Troy Lee Designs Drops Its Latest Collab With Micayla Gatto 22

This is what happens when you combine artistry and riding skills.  

Introducing the TLD x Micayla Gatto collaboration. Pushing the women’s collection further, Micayla brings original hand drawn art to the new Lilium and Luxe lineup that embodies the essence of what it means to be an artist and athlete.

Shop the collection: https://troyleedesigns.com/collections/bike-womens-new-arrivals

Micayla Gatto: https://www.instagram.com/micaylagatto

Follow Troy Lee Designs: https://troyleedesigns.com/

S5Q0243

S5Q9521.jpg?VersionId=4XtJ8tXzbx1gksbrA1vu7AXnN

 S5Q9876

 

Credit: Troy Lee Designs
Related:
Troy Lee Designs
Micayla Gatto
22 comments

View replies to: Troy Lee Designs Drops Its Latest Collab With Micayla Gatto

c50 Screen Shot 2015 03 09 at 2.10.12 PM 1425936051.jpg?VersionId=RClhlm1GiTEPMPegVFCjJxwA22d
sspomer
1 year ago

pretty sure history proves that TLD has supported hundreds (thousands?) of racers over the decades and racer support is still the huge bulk of what they do from pros to up-and-comers. i think it's rad they're stepping out a bit.

2
c50 88361590 1251952519
deeboy
1 year ago

Damn, chill out boys..... perhaps TLD is colab'in with a rider/artist to sell more stuff, so they can support more racers... Brands collab with artists (big and small) all the time, MG seems to be part of the TLD family, so it works for them.

Your narrow opinions seem to be limited in understanding and as you say rather old man boomerish.

Chillnride man.

2
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

Lets unpack this, and my inability to pass the vibes check (this won't help).

1) No. This won't move the needle remotely enough for them to "support more racers'" 
2) So? Just because the "athlete/artist" colab happens all the time does not make it a good allocation of capital. Unfortunately, data is super sparse on this subject and the outdoor industry isn't super good at parsing macro trends from product line success - so I can't cite anything here. 
3) Brands are not in fact family, despite what anyone says. They are for-profit enterprises with limited budgets and (in this case) owned by a private equity group. 

My "narrow opinion" is very much an opinion, but its a lot less narrow than your peace love & vibes outlook might see. I recognize what I'm saying is unpopular, but that doesn't make it wrong. 


 

1
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

I'm not sure she's an entitled brat, but it does strike me as weird that TLD is supporting her. Outside of one great music video, being passionate about bikes and being more attractive than most, I don't really see how she fits the brand (she's not racing...at least well). Maybe it moves product? I don't know. She seems like a walking cliche (http://micaylagatto.com/) but who am I to judge. 

My big gripe here is I'd 1000x see support from brands like TLD go to the rising, up and coming racer (man or woman) who is chasing the dream of going faster. Not the person who is the best looking or can win a popularity contest. I guess I always hoped athletic ability would win out...but I suppose I sound like a grumpy old man. 

Oh well. It is what it is.



 

7
c50 Screenshot 2021 12 28 at 16.06.56 1640708014
lewzz10
1 year ago

When was the last time you were on a world cup podium, won  junior worlds medals or were a 2x national champ?

 

Micayla Gatto did all these before she retired from racing..

 

Don't be a dick.

3
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

What does me being on a podium have to do with my comment? 

My suggestion is simple, I'd much rather see TLD (or any brand) support racers, not influencers. If this makes me a dick, so be it.

You citing race results from a decade ago means very little, especially to the person who is (in 2023) putting everything on the line, training, and toeing the line. Go look at any EWS results list - look how many stupid fast unsupported/barely supported riders there are and then tell me "you are a dick". 

The thing everyone forgets is marketing budgets are finite. By supporting one person you are not able to support another.

Here is an idea: while "artist/athlete colab products" make me want to throw up in my mouth a little, I'd 100% pay an extra $3 for the "TLD Grassroots Colab Glove" where $3 of every glove purchase goes into a grassroots racing budget for the TLD grassroots team or something. That is something that'd get my attention, and get me to pay (even extra) for!

I'd rather see support go to athletes, not influencers. Micayla is very much the latter at this point in her career. But hey, free country, this is clearly just an opinion. To each their own.

2
c50 91559330 1287442218.jpg?VersionId=xxdrStlcfmkizjh94.D
Buckets Up
1 year ago

Guess what? None of this is about you or for you. And I’m using ‘you’ both personally and as a larger term for 30-45 year old historically stereotypical males of mountain biking, which I assume you largely are.

This line of clothing was not designed for you.

This marketing campaign wasn’t derived to appeal to you.

Not everything within bicycling has to be for you or about you.

And when it is not about you, you do not need to respond and complain because it doesn’t fit your view of what should be happening.

5
1
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

@Buckets Up

1) You are completely missing my point.

2) Thanks for discounting based on age and gender. Funny if the tables were turned on this how poorly it'd be received. Ironic isn't a strong enough word. 

3) Nuance seems lost on you. If this was the Ann Caro Colab I'd say absolutely nothing (and in fact say "that's awesome"). 

4) This is a symptom of a much bigger disease. Ironically, the one I'm really writing on behalf of is the hypothetical (or in my case not so hypothetical) 17 year old girl who may not be the most popular, may not fit in, may not get all the boys attention, but is an absolute ripper. She loves chasing seconds between the tape. It sure is a bit demoralizing to see the company that has the motto "for the fastest racers" support what she sees to be the good-looking quasi-artist-influencer. Kinda makes her feel like its high school for "grown ups" and merit never matters as much as...whatever this is. 

 

1
c50 91559330 1287442218.jpg?VersionId=xxdrStlcfmkizjh94.D
Buckets Up
1 year ago

I have not missed your point, but you are clearly missing mine. 
 

Troy Lee can choose to support any person for any reason they see fit. That may be because they are a racer or an influencer, it doesn’t matter.

There may be a huge population of young people who are not interested in split times, but are interested in their favorite online artist/rider/influencer. That is who this line is made for. That is who this marketing is for. That is Troy Lee the company’s decision to make. 

Guess what, not everyone values racing the same as you. So supporting an unknown up and comer isn’t beneficial for reaching an audience that doesn’t care about time.

And guess what, I am a mid-30s crusty old-head who loves racing and freeride edits. But guess what else, generally when I see a press release about a product that I’m not into, I just assume it isn’t for me and move on. I don’t  go on rants in a comment section (this is an exception) because company XYZ didn’t spend THEIR money how I want them to.

2
1
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

Huh? 

Where did I say any company has to adhere to my values? Do not confuse my opinion for some sort of evocation of fascism. I whole heartedly support any brand doing whatever they like as a private company, even if I don't agree with the action. Not sure your brain is able to comprehend this, however.

You are likely right, there may be a huge population of people who care more about "influencers" and less about "athletes". This is exactly the thing I don't (personally) like. I find this cultural shift to be damaging to a sport for reasons I've already articulated and a whole bunch I haven't. 

For someone who claims to get "my point", you don't seem to be reading what I'm writing. I have said it multiple times - I find this to be a symptom of something larger that I don't like. I don't care if this product is targeted toward me or not. That was never why I took the time to write anything here.

I am signaling that I feel support of influencer culture is less cool than support of the competitive side of the sport. I have my reasons for thinking this. You don't like it. Others don't like it. That's fair, you are entitled to your own opinion, as am I. 

TBH - this is a pretty tricky one to distill into a  comments section. I know Vital won't do it, but a pod would be 1000x better on this than a misinterpreted back and forth via writing. I've put more thought into this than just "this one example", and probably have more reasons for feeling this than maybe you (and others) think...
 

1
c50 91559330 1287442218.jpg?VersionId=xxdrStlcfmkizjh94.D
Buckets Up
1 year ago

I quoted part of your second to last paragraph to speak to and then I will leave it, because you are right, its hard to discuss nuance in text.

"I am signaling that I feel support of influencer culture is less cool than support of the competitive side of the sport." 

On a personal level, I actually whole heartedly agree with you. My point is that, there are other people out there who do not have this view, and while 'we' might not understand it, their view is not any less valid because 'we' don't share it. So, when it comes to bikes/skis/surf/snowboard etc, if a person sees something that doesn't align with their view of what is cool in that sport, its generally good to take pause and realize that others out there might. Then chalk it up as 'that is not for me' and go find the stuff they do align with. And that is where it circles back to my original point, not everything in bikes is for you. Not everything in bikes is for me. So when it isn't for you, or isn't for me, let the people who it is for have it. I'm willing to bet that both you and I have had, and will continue to have plenty in bikes that is for us, so we should spend time with that instead.

1
c50 Screenshot 2021 12 28 at 16.06.56 1640708014
lewzz10
1 year ago

You can want a brand to support whatever scene you like, no qualms there.

 

I think it's a bit uncool to declare MG is only working with TLD because she's 'more attractive than most', and saying a successful prior racer doesn't fit the brand because they don't compete anymore. I would guess your comment would have been very different about them hypothetically supporting/collaborating with a Peaty, Gracia or Palmer for example.

 

Rob Warner is head to toe in TLD - he doesn't race anymore so must solely be getting those sponsorship bucks for his looks! 

3
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

@lewzz10 - You are honing in on a lot of what I'm trying to say here. MG is not in the same league as the Peaty/Gracia/Palmer/Ann Caro/Rachel etc. This is why I took the time to write anything at all. A more fitting comparison would be if TLD did a colab with Cody Warren, which will not happen. 

TLD is a private company, they can do whatever they like. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion here. I'm taking aim at this because its a symptom of a much bigger trend I really don't like. 

I value athletics & sport a lot. I think its awesome, and one reason I think its awesome is because in an athletic pursuit, merit (used to) matter more than looks, popularity and politics. I get that this has changed immensely since the inception of "the socials" but I still love the great equalizer of the clock (or the scoreboard in other sports). 

When a company has a motto "For the World's Fastest Racers" and instead puts resources behind someone who really isn't a racer (but can pull eyeballs for other reasons) I cringe. What message does that send to the up and coming groms who (like most in bikes) may not fit in, may not be that popular, may not be the best looking? A lot of us found bike racing because we may not have fit in but we could let all that go between the tape (where nothing mattered besides the clock). I'd wager a lot of people gravitate (no pun intended) toward athleteics because of this great "leveling" that occurs on the field or between the tape. Substance before style. 

Ultimately, I think it sends the wrong message; and again - realize - this is a much bigger thing I'm aiming at through the frame of what I see here.

1
c50 Screen Shot 2015 03 09 at 2.10.12 PM 1425936051.jpg?VersionId=RClhlm1GiTEPMPegVFCjJxwA22d
sspomer
1 year ago

you say above, "puts resources behind someone who really isn't a racer" - micayla has 79 races listed on rootsandrain. doesn't factor in any local races she's prob done. the last RnR result is from 2020 and i have no idea when she officially competed last, but why do you get to say she's not a racer?

2
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

You really think these results are why TLD is doing anything with her? I see one race since 2017. One race in 5 years?! I consider that to be "not really a racer" (at this point).

Lets frame this differently...

If you take a dude with her Roots & Rain resume, is there anyway TLD does a colab with him? 
 

1
c50 Screenshot 2021 12 28 at 16.06.56 1640708014
lewzz10
1 year ago

Maybe it sends the message that people can contribute worthwhile stuff to - and be valued by - an industry they care about without having to be the most successful racer of all time ever because nothing else in the world matters.

1
c50 88521480 1251936778
TEAMROBOT
1 year ago

Jeff, as I read your posts, I think the thing you're missing is that Micayla is an artist. Cody Warren is a bad comparison to Micayla because he's not an artist. I don't know what our 2005 US Men's National Champ is up to these days, but I don't think it involves sketch pads, paint brushes, or regular trips to Blick Art Supplies. And the fact she's a female mountain biker/artist/former world class racer is kind of a big deal. As you said, pretty sure dudes who used to race and aren't actively working as artists are a dime a dozen.

Everyone knows TLD makes clothes "For the World's Fastest Racers," but they're also an art house. Always have been. Troy Lee himself is a... drumroll please... pinstriping and air brush artist. Sometimes I love the directions their artists have taken and sometimes I hate it, but TLD has prominently featured art on the clothes and helmets since the day they opened the doors.

Jeff, it sounds to me like your beef is with art, as if drawing stuff with pencils is easy and lame and illegitimate for TLD to support and only racing is hard and "real" and legitimate for TLD to support. I disagree.

2
c50 149187 936024901533 10205078 50991835 3734911 n
jeff.brines
1 year ago

If I had a beef with art I'd say "I have a beef with art". Don't put words in my mouth. 

What I have a beef with is this idea that we can all be so disingenuous about other factors at play here. Old Team Robot wouldn't need this explained to him/it. I know I'm jaded on this topic, and I also know I'm probably surrounded by a bazillion more "athlete artists" than most (based on where I live) so excuse me if I find it a little bit cliche. Probably not fair to MG on that one. 

Regardless, fair point - didn't think about it in the framing of "TLD is an art house". I saw (see) them being racer-centric/go fast/we support athletes.

 

1