Tweed Ride Huntsville

is a dapper social cycling event established in 2017. This ride was inspired by an amazing experience of the Dandies and Quaintrelles D.C. Tweed Ride, which in turn was inspired by the original Tweed Run in London, England.  In 2009, three hundred tweed clad cyclists took to the streets of London; since then, Tweed Runs and Rides have spread all over the world.

Tweed Ride HSV is a Timber Tiger Studios Event.

Client
Tweed Ride Huntsville

Year
2021

Goal

To create a brand identity that:

— Reflects the spirit of our event: we are quirky, inclusive, and can be motivated with pastry 

—  Ties us to the larger worldwide Tweed Ride and Run community through referencing the values we all share

— Sets us apart in a city dominated by competitive timed cycling and mountain biking events

Audience

— 18-85 year olds; children are welcome but are not the target audience

—  Interested in vintage bikes, artisan craftsmanship, vintage clothing/styles, slow cycling, community history, and/or afternoon tea, conversations that cover miles

— We want the quirky, passionate, nerdy, fabulously fashionable, slow explorers, community seekers, history buffs, anyone who loves elevenses and vintage enthusiasts

Scope

— Discovery Session

— Brand Identity System

— Messaging

— Illustration

— Website

— Collateral

Wordmark and Icon

We were inspired by the quirky beauty of vintage bicycle head badges, eventually landing on the Raleigh Bicycle Company emblem as our muse.  Our version features our very own Big Spring Park Muscovy duck, a local celebrity in the downtown Big Spring Park. 

As the Tweed Ride is all about fostering community, we let the people decide.  This logo won our poll by a slim margin.  It was good to know we presented more than one option good enough get our riders excited to be heard. See the Cutting Room Floor at the bottom of this page for a look at the other options.

Color Story

Because this event is firmly rooted in celebrating classic vintage style and artisan-made goods, it felt appropriate to give it a strong palette of rich colors that nod to quality craftsmanship, reliability, and timelessness.

It was an absolute delight to name the colors of this palette.  Fun fact: cheviot wool is one of the traditional wools used in the weaving of tartans and tweeds.

Flexible Branding

It is always nice to have options.  Icon v. 03 with wings spread is intended for an enamel pin.  The main icon functions as the favicon and the social media profile images. The separate wordmark is used as the website header, and on the cover of promotional materials.

icon 02

icon 03

all black

Collateral

  • Posters

  • Social Media

  • Event Prizes

  • Website

Cutting Room Floor

These had a strong voter base! In the end, while Huntsville is the Rocket City, it felt like a stretch to use the ubiquitous Saturn V given the historical periods our event celebrates and our strictly downtown routes.

Another favorite, this one is inspired by vintage bicycle head badges, as was the one we eventually landed on.

Inspired by British Railways insignia.

Inspired by antique enamel union pins