Bike Jockstraps and Athletic Supporters

COMPANY:

Bike Athletic (USA)

HISTORY:

From wikipedia: "The jockstrap was invented in 1874 by C. F. Bennett of a Chicago sporting goods company, Sharp & Smith, to provide comfort and support for bicycle jockeys working the cobblestone streets of Boston." However, doing a bit of research, I found Chicago's Sharp & Smith were actually a medical supply manufacturer / importer hence this catalog and interestingly, there's an ad for a suspensory jockstrap from the catalog.

In 1897 Bennett's newly formed Bike Web Company patented and began mass-producing the Bike Jockey Strap. The Bike Web Company later became known as the Bike Company. Today, Bike is still the market leader in jockstrap sales.

In 2002, Russell Athletic bought out the Bike Athletic Company. In 2006, Fruit of the Loom bought Russell. And in 2016 Fruit of the Loom stopped producing Bike Jockstraps.

STYLES

Sports Jockstrap

Manufacturer of sports jockstraps and athletic supporters and the creator of the most popular jockstrap (every made, the Bike #10 in production since the late 1900s. Unfortunately, the Bike #10 is now out of production. Today's modern Bike jockstraps have improved softer waistbands and woven pouches.

EXTERNAL LINKS:

Shop for Bike jockstraps at Jockstrap Central
Bike jockstrap photos on Jockstrapping Blog

VINTAGE ADS, BOXES AND PHOTOS:

YOUR JOCKSTRAPS PHOTOS: BIKE JOCKSTRAPS AND ATHLETIC SUPPORTERS