WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND
As clothing becomes tighter, have DH racers gone full circle?
At the turn of the century, skintight Lycra was de rigueur for downhill as well as cross-country racing, albeit squeezed over fulllength Dainese armour suits. After all, less flapping material meant less drag and therefore faster times – and why wouldn’t a racer want the fastest kit possible?
It was a time, though, when DH was forging its own identity, with the help of influential riders like Shaun Palmer and Steve Peat (below). The new breed of racers embraced the ‘extreme sports’ image and started wearing baggy motocross gear. At first this was just for practice and freeriding, and as late as 2002, World Cups were still being won in skinsuits. But there was a growing clamour to ditch the Lycra, from certain riders and sections of the industry.
The result was a gentlemen’s agreement to race in kit that made the sport look good, regardless of any performance disadvantage. This was adhered to by most riders, except at the World Champs, where one-pieces still reigned supreme. But there were some notable exceptions, including the black rubber suits worn by Mojo’s riders at the 2008 Fort William World Cup and Tracy Moseley’s decision to don a skinsuit for that year’s Canberra round, which she won by four seconds.
At the end of that season, the UCI settled the issue by banning “all Lycra-based tight-fitting clothing”. This levelled the playing field, gave DH its own identity, distinct from the rest of cycling sport, and made loose, moto-inspired gear the status quo for nearly a decade.
But when racing is against the clock, every rider is looking to eke out any advantage they can. The development of lighter, stretchier non-Lycra fabrics has enabled teams to gradually tighten up their kits over the past few years, pushing the boundaries of the UCI rule without breaking it. Outfits like Canyon Factory Racing, Commencal Vallnord and Specialized are leading the charge – and the podiums. Is function finally beginning to triumph over fashion, or is it just that tight is the new cool? Either way, tighter race kits are back, and here to stay.