You may or may not (probably not) remember my post a while back on the isolati. If you don’t remember (and you probably don’t) I will quote the post…
…earlier this week as I continued to delve further into the book Maglia Rosa, I stumbled upon a word that was used in the early days of the Giro to describe the amateur racers, who didn’t ride for a team, just for themselves, room and board… they were called the isolati.
I was drawn to this concept for some unknown reason. Whooooo, wait a good-God-damn-minute. Fuck that, that’s a lie. I was drawn to it because the isolati were badasses. They were considered unpaid pariahs of the peloton. The only racers below them was the aspiranti (which I just MIGHT be drawn to even more and will be featured on a future jersey! Ha!)
Anyway, I have long been drawn to the Giro (possibly the greatest race on the planet, and I say that as a NON road racer) and reading of the isolati and aspiranti of years past just enforced it. So, I made up a jersey. There is only one in existence. and I will wear that one with pride.
From my understanding the isolati wore white jerseys and the aspiranti wore black. My original plan was to have a white and black wool jersey to represent each of them. But that is gonna have to wait. Instead, I combined them both for a one-off jersey that cost me less than most regular jerseys. The only downfall is nipple showing white. It just screams for a base layer to be worn under it. Ha!
By the way, the Giro started today. Don’t be drawn into all the lame bullshit of the Tour of California that American media will try to feed you (all 1 of them). Seek out and enjoy the stages of what is arguably the greatest stage race ever created.
And with that, I’m off to drink some beers (or a gin and tonic) and download today’s stage (via the web).
Wait, did I mention that spring has FINALLY spring here in the mid-mitten? It has, so says the tree in my back yard.
Later.