Every few weeks I take a look at the cycling wardrobe of one of our Mantel colleagues. This week I look into the wardrobe of… Erwin. Our in-house photographer and Flandrien.
Turning a passion into a job: that’s the Mantel world. Erwin started at the Mantel customer service. His ambitions were elsewhere, with photography, so he switched to the job of in-house photographer. He shoots the most beautiful Cycling clothing, bikes, and landscapes, it’s like a candy shop here. We introduce you to Erwin and his wardrobe.
Tell us something about yourself!
I’m Erwin, and I was lucky enough to turn my passions (cycling and photographing) into my job…. namely: taking photos of bikes.
I’m the in-house photographer at Mantel, so I tend to all the necessary photos; product photos and close-ups and the most inspiring landscapes on locations.
How did you start at Mantel?
After some years as an independent photographer I discovered that I had more talent for photography than entrepreneurship. The job at the then still small customer service at Mantel was the solution; I could work for a boss and was able to continue with my hobby: bikes.
When a year later a vacancy for photographer opened I could combine the best of both worlds.
Well, we know you’re a good photographer, but are you also good at cycling? Which kind of cyclist are you?
I like most bikes. I started with racing on my road bike, but since I live in Arnhem, I have lost my heart to mountain biking as well. Not that hard with the Posbank in my backyard.
The past year I have a rediscovered touring by riding from Arnhem to Rome on my trekking bike. The freedom on the bike is fantastic, so I’m planning on more trips.
Have you been a cycling enthusiast all your life or only since you started at Mantel?
It’s in my blood really. My grandparents and parents have been on a bike their whole life. My Dad is even co-founder of one of the biggest cycling clubs in Assen (NL). Although it didn’t mean that I liked cycling as a child.
Only during my college days did my love for bikes start to develop, and my job at Mantel gave this love a boost. I’m like a child in a candy shop.
Especially when you have to take pictures of everything, you’re bound to get greedy. Which season is your favourite? When can we find you on the road?
Spring, most definitely. After a long winter of not going for rides all that often. The first sunny days, the temperature above 10°C, the first tours in Flanders. Cobblestones! I regularly go to the spring classics in Flanders, and ride the cyclosportives.
Of course it is fantastic in summer, short sleeves-shorts, but there’s nothing better than that “yes, we’re back” feeling in spring.
Well, this is your moment then! And if you’re going for a ride, you of course need cycling clothes. This is my job at Mantel, so I’m curious to see which clothes you like to wear on your bike.
When it comes to clothes I’m as fickle as the weather, almost literally, because in spring I like to wear the Castelli Nanoflex range, like my Gabba 2 jacket.
In summer, however I like to ride with shorts and short sleeves (or with arm and leg warmers), and preferably in may groomed ‘La Passione’ outfit, something to do with efficiency vs looks. Castelli clothing often have more conservative looks, but technically their clothing is almost perfect. The looks of the Italian brand is of course unequalled.
Luckily looks are more and more important in the cycling world. But I digress, what are your favourite bibshorts at the moment?
At the moment my favourite shorts are my Calobra Escorsa bib shorts. Especially because it is classic black with only a (neutral) Calobra logo.
This way they can be matched perfectly with my other clothing. I also love the way they fit around my legs. No chafing or pinching in your legs; which I had sometimes with some cheaper shorts. The Calobra Escorsa shorts are comfortable, and are still affordable.
Wide grippers at the ends of the shorts or sleeves are popular. No pinching collars. But of course you also wear a jersey or jacket.
My favourite at the moment is my Summer Jersey Raw Blue by ‘La Passione’. I like clean looks, not too much text or unnecessary and loud colours.
This jersey is dark blue and also has longer short sleeves. The jersey fits like a glove, and it’s something you don’t see on many other cyclists.
It’s great to have something that not many other people wear, to have something unique. It is great addition to your collection. Do you also wear a baselayer?
Yes, always. In the Netherlands, nine out of ten times it’s too chilly to only wear a short sleeve jersey in the Netherlands. With a base layer I’m never cold on the bike, even if I wear shorts and a short sleeve jersey
In the summer my Castelli base layer wicks away moisture, so my jersey doesn’t get wet and I stay dry and warm on the bike. Also great when it gets windy or during a break or something.
My next question for you, is perhaps a bit redundant, but do you have a wish list?
Well, unfortunately my wishlist for cycling stuff is never ending. Cycling is a lifestyle and fashion for cyclists is part of that. Every season there are new kits, helmets, and glasses are brought on the market that tempt me, and that I match to my other clothes in my mind before I buy it.
At the moment I’m happy with my POC Octal helmets in blue and black and matching POC Do Blade glasses, but as you can perhaps tell, that I also want black glasses. Currently I’m looking at the handsome Adidas Zonyk Pro Vario glasses.
Clothing-wise I can see myself in the brand new Calobra Lluc men’s jersey. A great jersey that matches my black Calobra Escorsa shorts.
Are there any long rides on the planning?
The past season I had a go at racing, but I quickly discovered that this is not for me. This year my calendar is therefore full with organised rides and longer individual ones.
A ride that I look very much forward to is on my 30th birthday in May. I’m planning to ride the Passo dello Stelvio with friends and family. Not a better way to celebrate a birthday, I’d say.
That is indeed a ride to look forward to, and it’s May is closer than you think. What is the most beautiful place you’ve been with your bike?
There have been many great rides, but not one that was the most beautiful, because that wouldn’t do justice to the other places. I do think about my rides through Tuscany last year. The hilly way between Siena and the southern Asciano guarantee a beautiful route.
Another beautiful climb that comes to mind is the French Col du Glandon from La Chambre. Most people know this climb as the other pass along the Croix de Fer (Iron Cross Pass), but that doesn’t do justice to this climb. The pass from La Chambre is great and offers a great opportunity to go to the Croix de Fer, to then descent to the dale from where you started.
Than a logical follow-up: where would you like to go with your bike?
The Scottish Highlands are high on my wish list. The vast landscapes and emptiness of the countryside with some sleepy but hospitable villages have a great appeal to me. A great opportunity to bring my touring bike.
That should be a great opportunity, I’d say. Are there any suggestions or other things you want to share with us?
My advice is to take the Brits as an example. Mostly the Flemings talk about style, but I feel that the Brits look most fashionable on the bike. I want to argue that we should follow this example and go for more style on the bike. We pay through the nose for great road bikes and wheelsets, but then wear mismatched team kits or cheap shirts. Shame!
Pay a few tenners more and you not only have a great bike, but you also look styled in a jersey and shorts that have matching colours. And please, leave your old helmet with 4-5 colours with a pattern at home from now on.
Your bike and clothes are probably not even in the same colour, so it just looks silly. A nice black helmet or one in the colour of your kit? Fantastic! Geen van die kleuren zit waarschijnlijk in je kleding of fiets en dus oogt het gewoon niet mooi. Een zwarte helm of helm in de kleur van je kit? Fantastisch. Immers, soigneren kun je leren.
Not all stylish clothes need to be expensive. What if we would switch jobs, what would you change in the current collection?
I think the collection could do with a bit more ‘fashion’. It might be a bit pricey, but also is a great addition. Brands like ‘Jaggad’ or ‘MAAP’ have great cycling clothes suitable for the stylish cyclist.
But I’d also like to see the more affordable ‘La Passione’ in our collection, so more of our customers are looking forward to an extra stylish season.
I think I can make you happy with more fashion, because we added the brand Chapter 3 to our collection. The David Millar line. This is produced in collaboration with Castelli and looks incredibly slick. You’ll see them in front of your camera soon :) Thanks for having us! In a few weeks I will visit somebody else!
Het bericht Erwin’s Cycling Wardrobe – Our in-house photographer and Flandrien verscheen eerst op Mantel.
