A French cyclist wins Bordeaux–Paris in 1901. An advertisement celebrates the victory with “CLEVELAND” across the top in flag-filled lettering. That is an unexpectedly good starting point for a Fourth of July collection.
The connection is right there in the artwork: American bicycle branding, a French race, and a city name given the full stars-and-stripes treatment.
The Legend of Lucien Lesna and the 1901 Bordeaux-Paris
Bordeaux–Paris tested riders over a long day on the road. Its name suggests a pleasant journey between two cities. The racers had a more demanding itinerary.
French cyclist Lucien Lesna won the 1901 race on a Cleveland bicycle. A surviving poster cataloged by the Horton Collection celebrates that result, giving the machine’s name a prominent share of the credit.
Our take: Lesna did the pedaling. Cleveland got the headline.
Unearthing the Archive
Look at the poster from a distance, then move closer. Its impact comes from the way the lettering, color, and rider work together:
The Stars and Stripes Typography: The massive "CLEVELAND" lettering across the top of the poster is filled with an iconic, hand-drawn American flag motif. That flag-filled lettering helped shape the collection’s Cleveland graphic.
The Vintage Color Palette: Red, blue, and cream tones connect the large lettering to the rest of the composition. The restrained palette helps the busy image hold together.
The Spirit of the Ride: The rider gives the advertisement its subject; the oversized lettering makes sure you remember the bicycle. Both have a job to do.
The 4th of July Collection Highlights
The Cleveland graphic and CLE details carry that reference into our collection. The heavyweight tee gives the larger image room on the back, while the caps make a more compact statement.
USA CLE Organic Bucket Cap — Organic cotton twill with CLE embroidery and a bucket silhouette.
USA CLE Denim Cap — Pigment-dyed cotton with an unstructured, low-profile shape.
USA CLE Foam Trucker Cap — A foam front and mesh back in a high-profile, five-panel shape.
USA Cleveland Foam Trucker Hat — Another foam trucker option with the Cleveland reference up front.
USA CLE Unisex Garment-Dyed Heavyweight T-Shirt — CLE embroidery on the chest and the advertisement-inspired Cleveland graphic on the back.
USA Cleveland Women's Crop Top — The Cleveland reference in a cropped silhouette.
USA CLE Women's Micro Rib Raglan Baby Tee — A fitted micro-rib style with contrast raglan sleeves.
USA CLE Women's Micro-Rib Tank Top — A scoop-neck tank for a lighter layer.
USA CLE Unisex Premium Sweatshirt — A crewneck option for when the evening cools down.
The old advertisement had a race result to announce. Our collection gives its Cleveland lettering another setting, from a July cookout to an ordinary weekend. Shop the full USA Cleveland Collection.
No finish-line time required.
Down the Rabbit Hole
Study the Horton Collection’s cataloged 1901 Cleveland bicycle poster. Look first at the lettering, then at how it relates to the rider. For a different sporting design, see the 1908 Cleveland scorecard.
