Should You Wear Team Kits?

[slippyB]

I don't understand the point of this whole fashion police thing in cycling. Over 30 years of riding I've encountered these idiot many times. I always go out of my way to annoy them. I once had some pompous jerk berate me because my bar tape was the "wrong" colour. I say wear what you want, what inspires you. Anybody has a problem with it, tell them to stick their opinion up their *ss.

+1...the fashion police/elitist rule-makers about kits and gear (race on 105...OMG!!!) are what drummed me out of this sport a few years ago. Now I'm getting back on the bike, back onto race courses, back in the fast group rides as an older/wiser/thicker skinned/don't-give-a-f*** rider that could care less if Joe-elitist approves

 

[nowhereman]

+1...the fashion police/elitist rule-makers about kits and gear (race on 105...OMG!!!) are what drummed me out of this sport a few years ago. Now I'm getting back on the bike, back onto race courses, back in the fast group rides as an older/wiser/thicker skinned/don't-give-a-f*** rider that could care less if Joe-elitist approves

Bravo to both of you!!! Amen! When people start paying for my clothing, then they can dictate what I wear, in the meantime.......... you know the rest #*$+@&@@#*!!!!!

 

[Anonymous]

Who owns a jersey of their favorite football (or similar) team?

No difference.

See there is a difference.. Wearing your team kit to a football match to show who you support is acceptable, wearing your team kit to the pub on days your team are on telly is acceptable.

Kicking the ball around in the park in full team kit is ridiculous.

The only time i would consider wearing a team shirt is to watch a race. But even then to be honest I find team kit uncomfortable and hot to stand around in. I really wish teams would produce replica kit in t-shirt form (we have been onto sky about this one for months, and maybe eventually will get somewhere). Weve got a guy around here wears full gb (track) kit, and it just makes me want to cane past him as fast as I can.

 

[Big GMaC]

See there is a difference.. Wearing your team kit to a football match to show who you support is acceptable, wearing your team kit to the pub on days your team are on telly is acceptable.

Kicking the ball around in the park in full team kit is ridiculous.

The only time i would consider wearing a team shirt is to watch a race. But even then to be honest I find team kit uncomfortable and hot to stand around in. I really wish teams would produce replica kit in t-shirt form (we have been onto sky about this one for months, and maybe eventually will get somewhere). Weve got a guy around here wears full gb (track) kit, and it just makes me want to cane past him as fast as I can.

But not just wearing the shirt it isn't.

I see no problem in wearing a team jersey, afterall it is cycling specific gear, so why not.

 

[Mach Schnell]

No different than fans wearing the colours of their favourite (Football, Rugby, Baseball, Hockey......) team.

 

[Biciclette Bianchi]

Also really liked Alessio Wheels team kit.

I tend to wear defunct team clothing on many rides (I love a Systeme' U jersey that I recently got - a bit of an homage to "The Professor" Fignon). I agree about the Alessio jersey, and have been considering picking up one of those (that and Fignon's Chateau d'Ax - Gatorade jersey).

Dave

 

[Hoekstyn]

Riding back fort to work, I spend a fair bit of time in traffic. I want to be seen (standout!). These shorts and jerseys are designed by pros who know what makes them (and their sponsor) stand out. Do I ride matched sets? Very seldom. Because I do weekend runs of 40-60km, I have the padded shorts. Because I ride in traffic during the week and on roads with dumptrucks and semis on the weekend, I have the jerseys. Always buy last years, or what ever is on sale. The price is much less, the effect is the same. Why do I ride the shorts to work (13km 1 way), why not if you already have them?

 

[Notso Swift]

I want to be seen (standout!). These shorts and jerseys are designed by pros who know what makes them (and their sponsor) stand out.

Well, Footon stand out for their design, but not in a good way, but they aren't really seen

 

[joe_papp]

Vincent, our hapless middle aged roadie, has been given a talking to by his wife on wearing team kit.


What do you think about the average roadie wearing pro team outfits?

Define "average" roadie!

I wouldn't have been caught dead wearing the kit of another team, pre-suspension, but now that I'm back riding for fun, the only kits I own are Vermarc pro-team kits. In fact, I just took a quick inventory of what I have, and it is truly all Vermarc (at least what's in circulation), and represents Lotto, Quick Step, Milram, Landbouwkrediet, and Topsport. I have two different Belgian champion's sets (2x QS, 1x Lotto), two versions of Milram's German champ strip, and a Bettini Quick Step world champ outfit. And you know what - I love wearing this stuff and could give a f*ck what anyone thinks or says to me. Solid colors are boring, most local team strip or bike shop kit is not visually appealing (that's a broad generality, I know) and it's not like I'm trying to pass myself off as Bettini. Why wear this stuff? Because it looks good, it's super-high quality, and it's fun.

I've gotten many of them from a Dutchman living in New Zealand. Check it out: Vermarc pro team kits for free (almost).

You can also see many, many cool national champion strips here:
http://is.gd/d9x22

btw: I just watched "Back from my ride" and only now raised myself off of the floor, where I was dying with laughter.

 

[richwagmn]

Vincent, our hapless middle aged roadie, has been given a talking to by his wife on wearing team kit.


What do you think about the average roadie wearing pro team outfits?

How about wearing a kit from your local bike shop? Provide some support and all that.

 

[Boeing]

wear a yellow jersey you are a tuul

 

[top_tenz_finish]

i wouldnt wear one.. classic retro shirts if you have them are ok, but current team kits, dunno, bit fanboyish

I cannot believe this thread went 9 pages and nobody picked up on the irony of this post.



Anyhow, I will soon be getting back on the bike (when I choose and buy one that is) after a few years of inactivity due to moving around and focusing on other sports. Not really aiming to even join a club but even if I did I would readily stick two fingers up to any fashion snobbery.
One thing that would put me off wearing a full Pro kit is the price! I might go for a jersey but not for the shorts too, surely you can get equivalent quality cheaper? Or have I got that wrong??

As for the talk of football fans and shirts, well it is frowned upon by many to wear replica shirts for anything other than playing. So some form of similar attitude...

 

[Hoekstyn]

Well, Footon stand out for their design, but not in a good way, but they aren't really seen

Agreed!! Whoever designed those should be shot, hanged and quartered!
Kits should be designed to be highly visable for obvious reasons, the Footon kits would do well as camos in Afghanistan.

 

[Hoekstyn]

I cannot believe this thread went 9 pages and nobody picked up on the irony of this post.
One thing that would put me off wearing a full Pro kit is the price! I might go for a jersey but not for the shorts too, surely you can get equivalent quality cheaper? Or have I got that wrong??

Look for last year's or older stuff on sale (sponsor change, overstock, etc.). Same quality, but usually goes for 1/2 of the current price.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

When in doubt of breaking some sort of unwritten rules by the cycling fashion police, support your favorite beer brewery.

http://www.shopvermarcusa.com/cart....search=&shopByPrice=&viewAll=1&customListIds=

 

[nowhereman]

World champion soccer kit anyone?

Everybody does it.

 

[slowoldman]

World champion soccer kit anyone?

Everybody does it.

what a fred.....

 

[BroDeal]

When in doubt of breaking some sort of unwritten rules by the cycling fashion police, support your favorite beer brewery.

http://www.shopvermarcusa.com/cart....search=&shopByPrice=&viewAll=1&customListIds=

Ahh, the Floyd Landis approach...

 

[xFrankyBx]

This is still a subject that I do not fully understand. I mean surely we all have our favorite sports teams (I.e football baseball basketball rugby) and wear the team jersey to support them. Kinda like in our minds we bring good luck to the players on that day. So seriously aside from snobbery and the whole "I'm worried what other people think" what are the real reasons that you can't wear a current team jersey (still won't wear a full team kit.)

 

[slowoldman]

This is still a subject that I do not fully understand. I mean surely we all have our favorite sports teams (I.e football baseball basketball rugby) and wear the team jersey to support them. Kinda like in our minds we bring good luck to the players on that day. So seriously aside from snobbery and the whole "I'm worried what other people think" what are the real reasons that you can't wear a current team jersey (still won't wear a full team kit.)

I will proudly say that I wear NO pro team sports jersey....cycling or otherwise. I think grown men look ridiculous in pro jerseys. I can honestly say I am sick of seeing 300 lb. Kobe Bryant's walking through the streets. Thank God most of them wear t-shirts underneath so I don't have to be subjected to their bodies by Budweiser.

 

[xFrankyBx]

I guess its just up to the person. But ill agree I too am tired of seeing people jumping on the bandwagon of teams who win...............wait a second

 

[Archibald]

just picked up a jersey off vermacusa, which has me asking the following:

How many years old should a team/national jersey be before it becomes acceptable to wear?

I've chosen a 2006 jersey - mostly because it's my own country and has yellow sleeves for visibility when commuting. ie; they're visible while wearing my small backpack...

 

[nowhereman]

OMG where did she get the nerve to wear that kit? Is she "posing"? Or is she a "fred"? Oh! she's just a fan!!! Imagine that! When are you ALL going to figure it out? (BTW- Archibald- Just who's permission are you asking for, anyway??)
Wear what the Heck you feel like wearing. Man Up, don't worry about what others think. It's your life.
To paraphrase Hendrix " I'm the one to die, when it's my turn to die
So let me live my life, the way I want to!"
It's better to ask for Forgiveness, than to ask for Permission

 

[Archibald]

(BTW- Archibald- Just who's permission are you asking for, anyway??)

I'm not asking for permission, just seeking opinions.
I read a statement by someone saying that vintage jerseys were okay. I'm curious to know where people sit regarding what's a vintage jersey and how old it is to be classified as such - especially considering how quickly some team jerseys come n go. ie; the "old" red n black CSC jersey vs perhaps older Credit Agricole or Mapei, or even older System U, Molteni, etc... I've just chosen a personal example to throw out there as a gauge.

Canvasing opinions is hardly seeking permission

If you've read the entire thread you'll have seen my earlier comments regarding where I stand on what people should or should not wear...

 

[nowhereman]

I'm not asking for permission, just seeking opinions.
I read a statement by someone saying that vintage jerseys were okay. I'm curious to know where people sit regarding what's a vintage jersey and how old it is to be classified as such - especially considering how quickly some team jerseys come n go. ie; the "old" red n black CSC jersey vs perhaps older Credit Agricole or Mapei, or even older System U, Molteni, etc... I've just chosen a personal example to throw out there as a gauge.

Canvasing opinions is hardly seeking permission

If you've read the entire thread you'll have seen my earlier comments regarding where I stand on what people should or should not wear...

Like i said, Man Up. Wear what you want. You shouldn't need anybody's opinion on what you should and shouldn't wear. You should wear what you like. With all due respect, Can't you see how silly it sounds to ask just how "classic" jerseys are defined? And what gives those that define that category the authority? If you can't see that. There's no need for further discussion between you and I on this matter. Unless of course you want to put in the last word.