Valerie D'Avril
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The Martini Racing colors are among the best known in motorsport. And ultimately, they also look great on cycling socks. -
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Striipe is a “personal tribute to the excitement and beauty of motorsport,†led by a decades-long design veteran in the industry. -
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These socks don’t say “Gulf Oil” anywhere, but I’m not sure that’s necessary for a true classic motorsport fan. -
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The socks are made by DeFeet, so they should likely hold up well in the long run.
Eric Horton’s designer career in the bike industry spans almost three decades and some heavy hitters including Giro (Empire shoes, Synthe helmet, New Road clothing), Specialized (Body Geometry gloves, S-Works road) and Fox (Forma boots, pilot helmet). Today, he is currently Head of Product and Design at Outdoor Capital Partners, a ’boutique investment group’ where he ‘develops strategic product line planning, provides aesthetic advice and brand direction, supervises the color and graphics process, etc. â€
If you cut it, it would likely bleed from tubular glue, but there would also be a telltale rainbow tint of motor oil. This is because – as is the case with many cyclists – Horton is also passionate about four-wheeled vehicles with engines; especially the classic racing cars of yesteryear.
Striipe Design has been Horton’s personal side for several years, with socks that celebrate iconic motorsport colors and patterns. For example, the Rothmans socks are reminiscent of the Porsches that dominated endurance racing in the 1990s; the CN36 pays homage to the Pirelli Cinturato tires that were so popular with performance cars in the 1970s; and the colors of the CSL could not be confused with anything other than BMW’s favorite competition livery in the European touring car series of the 1970s.
“I started Striipe Design to scratch an itch,†he says. “I have always loved motorsport and especially classic liveries and design motifs from bygone eras. I attend a lot of vintage car shows / driving rallies in my 1986 944 Turbo and just had a instinct that I could contribute something to the community.
“Performance socks with graphics inspired by the best in motorsport were my big idea. Coming from the world of cycling accessories, I always wanted to make sure that there was a real performance benefit for my customers, so it was essential to make sure I was using breathable and water-absorbent fibers. humidity. Made in the USA and using recycled yarns, that was a nice plus. “
The socks themselves are made by DeFeet and some styles are sometimes offered in wool blends. And unsurprisingly given the current pandemic, Striipe is also incorporating a number of these designs into neck warmers and face masks.
Prices are shown in US dollars only, but international delivery is available. CyclingTips readers can benefit from a 20% discount by using the code “CT20â€.
Price: US $ 20 (standard socks); US $ 23 (wool socks); US $ 25 (neck warmer); US $ 16 (face masks)
More information: www.striipedesign.com
