INDIAN MOTOCYCLE JERSEYS

When you think of classic American motorcycles, two brands come to mind,

Harley-Davidson & Indian.

Indian is the first major player on the scene, rolling out production in 1901– two years before Harley-Davidson. Started in Springfield, Mass. by Oscar Hedstrom & George Hendee, a couple of bicycle racers and self-taught engineers.

The Indian factory team took the first three places in the 1911 Isle of Man Tourist Trophy.

Competition with Harley-Davidson in the early days was fierce, and factory sponsored racers were expected to be loyal– it was pretty unheard of for guys to switch allegiances back then without controversy.

The riders were proud to wear a Indian Jersey which were hand out by the factory to the drivers, those jerseys are scares and if you find one it will cost you some 400 bucks.

PS did you know that the nickname for the factory was the wigwam.

DO YOU REMEMBER "IL PIRATA"?

With the Giro D'Italia full in progress, I bounced into this beautiful Rapha jersey.

2014 marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Marco Pantani. The first Italian since Fausto Coppi to win the Giro-Tour double, he is the tragic hero, panache personified. His dramatic attacks in the mountains left everyone breathless, though his flawed genius saw him fall the way of so many of his generation; Pantani’s downfall ended fatally when he died of acute cocaine poisoning in a hotel room on Valentine’s Day 2004. But he was one of the greatest climbers the sport has ever witnessed. So Rapha commemorate Pantani with a special edition jersey. This jersey – in maglia rosa pink – has a pattern inspired by the graffiti of devoted fans, still visible on the climbs which Pantani conquered. Other graphic elements include 'il Pirata' (the Pirate) on the shoulders and other emblems and embroideries relating to Pantani's career.