Spoiler: It’s not just about loud cycling jerseys.
“Stand out.”
It’s been our tagline since day one. We’ve printed it, posted it, hash tagged it.
But at some point, between the hype, the drops and the DMs, we had to stop and ask ourselves: What does it actually mean to stand out in South African cycling? Not just in theory. Not just in style. In real life. Because if we’re being honest, standing out isn’t always romantic. It’s not always welcome. And it’s definitely not always easy.
Here, Different Still Feels Dangerous
South African cycling culture has come a long way. But let’s not pretend it’s some utopia of open-mindedness. There’s still an unspoken dress code. An expectation of what a "real cyclist" should look like. White socks. Safe colours. Euro aesthetics. A certain body type. A certain budget. So when we launched Neo Hyphen, when we started making kits that didn’t look like the usual suspects, people noticed. Some loved it. Some really didn’t. Because here’s the thing, To stand out in a space that’s built around uniformity?
It’s not just a design choice, It’s a challenge.
It’s About More Than Just Cycling Kit
We don’t make loud jerseys to be loud. We make them to say something.
To say: You don’t have to fit in to belong.
To say: This space can be yours too.
To say: Maybe cycling doesn’t have to look the way it always has.
Standing out isn’t about getting attention. It’s about creating space. For the rider who doesn’t see themselves in the magazines. For the one who doesn’t race, but still rides hard. For the one who shows up solo, rocks a neck tattoo, listens to techno and takes pride in how they look on the bike, not to impress, but because it’s art to them. That’s who we make cycling kit for. And not just any cycling kit, performance cycling kit that feels as good as it looks. Cycling apparel South Africa wasn’t ready for. Unique cycling jerseys that ride loud, but ride right.
But We’re Not Naive About It
Let’s be clear, standing out in cycling, especially in South Africa, still comes at a cost.
It means being that rider in the bunch. It means getting looks. It means having your cycling kit questioned, your ability doubted, your reasons for riding scrutinised. But it also means finding your people. The ones who see your cycling jersey and nod.
The ones who DM us saying, “This brand makes me feel seen.” The ones who don’t care if you race, track your watts, or know your FTP, because you’re on the bike and that’s enough. And that’s why we make what we make. Cycling kit South Africa hasn’t always had space for. Designs like the 'All-Seeing Eye' cycling jersey , cycling kits that tell a story, turn heads and back it up on the road.
So, What Does It Mean to Stand Out?
It means saying no to bland. It means designing cycling kits that make people look twice and giving riders the courage to wear them. It means using cycling as a form of self-expression, not just self-improvement. It means building a community where different doesn’t mean outsider, it means original. And yeah, it means we’ll probably keep hearing: “Do you have it in black?” But that’s okay. Because standing out means sticking to your story, even when it’s easier to stay quiet. Even when the trends shift. Even when everyone else is playing it safe.
So if you’re tired of trying to fit in, maybe it’s time to do the opposite.
Because if cycling is freedom, then why do we all look the same?
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