Bike Hub's 2017 Sock Off

[Pure Savage]

Ah, the old days when cyclists had style. And fashion sense.

 

Imagine these guys wearing half watermelons or star wars patterns on their socks.

 

These guys wore whatever their sponsors told them to wear. If Banesto told them to wear jelly beans with stawberries they would have done so. It just so happens they were too busy with doping and not sock doping....

[carbon29er]

Exactly Google Merkx, La Mond, Pantani, really cycling legends, there is not an office sock in sight.

Ullrich, Hinault, Coppi and Anquetil?

 

BTW it's LeMond and Merckx.

 

But then again, this is SA and Specialized has a huge market share. Proves common sense and cycling are mutually exclusive for large chunks of bike riders.

 

Edit: added correct spelling of the GOAT, as the septics would call Eddy.

Edited January 27, 2017 by carbon29er

[carbon29er]

These guys wore whatever their sponsors told them to wear. If Banesto told them to wear jelly beans with stawberries they would have done so. It just so happens they were too busy with doping and not sock doping....

You honestly think a sponsor would dare tell Eddy Merckx what to wear if he wasn't cool with it?

 

I think the point is, sponsors then didn't ask riders to wear stuff that is so against any common sense.

 

Even today where the teams are far more likely to take cash to promote bad taste we don't see silly socks in pro racing. We just see them on the poseurs chasing Strava segments.

[Pure Savage]

You honestly think a sponsor would dare tell Eddy Merckx what to wear if he wasn't cool with it?

 

I think the point is, sponsors then didn't ask riders to wear stuff that is so against any common sense.

 

Even today where the teams are far more likely to take cash to promote bad taste we don't see silly socks in pro racing. We just see them on the poseurs chasing Strava segments.

 

I hate these Strava chasing poseurs the most!

 

 

So thats a sponsor telling a multiple world champ, a winner of multiple stage races to wear silly socks.

 

Money Talks

[rorydewet]

Once a year Varsity college run a trail ride at Central Trails at Modderfontein in Jhb.

 

If you among the 1 st 500 odd to register you get a free pair of Varsity College socks on race day. (and yes I understand nothing is free)

 

I have no clue who makes them. But they a very very comfortable sock

 

But I enter myself and wife and 2 sons, pay the entry fee, and then take the socks and keep them myself.

 

If I pay entry I keep socks. If they want socks they must pay for entry.

 

That is my yearly sock plan.

 

Don't knock it till you have tried it.

 

 

[Kalahari Vegmot]

Short or long socks; expensive or cheap socks... The debate will go on forever...

 

I personally feel that I would rather spend money on my bike than on socks, so Ackermans/Jet/Woolies/Mr Price will do it for me thanks. I however like simpler designs, and above all, I like my socks long. But, not everybody does-for various reasons.

 

Dissing a guy because he is wearing short socks or wearing long socks just 'to look pro' in my opinion is just meh

 

Wear whatever the hell you like for the reasons you do, and stop making useless arguments about the 'importance' of sock length. Sock length is a fashion thing, so you either like long or short socks. Period. Each person has a very different view on fashion, so for crying out loud, just let each person wear whatever the heck they like. Please!

[Pure Savage]

Short or long socks; expensive or cheap socks... The debate will go on forever...

 

I personally feel that I would rather spend money on my bike than on socks, so Ackermans/Jet/Woolies/Mr Price will do it for me thanks. I however like simpler designs, and above all, I like my socks long. But, not everybody does-for various reasons.

 

Dissing a guy because he is wearing short socks or wearing long socks just 'to look pro' in my opinion is just meh

 

Wear whatever the hell you like for the reasons you do, and stop making useless arguments about the 'importance' of sock length. Sock length is a fashion thing, so you either like long or short socks. Period. Each person has a very different view on fashion, so for crying out loud, just let each person wear whatever the heck they like. Please!

Probably the nicest thing you have said on the hub

 

Agree though!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[IceCreamMan]

Versus socks for the win. The extra 60 or 70 bucks I spend (difference between Versus 110 ront to 50ront Falke or pep stores or whatever) compared to the utility and enjoyment I get from Versus is cheap, damn cheap and when one analyses this on a "per wear" basis it might equate to a few cents per ride or whatever. Cheapest upgrade I have ever done and comfortable feet = happy feet.

 

Try em, you will be surprised.

 

400 bucks for a pair of socks , well I kinda baulk tat that.

[CAAD4]

You honestly think a sponsor would dare tell Eddy Merckx what to wear if he wasn't cool with it?

 

I think the point is, sponsors then didn't ask riders to wear stuff that is so against any common sense.

 

Even today where the teams are far more likely to take cash to promote bad taste we don't see silly socks in pro racing. We just see them on the poseurs chasing Strava segments.

I'm sure Cippo wore zebra Lycra as he just wanted to be different then.

[Andrew Steer]

I'm sure Cippo wore zebra Lycra as he just wanted to be different then.

 

I think the point being made a bit earlier was that now everyone thinks they are Cippo   

Everyone to their own though - it's a free world after all. (Inserts Trump clause: For now at least   )

 

PS: My absolute best at the moment is all the retro/hipster/anti-establishment guys are so common now... that they are mainstream           

[Eugene Oppelt]

To you too bru.

 

A bit of a circular argument. I don't have an issue with fashionistas, just don't try get the rest of us to follow suit.

There is the creation of an issue if you refer to others, different than you, as muppets without a backbone. ????

 

Upholding 'Each to his/her own' does not include an insult.

????????????

 

(Unless you were joking, then let's party on????)

Edited January 27, 2017 by 'Dale

[NGM]

I bought a few pairs of "cool" socks, to see what the fuss was about.

 

They look 2 x better, and are 2 x more comfortable than my old socks. So they are 4 x better overall. But they cost 5 x more. Because none of these figures have been estimated and the maths is 100% correct, I did not buy any more cool socks. 

[Shebeen]

just because it is friday, i felt like these needed a repost. You ignore Saddam at your peril( even posthumously)

 

[Patchelicious]

If I want to wear R400 a pair Sako7 socks, then that's my choice.

 

If you want to call me names because of it, well that makes you the knobhead not me.

[carbon29er]

I hate these Strava chasing poseurs the most!

 

2016-worldtour-kits-tinkoff-datcha.jpg

 

So thats a sponsor telling a multiple world champ, a winner of multiple stage races to wear silly socks.

 

Money Talks

I think we differ on silly socks. Those are clearly part of a kit being same as the bib and the shirt. But yes, Oleg is not the benchmark of the height of fashion. His La Datcha kit, however, was very cool. As was their lumo yellow kit.

[Jewbacca]

I think this thread is absolutely indicative of the times... Zeitgeist.

 

People wafting their opinions about willy nilly, then B disagrees but instead of saying

 

'I absolutely see where you are coming from A, however I like dressing my ankle/calves up with images of Odin's Raven and 80's wall paper. It is so cool that we as cyclists can have such diverse taste yet the fundamental love of our sport is shared..'

 

B goes on a name calling tirade which is then shot down by friends of A who also resort to generalised name calling and everybody ends up 'offended' and calling their mothers..

 

Long socks, short socks, bright socks and grey socks... whatever tickles your gullet. BUT it doesn't maketh the cyclist, which I think is a point which is being somewhat lost