Stroy: Individual cycling clothing in manageable quantities? A lot of companies turn their backs on that. Champion System is different: Low prices and no minimum order quantities make the company attractive for individualists too. A Hamburg team did the test.
The classic club culture is not very attractive for many cyclists. "Sturmvogel" and "Dust Cloud" with rigid hierarchies and fixed rituals hardly appeal to those who grew up in the age of commercial events. Because you don't need a license or a club to take part in the big amateur events in summer or to compete in cross-country races in the hobby class in winter - but you do need a few friends who go with you and with whom you travel throughout the season. In this way, a small cycling club quickly develops, and what it needs is clear: its own outfit that everyone likes, is individual and recognizable and is not too expensive and easy to obtain.
That's how it was for Team2beat. The Hamburg mountain bikers start in 24-hour races and have already been able to celebrate a German championship title in the 8-person mix ranking - so they are not pure hobby cyclists, even if fun is still the top priority. Of course, the handling of the team outfit should also be fun, and the Northern Lights were not always satisfied with their previous outfitter. Be it the quick switch to a new sponsor logo or repeat orders to dress new team riders - a new partner was needed.
The Team2beat drivers finally came across Champion System through personal recommendations and press reports. Still little known in this country, the East Asian brand is nevertheless a global player when it comes to individual sportswear, which has its own factory and international agencies. Big enough to maintain its own ProConti team from 2010 to 2013, the brand is currently outfitting the UAE Emirates team, whose drivers, for example, featured the innovative, zip-free jersey. Sounds intimidating, but despite the size of the company, Champion System is quite accessible. Particularly attractive: there are no minimum order quantities. Theoretically, a one-man team could equip itself with just ten different products in an individual design - two jerseys, bib shorts, long-sleeved jersey and vest, plus a polo shirt, hooded sweater, warm-up pants and casual MTB pants - and still would advise and supply. And at prices that make you sit up and take notice: a jersey is available from 30 euros, bib shorts for around 50 euros; no more expensive than off-the-shelf cycling gear. Anyone who wants to drive the original professional quality can do so from 80 euros. The fact that such small quantities can be produced is of course not least due to the modern printing process: With sublimation printing, the design (previously scaled to the right size) is printed on special paper; from here the color is then transferred to the fabric with pressure and heat. The effort per design is therefore comparatively low.
The Team2beat also used a service that an absolute individualist might not get after all: the CS-Fit, where an employee arrives including all items so that future customers can try out fits, compare cuts and check the quality. A small sample case is not enough, after all, the cycling collection includes well over 200 different products.
Customers can also get help with design, especially since Champion System employs dozens of designers. After creating an account, customers can upload their designs and within a maximum of three days they will receive a draft, which can then either be accepted immediately or modified until they are 100 percent satisfied. The waiting time from receipt of the order is manageable: it only takes four weeks for the individual clothing to arrive; in case of delay there is a 25% discount on the next order.
To keep things as simple as this, a CS Direct Team Shop can be created, which allows the members of a team to order individually - so the "kit warden" does not have to collect an order from each competitor and place them collectively, as is the case was formerly.
The Team2beat is already convinced of the advantages of the new outfitter - now the drivers are excited for the first season in the Champion System. In the 24-hour circus things should get busy again, and if the ground contact is a little rough, that's not so bad: Champion System grants a cheap crash replacement for the Apex and Elite collections. Another argument for the provider, which should cause a stir and good looks in the cycling scene in the coming years.
About Champion System
Champion System has been on the market for 10 years and has grown steadily to be present in over 20 countries. The clothing manufacturer's headquarters are in Hong Kong. As a vertical company, all products are made in-house, with most of the fabrics and upholstery coming from Italy. As a permanent partner of professional teams, such as Team Lampre or the UAE Team, you could benefit from the feedback of the professionals in the long term. In March, a new triathlon line from Championsystem will be launched.