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TECH NEWS
David Millar launches Chpt. III clothing collection
Former pro rider David Millar is releasing a range of high-end clothing with Italian brand Castelli, called the Chpt. III collection.
“I’ve created a brand that will encompass everything I’ve learnt from my years racing at the highest level,” said Millar. “Our first project is the most obvious as it’s what I’ve often been most involved – clothing.
“We’ve created a line of products for my new cycling life – one which doesn’t involve racing, but still requires the highest tech available. The difference now is that I’m no longer willing to sacrifice style for speed, I don’t want to wear garish colours or large logos, I don’t need minimalist collars or fragile engineering. Instead we have brought a bit of bespoke tailoring and sartorial elegance to the world of high performance technical wear.”
Why Chpt. III? Well, the logic is that the first two chapters of Millar’s career spanned his time as a professional rider – pre-drugs ban and post-drugs ban – and this third chapter began when he retired from racing last year. Millar says that other non-clothing projects are currently in development.
So, what of the clothing? Well, the range comprises shorts, jersey, windproof jersey, base layer, knee and leg warmers, arm warmers and socks.
Most of the items are based on existing Castelli designs. The shorts, for example, are an amended version of Castelli’s Body Paint shorts, made from one piece of Lycra.
“These differ from the race version by being more luxurious; no race minimalism has been applied here,” according to Millar. “The Lycra has increased multi-directional properties and a density that makes it heavier and smoother to touch. We have made the bibs feels more like braces than elastic bands.”
The Rocka is a water repellent (not water resistant) and windproof top that’s based on Castelli’s much-vaunted Gabba. Unlike the Gabba, it has a collar that can be wrapped around the rear of the neck and buttoned in place when you don’t need it.
Why’s it called the Rocka?
“When it comes to going on my bike, I like to feel like a rocker, not a mod. Where the mods would wear sharp suits, the rockers would wear leather biking jackets, most of which had wrap around buttoned collars.”
With his penchant for fine tailoring, we’d definitely have had Millar down as more of a mod. Shows what we know.
As for the socks (which you can just about see in the above photo; sorry, we don't have a better pic), Millar says, “I had numerous pairs back in the day; one of those random promotional gifts from a sponsor… These puppies became my best friend… I tried to get more off the sponsor, but they had changed supplier. I was heart broken.
“I told Steve Smith of Castelli, ‘I have the best socks in the world, but I don’t know where they are from.’ So the search began… Steve ultimately tracked them down to a factory in northern Italy. The owner had died, his brother had taken over, they no longer made the socks. Steve made them make the sock again.”
With all these stories behind the clothing, it seems that Millar is trying to out-Rapha Rapha.
By the way, if you think the pictures look dark on your screen, that’s the way they’re supposed to be. Moody.
Prices have yet to be published but you can guess that we’re not talking bargain basement here. The Launch Edition of limited sets will be available in the coming week with the full collection available at selected retailers in late September, including Mr Porter.
What do you think? Cool designs? Or proof that cycling is getting more poncey by the minute? Over to you.
For more info go to chpt3.com
Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.
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32 comments
Picked up the base layer today and saw the collection.
All very very nice with lovely attention to detail. But very light materials, not sure how robust it'll be, particularly the base layer as they often have to be unceremoniously wrestled off.
Moody? Taken by the same photographer who did Dave's portrait for his book and made him look like Norman Wisdom after riding through a car wash. I like it. It's art photography.
I don't get all this negative black gear stuff - do people fail to see a black car!!!! A motorcyclist!!!!! Get real - it's the responsibility of car drivers to open their eyes and pay attention.
By the way love the gear and DM is a breath of fresh air to the bumbling commentary of Liggett et Al.
I don't get all this negative black gear stuff - do people fail to see a black car!!!! A motorcyclist!!!!! Get real - it's the responsibility of car drivers to open their eyes and pay attention.
By the way love the gear and DM is a breath of fresh air to the bumbling commentary of Liggett et Al.
Very similar to what I said to the driver who knocked me off a while back (at noon on a sunny day).
Yes, I was wearing all black (on a white bike). My car's black too, would you have driven into that?
Just to counter, but yes i do think your generally right, why are the fronts (and backs) of trains bright yellow and rail workers always where orange hi viz, there is an element of making things visible and easily distinguishable.
My pet hate is silver cars being driven with no lights in fog!
You've been watching too much "Only Connect"!
prt frm mrk cvndsh bvusly.
d ppl rlly thnk tkng th vwls ut mk smthng sund cl?
Me Michelin Man.
DM reminds me of Rian Hughes' Dan Dare, although somewhat different kit:
Dresses to the right I see.
The kit isn't for me, but DM has put a bit of beef on his legs since I rode with him !
If you don't like it, or Mr Millar, don't buy it, but of all the elite and former riders out there, Mr Millar really (really) knows his kit, let's face it, it's not just the same old with his name on it.
wish we had a few more people like DM commentating with actual race insight. Good on him to do something interesting.
Like it. Good on the lad.
British drivers can't see black things apparently.
That jersey comes in white too.
I like the military-style collar, but it's surely not practical. It's going to be a fair old fumble to get it open or shut in a hurry. That must be the 'not sacrificing style for speed' bit.
And I think the Rocka is short sleeved - he's wearing it with arm warmers.
Chapter I: Dopey dope dope doper
Chapter II: Repentant ex-doper and autobiography writer.
Chapter III: Media lovee, fashion designer, and did I say I have a new book out.
Just the usual professional athlete's story.
By the way, these are not black; and what is wrong with Black on British roads, as opposed to any other roads like Spanish roads?
The gloom and the gloaming that haunts British roads means that dark colours are difficult to see. It wouldn't be much of a problem if cyclists used lights all of the time, but most don't.
I normally like Castelli gear, but not this range.
It also does not look like it fits Millar very well - on the the website, are the arms not far too short in the (Gabba) Rocka 1.61 jersey ?
David, leave the modelling (and TV commentary) to others please.
Love that jersey, will have to start saving my pennies.
Does the man not have enough money from being on the tv more than the current racers? One would think at the moment he was the only living ex pro cyclist. & aren't Maserati paying him a fortune to do f**k all? Cycling ambassador for supercars, how does that work?
he seems to be making a career of being an ex doper, instead of the lifetime ban he should have got. Maybe Armstrong would still be popular if he'd admitted it earlier & said 'sob' it was the peer pressure that made me do it.
Oh well, at least you'll look cool in your stealth gear when under the vehicle that couldnt see you. There'll be Millar black lights for bikes next.
I get they are trying to be mean and moody with the lighting and create an atmosphere but it would help if we could see the product!
Black jersey... British roads... Not a good idea especially with an autumn launch.
Glad to see a rocker designing cycling gear and not just the Mods! Lol!!
I like it. Maybe his spat with Wiggo was merely a mod vs rocker thing.
Or they could both start a spat in an empty room.
My question is; how do you pronounce the brand name correctly? I like how the basis behind it is quite personal.
Very bland needs more colour for UK roads.
Plus if you have a body Fat % of +14% you will look like a Michelin.
More self indulgence from DM following on from his infuriating stint as a pundit on ITV4 (where each segment included several clips of him racing). Never had him pinned as a rocker - maybe a Teddy Boy...
I like it. Much cooler than the normal Castelli logo-covered gear.
Trend predictor activated….
Aldi
How much?
Doper
Rapha
Black clothes on UK roads
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