Bradley Wiggins is king of the Mods

If Bradley Wiggins wins the Tour de France this week, he'll become the greatest ever sporting Mod. Will Dean launches a scooter salute

It's probably fair to say that Bradley Wiggins can't really experience all elements of authentic Mod culture. If he were to regularly stay up 'til 3am at the Twisted Wheel while dancing to Northern Soul and necking amphetamines, it's likely that the Chorley-based cyclist wouldn't be leading this year's Tour de France.

But when it comes to everything else, Wiggins is quintessentially Mod. The helmets, sunglasses and uniforms of road cycling can make it difficult for casual fans to tell cyclists in the peloton apart when they're flying past, but Wiggo's signature Paul Weller-style sideburns immediately mark him out in Sky's black and blue. His recently acquired yellow jersey makes things a lot easier now, too...

Combine that with a professed love of classic guitars, a scooter collection that began with a silver 1979 Vespa PX125, a love of sharp tailoring, a "fetish" for brogues and Adidas Originals trainers and Wiggins may well be the Moddiest man ever to play sport. For the 2012 tour, he was even presented by a custom-made seat from Italian firm Prologo with a graphic of himself on an Union Jack-painted scooter. All Mod cons, basically.

As if to hammer the point home, Fred Perry – the British fashion label whose clothes has dressed mods since the early Sixties – recently launched a range of Wiggins cycling shirts, replete with the famous coloured stripes of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) on the end of the sleeves.

Team Sky's official photographer, Scott Mitchell (also a Mod), previously followed the Belgium-born cyclist for the book On Tour With Bradley Wiggins and – alongside the shots of Wiggo's stunning cyclist's physique there are obvious nods to his Mod stylings – no more so, than a shot in which the triple Olympic Gold medal winner is perched on a scratched Vespa in a vintage England football shirt. But what does the Mod community think of having one of their own out in front in France?

"Very few modern-day Mods appear in the public eye, so those that do tend to be over-scrutinised from those within the Mod scene," says David Walker of the website Modculture. "Wiggins has been under the spotlight for some years now, but there has rarely been a bad word heard about him when it comes to his relationship with 'Mod'." A lack of modernist grandstanding has helped Wiggo's appeal spread beyond cycle fans, too, says Walker. "You do get the idea that Wiggins simply loves many of the things associated with Mod. He's never walked around in a parka, shouting 'I'm a Mod' and never used 'Mod' as a means to any credibility. That's certainly endeared him to the Mod scene."

But Mod, or not, cycling fan or not – most people are in agreement that having a Brit headed towards the Champs-Élysées in yellow is wonder: "It's great seeing a Brit tearing up the Tour de France," says David Walker. "It's even better if he has a decent haircut."

 

Get Adobe Flash player

 



Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
From the blogs

Dish of the Day: Lily Vanilli’s recipe for making a human brain cake

A slight deviation from style this week and admittedly a bit weird, but at least I can finally say I...

Owen Howells: From the UK to Australia and back again (and again!)

Owen Howells is a DJ/producer who grew up in Australia but was born in the UK. He came back to the U...

Justice for sale but who pays for the cost?

Justice, the bedrock of our society is for sale under the Government’s latest plan to sell legal aid...

Dish of the Day: How to… make flower power cocktails

Take inspiration from the green-fingered brigade who have been showing off their creativity at the R...

       

Day In a Page

Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?
After the flood: From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands
Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.
How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

How long can the 'Keep Calm' trend carry on?

At first it seemed clever and cute. Then the 'Keep Calm' motif went mad, spawning endless offshoots.
The man who built Brum: A lament for the demise of John Madin's Brutalist Birmingham

John Madin: The man who built Brum

The architect's buildings were supposed to leave an indelible, futuristic mark on his beloved hometown but they are now being inexorably torn down.
School of chop: Learning the art of butchery at the Ginger Pig

School of chop: Learning the art of butchery

How do you butcher a lamb? Or make Mexican street food in a British kitchen? Christopher Hirst finds out.
James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

The man who's eaten everywhere

Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

Eat Spam and carry on

Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

Facial hair

Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats