Santiago (Chile) Bobber Apparel

One hour east of Santiago the RN-60 starts climbing. By the time you hit the Paso Libertadores the road is switchbacks and snow walls and you are looking back at a city ringed by Andean peaks taller than anything in Europe. Chile's riders use Santiago as the launch pad: west to Valparaiso, south into Maipo wine country, east over the Andes into Argentina. The condor rides those same thermals above the pass, a three-metre wingspan that has meant freedom and strength in this part of the world since before the Spanish arrived. Original Santiago biker shirts, printed on heavyweight ring-spun cotton, shipped to riders in over 70 countries.

The Condor, the Pass, and La Estrella Solitaria

Ride the Libertadores pass on a clear day and you will look up to a condor working the thermals over the ridge. That is why we drew it full-wingspan from below, white ruff and white wing patches against open sky, the way you actually meet one from the seat of a bike. Around it sits the Andes wall that frames every Santiago horizon and the lone star off the Chilean flag, distressed like it has ridden on a tank for a decade. On one side stands a huaso horseman, Chile's own mounted rider, kin to anyone who has ever thrown a leg over a machine. The banner carries La Estrella Solitaria, the Lone Star, the name Chilean riders have carried since 1817.

Materials & Who It's For

This one was made for the Chilean rider living abroad who still carries the condor in their chest, and for the adventure tourer who has done the Santiago-Mendoza Andes crossing or has it penciled into a future trip. It lands as a hometown-pride piece for the diaspora and a real souvenir for anyone who has ridden RN-60 with the snow walls either side. Tees are heavyweight 5.3oz ring-spun cotton, side-seamed and pre-shrunk. Hoodies are 8.0oz cotton-poly fleece with double-needle stitching at the stress points. Caps use raised embroidery on a structured six-panel. Every piece is checked by hand before it ships and tracked to your door in over 70 countries.