Somewhere along the way, cycling has became a uniform. Not just in cycling apparel, but in culture. The rise of local cycling clubs have been massive and while there’s something undeniably cool about people coming together over a shared love for the sport, there’s also a side to it that makes us itch. Because when everyone starts dressing the same, looking the same and riding the same, we have to ask, where’s the personality?
Let’s be real for a second. We’re living in a time where individuality is slowly getting drowned out by influencer culture, brand deals and whatever algorithm decides is trending that week. We eat at the same hyped-up spots, buy into the same “must-haves,” and suddenly, our feeds and our cycling kits start looking eerily similar. Cycling culture should be a place to break free from that, not fall deeper into it.
This isn’t about throwing shade at clubs. They have their place and we do, in a lot of way's, love them. They push people to ride harder, create a sense of community and can be the reason someone falls in love with the sport. But if joining a club means checking your personal style at the door and blending into the peloton then what’s the point? The best cyclists, the ones we remember, are the ones who stand out, not just for their watts, but for their attitude, confidence and refusal to fit into a box.
There’s a certain power in going right when everyone else goes left. In wearing a cycling kit that turns heads, in not asking for permission to be different. That’s what we stand for. Not rebellion for the sake of it, but the simple idea that you don’t have to look like everyone else to belong.
So, ride with a club. Ride solo. Ride with whoever the hell you want. But don’t forget to bring yourself along for the ride.