Recent life and times have brought bikes to the fore of fashion trends. A simple stroll down the street will guarantee an encounter or two with a happily customized to the nines fixed gear bike, complete with stylin’ rider decked out in the latest what’s-hot catalog. You may even spot a lovely helmeted sweetheart, a street-style vision on her vintage pushie complete with rainbow handlebar streamers and a wicker basket packed with organic groceries and soy milk. I guess what we’re saying is, cycling is the new driving, the rich man’s walking, the better man’s PT.
British menswear aficionado Paul Smith, in a display of almost unsettling fashion-foresight, was all over cycling from the age of 15 when his sole dream big-person job was to be a racing cyclist. While his dad may have put him to work at a clothing warehouse, he had little interest in it with the best part of his day being the cycle to and from work. Sadly a severe cycling accident put and end to his bicycle hopes, but also ignited his fashion career and in 2009 Smith found a way to be a part of the velodromed dream by sponsoring the Rapha Condor Sharp cycling team and collaborating with the Rapha clothing brand to create high-end cycling fashion.
So when you’re watching this video, titled London and filmed at the Manchester Velodrome, share Paul Smith’s visible sense of euphoria in reliving his childhood dreams and revel in his impeccably stylish classic suits going at a zillion kmph as you appreciate the absolute glory of the two-wheeled joy-machine that is the bicycle.
