I started a thread a while bike about MINI cycling jerseys. A lot of people seemed interested.
While out biking today I met up with a guy who was wearing a full-on University of Florida biking outfit and he said he was part of Team Florida and the outfits were custom ordered as a group through Canari I believe.

So that got me thinking... maybe we could start a TEAM MINI and have custom MINI designed shirts done by a good company. I imagine with a good group buy-in it wouldn't be too expensive.

Thoughts?

 

Hi Welcha13,

There are many companies that will print up a custom "team" run of bibs and jerseys. But the devil is in the details for some cyclists.

I'm all for a group order, myself, but I've got fairly ridged requirements for my cycling apparel; the chamois is everything when you're on the bike for 4-6+ hours at a time :-), for example.

I'd consider top of the range Adidas, Castelli, Capo, possibly Giordana.

Either way, I plan on having something made at some point: The world needs a MINI cycling kit, and badly :-) Bibs, jersey, cap, arm and leg warmers, socks. I'm expecting the kit to run around $350-500.

 

I order kits for my cycling race team of about 50 people. We've been using Champions System (champ-sys.com) since 2007 and have been pleased with them. Regular jerseys are $45 and their minimums are relatively small to get started, 10 pieces for a top or bottom.

 

I'm in (as long as they aren't some horrible color).

 

Please don't neglect the mountain bikers, downhillers, and freeriders! Baggy jerseys for body armor are necessary. My screen name is 4130 after my full suspension mini-DH bike.

 

I am an avid cyclist and I almost exclusively wear Voler. They have a semi custom program. Be careful how you apporach the use of the Mini Logo.

 

cant forget about the BMX racers! nj state #1 here =]

bmx racing and bmx freestyle everyday!

then long road bike rides and fixie rides, 40 miles +


id be down for a jersey, ive seen a few mini around with bikes on the roof

 

Custom is king!

 

I'm in. Make sure we don't get white shorts though. Who's got some graphic design skills here? Maybe we can incorporate a JCW thing into it?

 

It would be wise to get permission from MINI to use their logo and image likenesses. Better to ask up front, than to ask for forgiveness later. I have heard of some Cafepress stores being shut down for infringement and the like.

 

Well I've looked at a few companies and some have an easy template design program.
It would appear that vector logos are needed for proper printing as they can be re-sized to any size with no loss to quality.

I was thinking of a mostly black jersey with some red/white mixed in. I'm up for any suggestions. I do a lot of photoshop work so designing something should be fun.

Anyone know who I would talk to about copyrights on the MINI logo??

 

Love the idea of a black kit. My all-time favorite look. Black with white lettering. CTT's kit is in the neighborhood.

Additionally, if you're looking for design ideas, you might check out Rapha's stuff, Cycling Tips's privateer kit (http://cyclingtips.myshopify.com/), Team Sky's kit, Belgium's kit as worn in last week's WC.

Please :-) say you're not going with Voler.

 

So, a few things:
a) you will have a hell of a time getting approval to use MINI's licensed branding. However, many designers have co-opted aspects of the logo and seem to have not had issues, such as replacing the core of the wing motif with something else. You can and should certainly contact MINI USA's marketing department and see what conditions may exist, if any, for authorized use.

2) Of all the jersey makers I've used, I've had the best experience with Robins Sportswear. They make jerseys using dye sublimation, so you can literally do anything you want. There are no limitations in a template the way conventional generic jerseys being customized require.

3) This was our 2010 club jersey, which we wore on Aids Lifecycle 9 and as the standard kit thereafter. While ours is mostly black by design, as I said you could go nuts. You can find plenty of photos of the jersey on my cycling site:
Team Lope Tyre Clubbe
http://www.teamlopetyreclubbe.com

Feel free to PM or email me for more info about that company, contacts, etc.

 

Hmmmm black jerseys are hot in the summer, we hit 109 to 113 at times. Doesn't mean I don't like the look though...

 

lots of factors go into whether or not you'll overheat in a black jersey in high heat. Your hydration is far more a culprit. However, I do admit, in sunny Northern CA we haven't had to ride in more than 105. It worked out great for that. Our other kit is wool. THAT, in black, was also surprisingly easier to wear in warmer temps, but above 95 it sucked.
Yeah these guys'll do any color or 33 different colors or a photograph or whatever. Sublimation dye so sky's the limit! Thanks for checking out our kit!