To Be Seen: The 2023 DTE Kit Collection
I'll be the first to admit I’m not great at recalling what was said in conversations word for word. I can summarize what I took away or the point I was trying to communicate, but that's about it. In 2022 I raced Leadville for the first time. Gino supported me in the feed zones, and both feeds were a crazy, chaotic couple of minutes of exchanging bottles and resupplying food. Finding him in the huge crowd of other riders and support teams was stressful. After the race, I can't recall exactly how the conversation went, but Gino said, with intensity, something like, "I couldn’t see you, and I thought I’d missed you! Next time you need to be BRIGHT. You need to stand out, and I need to be able to find you in these mobs!"
When designing the 2023 kit, being seen was my number one goal. But, as a designer and storyteller, I need more than a single goal. Sure, I could design a fluorescent yellow kit, and you could spot me in a crowd, but I wouldn’t be inspired every time I put my jersey on. I need a story to inspire the design.
Back home after Leadville, I happened to chat with a local woman who is getting into gravel and road racing. During our conversation, she mentioned she’d followed my cycling career from early on when I was a criterium racer on Vanderkitten. Back then, she noticed me because I stood out - not because of the kit, but because I was one of the only women in the professional peloton (or any peloton) with short hair and tattoos. She expressed that seeing someone with whom she could identify was refreshing.
With our inaugural Distance To Empty kit last year, the mountains and diverse landscapes of Colorado, and our adventures in those places inspired the story. The design tells the story of the mountains we climb, and why we climb them from dawn to dusk. I wanted to capture the feeling of being in the desert floor to tree line, and the grit, determination, love, and heartbreak we carry every pedal stroke of our journey. The design represents the need to seek out hard things and challenge ourselves to grow and pursue what we can while we can because we only get one go, and there is no time to waste.
2022 Inaugural Distance To Empty Kit Design - available again this year!
This time around, it took some time for the design story to come together. I pulled inspiration from my past as a short-haired, tattooed, urban bike messenger who had never raced her bike, from conversations I remember, and the need to be seen in chaotic feed zones.
Our 2023 collection is all about being seen. We hear and support you if you’ve ever felt invisible or like you don't belong. We celebrate you for who you are, however you ride, and we want to see you on the start line, the finish line, or maybe simply in line to get that pre-ride latte on a random Sunday morning.
And for those who missed out on our Inaugural Kit in 2022, we’ve brought it back by popular demand!
The DTE Eliel Store will Open on April 13th and close Sunday, April 23rd at midnight PST. Keep an eye out on our IG page for updates and the countdown. We will offer the new 2023 design and bring back our DTE inaugural collection with an updated DTE logo. We will offer both women’s and men’s as well as new pieces and cuts to round out your wardrobe.
As a reminder, 100% of DTE’s proceeds from your purchase go directly to the 2023 Distance To Empty Pursuit Awards program, which gets more Colorado-based women on bikes and riding gravel. Want to learn more about the DTE Pursuit Awards? Check out the DTE Pursuit Awards Program and its impact on last year's riders.
On offer:
Solana Jersey
A perfect blend of race and aero, the Solana jersey combines the most advanced fabrics from Northern Italy into a wrinkle-free, close-to-the-body fit that is the new high standard for performance jerseys.
- Lightweight stretch mesh front designed for optimal breathability, moisture wicking with high UPF protection
-High-stretch materials for increased comfort and superior fit along with modern collar and longer sleeve length for superior aerodynamics
-Zipper pocket for valuables plus reflective trim and patches for added visibility
Rincon Jersey
The Rincon offers a tailored, race cut jersey designed to fit and flatter a wide range of body types.
-Cut for ideal riding position and designed to hug your body (size up if you want a more relaxed fit)
-Multiple fabrics combine to optimize fit along each panel of the jersey; sleeves don’t slide up the arm when riding, maintaining high level of comfort and clean aero lines
-Race cut fit without being restrictive or compressive
-UPF protection
Endurance Cargo Bib
Got any day long adventures planned? The Endurance Cargo short gives you a race cut with extra storage while not sacrificing on premium quality and fit.
-It’s all about storage – exterior pockets on each leg and 2 on the back panel, including a zipper pocket
-Seamless flat straps and a 6-hour Carbon Weave chamois means you can go long and feel good the whole ride
-Reflective inserts on back side of the legs for added visibility
Gibraltar Jacket
Gibraltar jacket was designed to be your go-to outerwear piece when you need a little extra coverage in early morning cool temps, chilly race days or a mountain descent. The ultra-light 3-layer fabric construction includes a wind and water repellent stretch membrane that offers real protection from the elements. This high stretch race fit includes minimal watt-wasting-flapping and rolls up into half a jersey pocket. Your perfect packable for every ride and unpredictable weather.
