History / Inspiration
Back in 1907, when bicycles were still a novelty, Oakland already had its own motorcycle club (named, simply, the Oakland Motorcycle Club). The East Bay's hills and flats were the perfect habitat for dirt devils and hellcats. The dapper and daring motorcyclists competed in races, hill climbs, and dusty rounds of bike polo. Their simple-yet-striking uniforms were the inspiration for this design.
Years later, Oakland became home to one of the first Hell's Angels chapters, headed by the notorious Sonny Barger. Their antics soon proved their motto true: "When we do right, nobody remembers. When we do wrong, nobody forgets." Hunter S. Thompson got his big literary break covering Oakland's motorcycle clubs in his book Hell's Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. While Barger has since decamped to Arizona, the Town still operates dozens of bike shops, bars and tattoo parlors to keep motorcyclists riding fast and looking sharp.
About the designer
