…about artwork and design:
• Is artwork included in the price for custom wear?
• We have no idea of what we want on our jerseys, can you help?
• Can you design our bike club/team/store/ etc. logo?
• How come the templates do not look like the actual jersey parts, where do I find those?
• What is this (Better-than) Semi-Custom and how does it work? Can I modify these jerseys?
• Is there a limit to how many colors I can use?
• Can you match my colors?
• What do you need from me?
…about timeframe:
• How long does it take for me to get my jerseys?
• How hard is it to add to an existing order?
• Can I pay to rush an order?
• I really, really need my jerseys right now.
…about the apparel:
• What about the apparel?
• How jerseys are made?
• Yeah, but what’s special about Chronic Cycling apparel?
• What garments do you offer?
• What styles, fits and cuts do you offer?
• Are sizes pretty standard?
• What zipper options do you offer and how much do they cost?
• What is the fabric like?
• What are the short chamois like?
…about the process:
• How do I order?
• What is the minimum I can order?
• What are the Prices?
• How much is shipping?
• How do I pay?
• What about the balance?
• Why do you use Paypal?
• What if I don’t have a Paypal account?
• Is artwork included in the price for custom wear?
Up to two hours of artwork time are included with each order. This time is used for jersey layout (for approval), and production files set-up. This time does not include design, file cleanup or touch-up, corrections, etc.. Artwork submitted must meet Chronic Cycling’s artwork guidelines. If you wish, Chronic Cycling may design your jerseys for a fee. Design for custom clothing clients goes for $50/hour, and is typically no more than a few hours.
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• We have no idea of what we want on our jerseys, can you help?
If you need help visualizing your jerseys, a great place to start is our Better-than Semi Custom designs, a collection of suggested layouts. You may also do an image search on Google for something like “cool cycling jersey (click to see examples)“, which should give you a lot of ideas.
Once you have an idea of what you want, you may download and use the template available here: http://chroniccycling.com/downloads/ to let us know what you’d like the jersey to look like. Hand drawing on it is fine.
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• Can you design our bike club/team/store/ etc. logo?
Sure. As a designer by trade, Nando has many years of experience in graphic design. The careful design of an identity, however, is not included in the artwork services provided with each order, but are, instead a separate service. Please contact nando @ chroniccycling . com for a professional consultation.
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• How come the templates do not look like the actual jersey parts, where do I find those?
You do not need an actual production patterns. On our jerseys, artwork is sized to each jersey size (“micro-adjusted”, they call it). That way, your design is larger on larger jerseys and smaller on smaller jerseys, so it looks proportional no matter the size of the jersey. This kind of adjustment is better left to production technicians as it entails both know-how and a lot of work.
The layout on the PDF is meant to clearly communicates your design intent. The only other thing we’ll need is the individual vector files for each of the logos or graphics in your design.
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• What is this (Better-than) Semi-Custom and how does it work? Can I modify these jerseys?
The Better-Than-Semi-custom jerseys are just design suggestions. There are no pre-made jerseys. They are actually fully custom made upon ordering. As such, the process is the same as any other custom order.
What this means for you is a lot more flexibility on how your jersey will look. Just take a look at the suggested designs, and artwork guidelines, and either download the templates or let os know what you’d like these jerseys to look like.
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• Is there a limit to how many colors I can use?
No limit. Because we use a digital process, the only limit is imposed by the limits of the CMYK process (think of printing on an inkjet printer).
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• Can you match my colors?
Digital sublimation is printed using a process know as “CMYK” (for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and blacK). This process allows you to have many colors in your image. However, the color space is limited and thus we cannot guarantee an exact match of a Pantone spot color with CMYK printing. Due to the numerous variables involved with printing we are not able to offer color matching at this time. That said, results are typically remarkably close to our clients specs. If you can affor the time and cost, and color reproduction is a high priority, please inquire about a pre-production proof.
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• What do you need from me?
To please take a look at our Artwork Guidelines. [TOP]
• How long does it take for me to get my jerseys?
Typical order turnaround is about eight weeks (2 months).
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• How hard is it to add to an existing order?
It’s hard to tell how much time we have to add to an order, typically no more than a day or two. If it’s actually already being worked on, it’s too late. I suggest you try to get hard numbers before placing the order.
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• Can I pay to rush an order?
We don’t think it’s fair for clients that have ordered in a timely fashion, nor clients who cannot afford it, to give special treatment to anyone based on a surcharge. That said, sometimes we can get orders in in a little shorter time frame. Please contact custom @ chroniccycling . com to discuss your situation.
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• I really, really need my jerseys like right now.
We can sometimes expedite an order but production is out of our control. Also, international shipping (to us) presents some uncertainties. For these reasons we cannot commit to specific dates on rush orders, and if we accept such an order it is strictly on a goodwill basis; meaning, we’ll do our best to fulfill in time, but cannot guarantee. Typically, we do not accept rush orders.
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• What about the apparel?
All of our custom jerseys and technical t-shirts are made from 100% polyester wicking fabric, fully sublimated, hand-made by skilled technicians.
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• How jerseys are made?
All our custom jerseys begin as blank fabric. This fabric is dye sublimated via a digital process. It then is cut and sewn into the jersey you receive.
Sublimation is a printing process whereby the image on a sheet of paper is transferred onto fabric through heat and pressure. The heat and pressure cause the ink on the paper to turn to a gas which solidifies within the fabric, permanently impregnating it. The benefit of this process is that the image is permanent and will not crack or fade like silk screening. Because the ink impregnates the fabric and does not lay on top of the fabric like silk screen printing, it does not interfere with the wicking properties or breathability of the garment.
What this means to you is there in no limit to what you can print on your jersey other than the limits imposed by CMYK process printing (think of printing on an inkjet printer).
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• Yeah, but what’s special about Chronic Cycling apparel?
A couple of things come to mind:
- Cool: We’re riders too, and wear Chronic Cycling. Direct involvement in the Austin cycling scene provides great feedback on product. From mountain bikes, to roadies, to commuters, we “get it”.
- Pretty cool: Unlimited colors (no silly color limitations or charges); Tagless neck; Mix-and-match styles; Covered zippers standard, Low minimums!
- Way cool: On our jerseys, artwork is always sized to the jersey size (“micro-adjusted”, they call it). That way, your design is larger on larger jerseys and smaller on smaller jerseys, so it looks proportional no matter the size of the jersey. Most other manufacturers pick a size and run with it on all different size jerseys (appearance be damned) or charge to do what we do for no additional fee. Did I mention full-length covered zippers are standard?
- Coolest: Chronic Cycling supports the same things you do: Bicycle advocacy (LOBV, Bike Texas), IMBA; causes like the fight against cancer through Livestrong, fight against Aids (Aids Lifecycle), MS 150, and others; and fun stuff too (like the Tour de Fat), as well as other grassroots cycling goodness in our community.
• What garments do you offer?
We currently offer:
- Jerseys
- Technical (“running”) T-shirts
- Shorts (regular and bibs)
• What styles, fits and cuts do you offer?
The styles include jerseys and t-shirts, in both men and women-specific cuts. Jerseys are available in three fits:
- Mountain fit: relaxed, loose-fitting, no elastics, single zippered pocket in back. A Chronic Cycling exclusive, (see it here!)
- Club fit: traditional form-fitting, elasticized waist, no elastics on sleeves, three pockets in back
- Race fit: performance fit, elasticized waist and arm cuffs, three pockets in back
Technical T-shirts are available in short or long sleeves, in male and female cuts. The male cut has a crew neck, the female cut has a “v” neck. Click here to see all the styles.
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• Are sizes pretty standard?
Sadly, there is no such thing in the US (click here for Wikipedia article on the subject). Sizes vary wildly from one manufacturer to another. Our own vendor supplies several brands and has different size charts for each, that’s how inconsistent these things are.
So we did the next best thing and standarized our sizes to match our size chart. Examine the size chart closely. Measure a jersey that you like how it fits (armpit to armpit, laying flat). Multiply that measurement by 2. Use that (not your chest or jacket measurement, but the jerseys’) to order. Here’s the size chart: http://chroniccycling.com/custom/size-chart/
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• What zipper options do you offer and how much do they cost?
Full, covered zippers are standard in all orders at no additional charge. Also available are 3/4 length hidden zipper, or full length visible zipper. There is no price difference between these choices.
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• What is the fabric like?
As of May 2011 we’re transitioning to a new fabric we call Challenger:
Chronic Cycling Challenger Fabric (Click to see larger image)
This new fabric is very cool, while very resistant to abrasion (kind of important in mountain biking). The previous fabric, called Tempo (click to see it here), is available on request, for a limited time, at no additional charge.
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• What are the short chamois like?
We only have one type of pads for our shorts. The Italian chamois we use compares to those found on major brand high-end shorts. Reviews have been very good. Stay tuned for pictures coming soon!
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• How to Order
We’ve broken down ordering into an easy three-step process:
- Artwork
- Order Form
- Money
Go to “Custom” and learn more, and call us if you need help!
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• Minimums
As of May 2011, the minimum order is ten (10) like items. You may combine styles, gender, or sizes to achieve this quantity as well as a better price level.
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• Prices
We have found what works best to figure this out is for you to download the Excel order form, available here: http://chroniccycling.com/downloads/. Price updates as you fill it out. There’s also a link to a downloadable price list on the top right navigation menu.
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• Shipping
We ship via US Postal Service Priority Mail, or UPS Ground, from Zip code 78745 (Austin, TX). There are no shipping charges within the continental US. Outside Continental US and International shipping starts at $25
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• How do I pay?
We’ll bill you through Paypal. If you do not have a Paypal account and don’t want to sign up, you can follow the link that reads continue checkout (Click to see illustration)”
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• What about the balance?
Unless some form of official Purchase Order has been received, we’ll bill you through Paypal upon receipt of good by Chronic Cycling and before delivery to you. It is in our best interest to satisfy clients and should anything be wrong with an order, we’ll immediately take steps to rectify it. It would be very bad business practice to do otherwise. This is an industry wide policy, and we are subject to it as well with our vendor.
If we were to send product away without payment guarantee we wouldn’t be in business too long. This is not to imply anything negative about clients in general, but genuine things happen where people forget or procrastinate payment. When these things happen, we are left without recourse to collect the money due in a timely fashion.
Remember that by using your credit card, you have a way to make claims and a powerful ally on your side (the credit card company). In fact, by using Paypal, you have a second way to make such a claim. Also, since Paypal is our main form of receiving payments, and an offense could very well mean the end of that service, it behooves Chronic Cycling to maintain its pristine record of client satisfaction.
If none of this puts you at ease about paying before receiving the goods, we’ll be happy to use UPS’s Collect on Delivery (C.O.D.) service after sending you a picture of the finished jersey(s).
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• Paypal, why Paypal?
Chronic Cycling is a small operation, and lacks the resources and know-how to offer the enterprise level security Paypal does. By using their time-tested service, we never even know your credit card or bank information, thus eliminating the risk of compromising it.
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• What if I do not have a Paypal account?
You may use Paypal without having to sign up. When you get to the payment page, look for the link to the left of the login. Click here for an image showing where to click.
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