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The Work Behind Better

The work () behind better ()

Pinnacle SS27

For years, we’ve struggled to explain who Pinnacle, our top-of-the-line range at Black Sheep, is for. We kept coming back to “racing”. But let’s be honest, most of us aren’t pinning on a number every weekend. And “Pro” never felt right either. Looking back, we probably made the answer harder than it needed to be.

Pinnacle is for anyone who wants to see what they’re capable of. We recognise that slightly ridiculous habit of reaching a goal, enjoying it for a moment, then wondering what else might be possible. We do it ourselves. There’s always something to learn, something to change, another reason to go again.

That feeling follows us off the bike, too. We finish a collection and immediately start thinking about what we could do better. Looking after our mental health takes ongoing attention as well, though sometimes that means asking less of ourselves, or asking for help. The work looks different in each part of our lives. We’re still figuring it out, and we suspect we always will be.

The ridiculous habit of reaching a goal, and then wondering what else might be possible.

The cyclists’ pursuit of more.

We can spend months working towards something and still fail dismally.

At first, getting better might mean riding more regularly or making it to the top of a climb without stopping. As we improve, our expectations change. We want to stay with a faster group, ride further or arrive at a race better prepared.

Cyclist in black jersey and blue bib shorts riding at dusk
Close-up of a cyclist wearing blue Pinnacle bib shorts

The work becomes more specific. We pay attention to how we train, how we pace an effort and how well we recover. We look at what is helping and what needs to change. Sometimes the answer is more training. Sometimes it is a better plan or enough rest to benefit from the training we are already doing.

A good week does not guarantee a good result. We can spend months working towards something and still fail dismally. We sure have. Experience gives us a better understanding of ourselves, but it rarely leaves us completely satisfied.

That is part of what keeps cycling interesting. Reaching a goal changes what we think is possible. The work continues, even as the goal changes. Each of us decides how far we want to take it.

Never too much detail ()

Never too much detail.

Designing performance apparel involves the same willingness to keep looking for improvements. The fact that a garment works does not mean every decision behind it is settled.

Fabric, fit, panel placement, straps and chamois all need consideration. Changing one part can affect another. A material has to work as part of a garment, and that garment has to work on a moving body. Development means making those choices, checking them and being prepared to revise them.

Pinnacle gives that work a practical form. AeroWeave brings performance fabric over the shoulders and a softer panel across the chest. Zer0 removes the separate leg cuff. These are specific construction decisions that we can examine and continue to develop.

The same scrutiny applies to how the clothing looks. For SS27, Graeme’s artwork starts with imagery of the athletes themselves. The graphics and colour combinations are part of the design work, alongside the technical construction. Both matter in clothing we choose to spend hours wearing.

Releasing the collection puts a version of that work into riders’ hands. It does not close the discussion. There will always be a fit detail to reconsider, a material to investigate or an idea worth taking further. That dissatisfaction is familiar to us as cyclists as well as designers.

Development means making those choices, checking them and being prepared to revise them.
Close-up of AeroWeave shoulder fabric on a Pinnacle jersey
AeroWeave’s open, textured weave extends over the shoulders for airflow and a smooth fit. A supple FeatherSoft 160 front panel adds softness across the chest.
Close-up of the Zer0 bib leg fabric and Black Sheep branding
Zer0 Pressure removes the separate leg cuff. Soft, compressive Bogota fabric keeps the fit close without an extra band around the thigh.
The Perfect Pad by Elastic Interface completes the Zer0 Bib, paired with soft, high-compression Bogota fabric. Dedicated men’s and women’s chamois are specified for each fit.
Cyclist in purple Pinnacle kit with her bike at night
Peta wears the AeroWeave SS Jersey in Ultra Violet and the Zer0 Bib in Performance Purple.
The AeroWeave SS Jersey in Ultra Violet brings an open, textured weave over the shoulders and a soft FeatherSoft 160 panel across the chest.
a better () mind.

A better mind.

Looking after our mental health is ongoing work too, although progress is harder to measure than a ride time or a change to a garment.

What helps at one point in our lives may need to change as work, relationships and responsibilities change. We can feel settled for a while and then find ourselves struggling again. That does not mean the earlier effort was wasted, or that we should simply try harder.

It means continuing to notice how we are doing and responding to what we need. That might involve protecting time away from work, staying connected to people, changing an unsustainable routine or seeking professional support.

Through Resets and the Mind Health Project, we explore how familiar activities such as riding, recovering and spending time together can be part of that attention. Small practices give us something practical to return to, without suggesting there is one answer that works for everyone.

We can want more from ourselves and recognise when we need help or a different approach. Getting better remains individual, and looking after ourselves remains something we make room for throughout our lives.

Small practices give us something practical to return to, without suggesting there is one answer that works for everyone.
Pinnacle cyclist riding at dusk
Pinnacle cyclist in purple kit at dusk
Pinnacle cyclist adjusting a jersey zip

It’s never justabout the finish line.

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