Bradley Wiggins has posted a photo of his new ‘Whaam Rickenbacker’ cycling shoes that he is set to wear at the forthcoming Tour of California.
The image used on the shoes is one of the most recognisable pieces of pop art. Whaam! is a 1963 diptych painting by the American artist Roy Lichtenstein which is on permanent display at Tate Modern since 2006.
Lichtenstein’s painting shows a fighter plane firing a rocket which hits a second plane and was inspired by a war comic book from the era.
However, Wiggins’ shoes are actually intended as a tribute to Paul Weller. Wiggins is a huge fan of The Jam frontman with the pair performing together after Wiggins’ 2012 Tour de France win. Weller has used a Lichtenstein-inspired Rickenbacker guitar in the past
Wiggins is currently on a training camp in California in advance of lining up at the American stage race, which he is using as preparation for the Rio Olympics in August.
are these going to be mass produced?
yes