger center pocket not he back. The thinking is it’s easier to grab something quickly up front then fish around behind you on gravelly roads where you need to be able to get hands back on the bar as quick as possible. It gets a non-stretch tape down the back (on the inside) to prevent it from sagging when you load the rear pocket.
The Rowdy Lightweight Shell Short is a basic baggy with cinch tabs on the sides and a stretch material that’ll move with you on the bike…and look good off the bike. The VTR Bib Short gets one back pocket just below the waist, three smaller pockets on the upper back, and small side pockets at the bottom of each leg.
All of these items come available March 30.
Also coming online March 30 is the upgraded custom program. They’ve dialed the process to get order times down to 4-5 weeks at most. They’ve been making their goods in Romania, but are moving to their own facility in China. Minimums used to be 50 pieces, but now it’s just $1,500 minimum that you can mix and match the parts in any way to get to that figure.
