ccarls

Please tell me you feel nauseous when you look at the Rock Racing team and their florescent green, Karate Kid meetsTron skeleton uniforms.

This is what Michael Ball, the team sponsor says about the team aesthetic, “Cycling already offers intense competition, speed, thrilling chases, crashes and primal entertainment. We are integrating the Rock & Republic aesthetic into cycling; creating stylized uniforms for various races and bringing high-end fashion with an adventurous flair to the cycling tour.“

High-end fashion with an adventurous flair?! These guys look like the bottom of a Powell-Peralta skateboard from the 80s! Maybe Michael should sponsor a BMX team in the X games.

Enzo Gucci

Can't disagree more. He's pouring money into cycling and doing something a bit different. It's not his fault that roadies take themselves way too seriously.

Sure, he may act like a ******bag, but so do most cyclists.

ccarls

I can appreciate him pouring money into cycling but it seems like if he was trying to be different he would get less controversial riders and come with a cleaner image- not this "bad boy" crap. This is about him making money by starting a "new" clothing line, not about improving the image and sport of cycling.

UmneyDurak

Hey if this whole spandex thing catches on and becomes "hip", maybe I will have less people honking and trying to run me off the road. I don't see the downside.

Brandy

I actually like them...they stand out and are easy to spot. Like him or not, he has people talking.

GP 

He's the Charlie Finley of cycling.

Rutnick

I think he's bringing a flair to cycling that at a time where other things are detracting from the sport he is pouring money into it with his own attitude.

Then again...he owns a race team and you're posting on a forum.

ericcox

+1 And I actually like the kit for daring to be a bit different.

As to signing squeeky clean riders, others are already doing that. Where's a reformed doper who hasn't had a tearful confession (which occurred only after being caught) to go? The riders he has signed have either fulfilled their suspension or never been suspended. He is playing by the rules, though doing so rather flamboyently. Either we have rules and let those following them compete, or we have unwritten rules that should be written.

At a time when sponsors are pulling out of the sport, nice to see someone coming in.

I am all for doping controls, etc., but at its heart professional cycling, like other professional sports is about entertainment. Rock racing entertains the hell out of me, though I am sure Ball is driving potential equipment sponsors absolutely nuts.

jimbud

1+

Dubbayoo

Baddest ass kit cycling has seen in a long time.

solveg

I love* the Rock Racing kits! At least they have an attitude and presence instead of being a mish mash of logos.

ccarls

Good point! Why can't I own a team!!!! Maybe I'm just being a hater...

ccarls

You loved Tron and Karate kid, didn't you!?

ccarls

Thats true- I usually don't post on the forums! He's got me all wound up

TRaffic Jammer

I gotta say I LOVE the bad boy team....bring em on!!! YEA, let's make cycling a contact sport! Rock Racing Rider beats the snot out competing rider after the finish...film at 11. M Ball seems to fell these guys have been marginalized and abandoned by teams that want the squeaky/homogenized players and given them a go. I love what he's doing. If I could field a team I'd scour the world for the fastest messengers on the planet that aren't afraid of cars let alone others on bikes. I hope if they get to the Tour, party all night, keep everyone up, show up at the line hung over and kick butt!!!

Second Mouse

Two words:

Cromulent

Grudgingly, I like them. I can only take so much of the "we're clean, we swear, and it's important to be clean so look how clean our team is with all it's cleanliness and blah, blah, blah." Doping is bad, m'kay, but it's also nice to see a team and an owner with a pulse.

gfrance

While I'm no fan of Ball and his management style, I don't hate the kits really, nor am I against shaking things up a bit. But if it's all talk and no results......

eb314

I think Rock racing could draw a lot more fans to cycling, which ultimately is what the sport needs in America.

ccarls

Wow... I thought I would have more people seeing it my way... I do have to admit the seeing Chipo almost beat Boonen in the sprint the other night was cool. I guess I'm too much of a traditionalist when it comes to the apparel.

auk

Actually, they did very well last year on the domestic race scene. This is a huge step forward for them this year. I hope they do well.

As for their kit, not all that much more shocking than last year, just different colors.

hos13

Those are some pretty funny if not right on associations to their kits. I think they are pretty cool, probably because I had Powell-Peralta board. The kits reminds of something the superbike guys would wear.

TONYKART125

I just dont like how they look like neon signs. But I am ok with people that put money into sports I like.

barryflht

If that ain't cool ... Nothing is.....Go Mario Go ..... Anything that generates news other than doping for pro cycling is good stuff. ..... Tons of amatuer teams and up and coming young cyclist, may one day benefit from the added cool factor and new attention.

Love him or hate him.....

+1 for Michael Ball

blonduathlongrl

I dont hate it at all!