At NÖ, we plot our endeavours from an empty page. And thrive on an almost obsessive attention to detail. So, when it came to production of the NÖ Endeavour Cycling Cap, we applied the same modus operandi as we would planning a tour. No 'off the shelf' solution would do. In the process we courted the artisan, the traditional, and the idiosyncratic. And found ourselves pleasantly captivated with the results.
The base is a handmade cap, fashioned from soft, blue-grey and brown houndstooth wool, also known as houndstooth check. The general form of our garment concurs with a more relaxed outlook. No hard edges, or jutting peak. There's something sartorially sans souci about a NÖ Cap.
Tradition demands a stripe. So, in recognition of the pan-european nature of our exploits, we made reference to the heritage of 'cycling international stripes' - with a subtly-defined band of time-honoured silk grosgrain. These beautifully-coloured tapes were hand-stitched onto the cap using cotton and needle taken from the fine, mini-sewing-kit gifts bestowed on us by Monsieur Yves Droller, one half of the Russelet Brothers 'duo de comédie', and co-proprietor of Les Amis du Russelet - a vast 19th century house where we took board, at the close of NÖO7, Stage 6, and where the hosts had us in stitches. So stitched-in symbiosis indeed.
An embroidered NO ENDEAVOUR marks the outer right side. Two hand-printed roundels the opposite, inner surface. These commemorative laurels celebrate both NÖO7 and NÖO9, thus:
London to Paris - NÖO7 - Eeeaaaarghh!
An exclamation in recognition of one Philippe Brun, congenial host at the Roger Brun Champagne House, Ay - our NÖO7, Stage 5 stopover point.
Genoa to Girona - NÖO9 - Forza Ragazzi!
A send-off uttered by one of the Ferracci brothers, as we hit the road, on our 8-day journey from Italy to Spain.
The NÖ Endeavour Cycling Cap - think of it as a tailored recap.
