#65 Gobik, Etxeondo, Spiuk, Baggicase... cycling "Made in Spain"

When you go riding with the group this Sunday (it should be easy at first, but then "God will decide"), if you look at the brand of jerseys and accessories your teammates are wearing, you'll surely find many of them are from Etxeondo , Gobik , or Spiuk . Did you know they're Spanish brands? We're talking about them today because there are some great products on the market that carry the " Made in Spain " label, and it's worth knowing where they come from.

I also recommend reading post #58, "ORBEA OR BH, WHICH ARE YOU?", in which we analyze two of the most important bicycle brands in our country.

logo-etxeondo The story of this brand is the story of its founder, Francisco Rodrigo , who began working in a workshop in the town of Etxeondo, in Villabona (San Sebastián) . There he learned the trade and went on to work for haute couture brands such as Dior and Balenciaga . But he was looking for something more. His passion was cycling, so in 1976 he decided to set up on his own and put all his talent into making cycling clothing.

Francisco always loved his profession and carried his demanding work ethic into his new project. For the clothing of his brand, which he named Etxeondo in homage to his beginnings, he always demanded the finest materials and handcrafted craftsmanship, striving for the highest quality and attention to detail.

The results were not long in coming and Etxeondo grew to what it is today: a highly successful family business , with clients from all over the world and a well-deserved prestige.

It is fully integrated into both the professional and amateur circuits. It has sponsored top teams ( Kas, Once, Reynolds, Banesto ), and cyclists such as Perico, Indurain, Kelly, and Contador have trusted the brand from the start. Furthermore, Etxeondo is actively involved in the Euskadi Foundation and in projects such as " Suffer, Enjoy, Live, " which sponsors amateur cyclists for a year.

Their clothing is both elegant and functional. It stems from the practice of sports, from the road, from meeting the needs of cyclists. Each garment undergoes a rigorous design and improvement process until it is finally released to the market. It's currently one of the best cycling clothing brands in the world, so this list of Spanish companies had to start with Etxeondo.

gobik-logo Gobik Cycling Wear was launched in 2010 in Yecla, Murcia, by Alberto García Cantero and José Ramón Ortín . Initially, it focused on the design, manufacture, and sale of cycling clothing for clubs and teams, always customized and made to order.

They started out selling primarily in the Mediterranean region, but from the very beginning they experienced spectacular growth and soon gained customers all over Spain.

They took their next step in 2012 , producing and selling their own clothing line . They started with a complete summer outfit, including training and competition models, as well as accessories such as windbreakers and arm warmers. Their goal was to find " quality clothing at affordable prices ." Thanks to their original designs and outstanding quality, the experience proved positive, and since then, Gobik not only designs its own clothing but also has its own R&D department to test new materials.

In recent years, Gobik has experienced spectacular growth and, thanks to its patronage and sponsorship efforts, has managed to integrate seamlessly into the cycling world, both amateur and professional.

In 2018, it is the official brand of the GAES Pilgrim Race , of the Primaflor-Mondraker-Rotor team (UCI Elite MTB category) and has created a special collection dedicated to the Volta de Catalunya . It also dresses Aleix Espargaró , collaborates with the Princesas Rett charity initiative to help raise funds to fight this neurodegenerative disease, and dresses MTB cyclist Ismael Ventura .

spiuk logo Another brand you've surely seen cyclists from around the world using is the Biscayan brand Spiuk . Founded in 1997, its founders were clear from the start that to be competitive in this market, they had to expand their sales abroad. They quickly got to work and now have subsidiaries in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg .

Spiuk's goal has always been clear: " to democratize quality and advancements in cycling ." It's a more affordable brand than Etxeondo or Gobik , so it not only has to compete with specialist cycling brands but also with major sportswear wholesalers like Decathlon .

One of Spiuk 's strategies has always been to strongly support triathlon . Thanks to the ongoing collaborations and sponsorships it has launched, it has helped popularize this sport.

One of the brand's sweetest moments came in 2006, when it sponsored the Caisse d'Epargne team with which Óscar Pereiro won the Tour de France . Spiuk celebrated this feat 10 years later by creating a jersey replicating the one Pereiro wore. On the other hand, the hardest moment for the company was the death in 2012 of one of its founders, José Manuel Fernández Arza , at the age of 49.

Today Spiuk sponsors the MMR Factory Team (the best XCountry team in Spain), the OMX Pro Team (a young British UCI Elite category mountain bike team), the Eustrak Euskadi track team, the Boyaca team (where Nairo Quintana started) and triathletes such as Mario Mola and Eneko Llanos .

OTHER SPANISH BRANDS

We don't want to end this article without mentioning other brands that are doing very well and also deserve our recognition:

Viator : a textile company from Alicante founded by the Morales family in 1989. It began in rugby and eventually diversified its production into other sports. It found a market in cycling where its durable, well-designed fabrics were well received, and since then, they have continued to produce clothing with a good value.

El Tío del Mazo : The company was born from the experience and development of the website eltiodelmazo.com, a leader in its sector with two million annual visits and more than 50,000 followers on social media. The company manufactures its garments in Alicante. It produces high-quality cycling clothing from cutting-edge fabrics imported from Italy. Its designs are bright and bold, and its jerseys fit really well.

Damn good luck : this brand arouses passions, both for and against. Its clothing and accessories have a groundbreaking aesthetic. You can read catchy slogans like "Going down is cool. Going up is annoying," "Suck my tires," or "Your bike weighs more...and you know it." Their accessories (socks, caps, arm warmers, gloves) and accessories (customized bottles and stem caps) are famous. They also have a line of streetwear for when you're done training and want to go for a walk.

Weoutdoor : This company is based in Dos Hermanas, Seville. It primarily sells limited editions and offers higher prices than other brands. Its clothing features eye-catching designs and its materials are always of the highest quality. They are co-founders of the COMM Fixed Team, an amateur cycling team that competes in the most professional fixed-gear criterium races. They also have a sponsorship agreement with Treshombres Bikes, a frame brand.

Best for Bikers : This Barcelona-based company was founded in 1991. It specializes in customizing gear. Originally linked to motorsports, they transitioned to cycling with the popularization of mountain biking. They currently manufacture clothing for different cycling disciplines, with specific mountain biking collections (shorts).

Want more Spanish gangs working really hard? BAGGICASE!

Here's Baggicase ! We don't make bikes, we make the Baggicase , the most practical and durable waterproof case on the market, created by and for cyclists so you can carry your phone, keys, and personal belongings without losing or damaging them.