Review: Ridge Supply’s The Gingham
(2020) In today’s pandemic world, with races canceled and events credited to 2021, it is the simple things that keep us going. The vacant holes in schedules are now filled with doubled-up backyard work or outdoor gatherings where people do-si-do to remain outside of each other’s personal space. We could go for a group ride but why risk it. It is hard to find something on the horizon to uplift us as we roll out for the 100th individual time trial.
Throughout the last few months people have been altering their shopping habits. Some porches are a tetris-stack of box store purchases, but at creakybottombracket.com we like to keep things small. We like the small producers and the local businesses. Mention anything about mountains and we devote our full attention.
Ridge Supply takes the hues from their Skyline Original and makes something similarly stylish.
Ridge Supply was founded by Matt Hawkins and is based in the Great Smoky Mountains. Their first socks were applied art featuring the faded haze of mountain upon mountain on the horizon, replicating the expansive view of the fabled hills. Started in 2015 the company has added designs as well as swag. What we really needed was a unique accessory to uplift the fading fitness of 2020.
““I washed and ironed the blue gingham for you special.””
There we were scrolling through social media and a pair of socks jumped off the screen. It was called the Gingham. Imagine taking the hues of blue from the Skyline Original sock and turning them into a gingham pattern. It beckons a rider to slip them on and go for a ride. Even if the rider is not in North Carolina, or even in the mountains, the peaks come along. The colored stripes jump out in contrast and we are instantly recognized, much to the aspirations of Ridge Supply’s design.
Looking good and feeling good are mutually exclusive. If a rider feels stylish, any ride will become that much more enjoyable. Over the past few months, the United States has struggled to clip onto anything to feel good about except one of the secrets the cycling crowd has known all along: bikes can be a great day out. Adding Ridge Supply’s Gingham socks to the mix can be stylish on the bike and off the bike. The only problem is those post-ride gatherings are light these days. With Ginghams from Ridge Supply, you may get noticed from across the yard.
