Fashion Forward for the ECCC

With one month left before the start of the collegiate cycling season, it’s time to start thinking about one of the most important aspects of cycling: fashion…

Yet, what type of style, if any, will prevail? Will it be Euro/Pro or America/rugged? Will it be argyle or plaid…or paisley? Or will it be the Mark Theeman approved Speedo? No one will know for sure until the season starts, but I do have a few predictions.

I think most team kits will go largely unchanged for the most. There were a lot of major changes last year, which usually tends for a gap year or two in new designs. AJ from Wentworth Institute of Technology forebode a new and secret kit for their squad appearing at Rutgers. Steve from Northeastern University has guaranteed his Huskies a new kit design premiering at some point in the middle of the season…I expected nothing less than true excellence from both of them. Our kits (Boston University) will remain largely unchanged; we have just a few cosmetic tweaks, but our kits will with everything from last year. Powerhouses of UVM, Penn State, and UNH will likely keep their timeless jersey designs.

After doing some research, it seems that there will be a few new jersey designs for our 2009 season in the EC3.

Harvard University ungulates

Interesting to say the least. Despite my usual dissatisfaction with curvy and wavy kits, I like it. It’s curvy, but clean, and the two reds, pardon me, crimsons work well with the white. The “H” is simple and works will with the more complex and intricate background. I’m excited to see the bibs.

Kutztown University is woahhh.

I don’t think that there’s any question that this kit is going to stand out in the peloton. It has that 1980s but nouveau 2000 look. The wrap shorts go well with the design, and I’m they went with that choice from Champion Systems. Kutztown is still using the symbol of the tower top from their old jerseys and their university, but with the flair of the new added dynamics. The greater focus on the kit on yellow is a definite improvement from the darker kits of old, and I’m excited to see it at Rutgers when these kits scream through the peloton.

Rochester Institute of Technology gets an upgrade

They started with grey t-shirts and a huge hearts, but RIT now dons the much more aero spandex. Their kit is simple, but it speaks volumes. There could have been a potential problem with Princeton University's kits, but it seems like the two Tigers will remain fairly distinguishable. Watch out for these bad-boys in field this season.

Vertical sailor stripes come to Villanova University

With more sponsor logos than a pro team, the new Villanova cycling jersey for 2009 looks like it joined a Caribbean navy in the 1800s. I liked their jersey from last season better with the very poignant V. Their 2008 jersey was simple, clean, and sexy. Needless to say, this new kit has some personality, and the new vertical sailor stripes will easily distinguish Villanova from other blue kitted groups like UNH, Middlebury, and Bucknell.

Anticipation for Stevens College

The Ducks of Stevens College cycling team shocked the conference last year with unparalleled fervor and zest. The arrived in polka-dotted King of the Mountain jerseys and threw down the hammer every week they came in the Intro field, and owned it. I’m excited to see what designs these gentlemen, and hopefully ladies, will be wearing this 2009 ECCC road season. I think that they can create a great jersey with their school’s colors of red and grey. I also think that they’ve earned the right the red polka-dot design is their kits, but in limited use due to its KOM connotation.

Who would we like to see kit changes from?

-- Williams College: the purple cow spandex is well…utterly disgusting (pun very much intended)

-- Lehigh University: Slick black kits, but the big “L” and the rest of the kit needs a little bit of work. I realize your college doesn’t give you much to work with, but you can do better.

-- University of Delaware: the Zebra Stripped Spandex was good for one season, but I’ve had my fill.

-- Boston College: more white.

-- New York University: The way you have colors arranged on there looks a little bland. Give us more.

-- University of Massachusetts: see NYU. And the cursive writing just isn’t doing it for me.

This has been my fist installment on team kits in the ECCC. I’ll have more for you after the season starts and we see more of what the squads have to offer. Because let’s be honest, style points matter too.