Why Design Another Black Kit

When I stepped away from professional cycling, and stepped away from my brightly colored USA & Trek branded kits, I actually stopped riding completely. For those next few years, I surfed. 

I wore a plain black wetsuit while surfing. Everyone wears a plain black wetsuit while surfing. You’re really only visible when you’re on a wave, showcasing your skill. The durability of black was perfect for the sand, salt, gravel parking lots, and the fact that you never really wash your wetsuit that well. It’s a tool to go out and do what you love, expressing yourself through your riding, not the colors or patterns of your gear.

It was a very conscious act, bolstered by hours out on the water and lots and lots of time, to start riding again. I realized that cycling has been, and always will be, a major part of my life. Like all good things in life, it took stepping away from cycling and nearly hating it, to realize how much I love it. 

This time around, I’m cycling because I want to, not because I’m paid to. A happy consequence of this is that I can wear what I want. So, I took inspiration from my surfing wetsuit, and purchased three all black kits. I’ve worn them religiously, hand washing each one in the shower, until I created my dream kit - the Vanta Cycling kit. 

I’ve worn a lot of kits, and I know what I like and don’t like. This is why our bibs have a longer inseam that hits just above the knee, and why the jersey is slightly cropped with tighter cuffs. I spared no cost on the finest fabrics, trims, and innovative 3D printed chamois technology. I also believe that where things are made truly matters. That’s why I’ve sourced materials from Italy and the USA, and why I decided to manufacture our kit in the USA. It allows me to stay close to the development and production process, ensuring quality and maintaining a stable supply chain. It’s also a surreal feeling to pick up a production batch at the factory in Los Angeles and chat with all the sewers who seem happy and excited. 

This company is only me - I’ve designed the kit, drawn the tech packs, sourced the fabrics & trims, toured factories in LA, tested the samples, made countless revisions, graded the sizing, paid for all the materials & manufacturing, hand knotted zipper pulls & heat sealed them over a candle, set up the website, tested the shipping, shot all the product photos - and I like to wear black, so I made it in black. Having one color currently keeps things simple for me as I take care of all the other tasks that come with launching and running a company.

A black kit is clean, timeless, monastic. It’s something a professional could never wear in a race, but you might see him or her wear one while training. 

At the end of the day though, you can find a black kit anywhere. However, I couldn’t find a black kit that had everything I was looking for, so I decided to make it. I love what I’ve created, and I hope you do too. 

With love,

Ryan