Should You Wear Team Kits?

[Wallace]

i need advice. like many of you, i prefer not to wear pro team kits. i don't care if others do, but i kind of feel they must be earned; like the l'arc en ciel and giro, tour and vuelta jerseys.

a few months, i got a box of new spring/summer kit from my club. i got four sets of everything: jerseys, bibs, socks, gloves, hats; plus a wind gilet, a windbreaker, a set of arm warmers and knee warmers, and TT suit. so, i am not bereft of things to wear. about two months ago, a girlfriend of mine out-of-the-blue gave me a set of leopard-trek gear: bibs, socks, jersey, gloves, hat and arm warmers. i was pretty chuffed and thanked her profusely because of all of the women i know, most just barely tolerate my passion for cycling or actively ignore it. she also isn't particularly interested in sport, but wanted to do something nice for me, i think.

the problem is this. i don't ride a trek and am not a fan of the shreks. i admire cancellara, but think the way he engineered his transfer was pretty low class. she chose it because she liked the design. i do, too. i have worn the kit on a couple of solo rides, but had mixed feelings. i loved the fact that she gave it to me, but felt weird riding in another team's kit.

what would you do?

Since you've already worn the kit, you can't return it to the store for another. So, if you like the girl, wear the kit when you know she'll see you in it--it'll make her happy, right? Of such things are good relationships made (speaking as a married man).

 

[Cycle Chic]

Team kit

Hi Gregod,
This has been a recent dilemma of mine also...mainly because the choice of jerseys for girls is so limited...and plus - the women i ride with wear the club jersey. Club kit is okay - but i have to agree with you on the pro teams kit. You arent a pro cyclist - SO WHY ARE YOU WEARING THEIR KIT ???? I am riding in the Algarve at present, watch the Tour of the Algarve every year and all the teams - even got to follow Philippe Gilbert and Adam Hansen in the time trial, in the Omega Pharma Team car in February - and a lot of the teams train here pre-tour and also womens teams - SO WHY would you wear a pro team kit and have other riders / general public think 'thats a pro approaching us' - only to see JOE Bloggs average 25 - 30km per hour. For me i find it a huge let down !! Oh, I think - its a wannabe pro-rider AGAIN. Put down the present years kit for this year and leave it for Alberto, Bradley and Cadel to wear.

 

[ilillillli]

Hi Gregod,
This has been a recent dilemma of mine also...mainly because the choice of jerseys for girls is so limited...and plus - the women i ride with wear the club jersey. Club kit is okay - but i have to agree with you on the pro teams kit. You arent a pro cyclist - SO WHY ARE YOU WEARING THEIR KIT ???? I am riding in the Algarve at present, watch the Tour of the Algarve every year and all the teams - even got to follow Philippe Gilbert and Adam Hansen in the time trial, in the Omega Pharma Team car in February - and a lot of the teams train here pre-tour and also womens teams - SO WHY would you wear a pro team kit and have other riders / general public think 'thats a pro approaching us' - only to see JOE Bloggs average 25 - 30km per hour. For me i find it a huge let down !! Oh, I think - its a wannabe pro-rider AGAIN. Put down the present years kit for this year and leave it for Alberto, Bradley and Cadel to wear.

Let's do anything crazy. Like identify Bradley Wiggins as a pro cyclist.

 

[Archibald]

i need advice. like many of you, i prefer not to wear pro team kits. i don't care if others do, but i kind of feel they must be earned; like the l'arc en ciel and giro, tour and vuelta jerseys.

a few months, i got a box of new spring/summer kit from my club. i got four sets of everything: jerseys, bibs, socks, gloves, hats; plus a wind gilet, a windbreaker, a set of arm warmers and knee warmers, and TT suit. so, i am not bereft of things to wear. about two months ago, a girlfriend of mine out-of-the-blue gave me a set of leopard-trek gear: bibs, socks, jersey, gloves, hat and arm warmers. i was pretty chuffed and thanked her profusely because of all of the women i know, most just barely tolerate my passion for cycling or actively ignore it. she also isn't particularly interested in sport, but wanted to do something nice for me, i think.

the problem is this. i don't ride a trek and am not a fan of the shreks. i admire cancellara, but think the way he engineered his transfer was pretty low class. she chose it because she liked the design. i do, too. i have worn the kit on a couple of solo rides, but had mixed feelings. i loved the fact that she gave it to me, but felt weird riding in another team's kit.

what would you do?

wear it for Wouter?

 

[42x16ss]

i need advice. like many of you, i prefer not to wear pro team kits. i don't care if others do, but i kind of feel they must be earned; like the l'arc en ciel and giro, tour and vuelta jerseys.

a few months, i got a box of new spring/summer kit from my club. i got four sets of everything: jerseys, bibs, socks, gloves, hats; plus a wind gilet, a windbreaker, a set of arm warmers and knee warmers, and TT suit. so, i am not bereft of things to wear. about two months ago, a girlfriend of mine out-of-the-blue gave me a set of leopard-trek gear: bibs, socks, jersey, gloves, hat and arm warmers. i was pretty chuffed and thanked her profusely because of all of the women i know, most just barely tolerate my passion for cycling or actively ignore it. she also isn't particularly interested in sport, but wanted to do something nice for me, i think.

the problem is this. i don't ride a trek and am not a fan of the shreks. i admire cancellara, but think the way he engineered his transfer was pretty low class. she chose it because she liked the design. i do, too. i have worn the kit on a couple of solo rides, but had mixed feelings. i loved the fact that she gave it to me, but felt weird riding in another team's kit.

what would you do?

I'd just wear it every now and again on coffee shop/recovery/social rides or the occasional solo ride. Do your club rides and races in YOUR team kit and keep the Leopard stuff for rides where you are obviously not going hard.

If it's good quality kit and you like the design why would you just leave it sitting in the drawer doing nothing? Especially if your GF gave it to you and wearing it gets you brownie points.

Too many people think waaaaay too much about what they wear on the bike!

 

[gregod]

... - SO WHY would you wear a pro team kit and have other riders / general public think 'thats a pro approaching us' ...

i don't think anyone would mistake me for a pro.

... wear the kit when you know she'll see you in it--it'll make her happy, right? ...

wear it for Wouter?

...wearing it gets you brownie points. ...

Thanks, people. All are good ideas.

i just remembered that i have one piece of retro kit that i like and use sometimes.


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[craig1985]

i need advice. like many of you, i prefer not to wear pro team kits. i don't care if others do, but i kind of feel they must be earned; like the l'arc en ciel and giro, tour and vuelta jerseys.

a few months, i got a box of new spring/summer kit from my club. i got four sets of everything: jerseys, bibs, socks, gloves, hats; plus a wind gilet, a windbreaker, a set of arm warmers and knee warmers, and TT suit. so, i am not bereft of things to wear. about two months ago, a girlfriend of mine out-of-the-blue gave me a set of leopard-trek gear: bibs, socks, jersey, gloves, hat and arm warmers. i was pretty chuffed and thanked her profusely because of all of the women i know, most just barely tolerate my passion for cycling or actively ignore it. she also isn't particularly interested in sport, but wanted to do something nice for me, i think.

the problem is this. i don't ride a trek and am not a fan of the shreks. i admire cancellara, but think the way he engineered his transfer was pretty low class. she chose it because she liked the design. i do, too. i have worn the kit on a couple of solo rides, but had mixed feelings. i loved the fact that she gave it to me, but felt weird riding in another team's kit.

what would you do?

Marry this woman. I'd still wear it, why not?

 

[YoRUsh]

i just remembered that i have one piece of retro kit that i like and use sometimes.


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I have the same one, dont know if you are from Holland as well, but over here you just have to name Buckler to make people laugh, since it was taken of the market in the early '90s after a Dutch comedian had done a bit on it and nobody bought it anymore.

 

[Anonymous]

You arent a pro cyclist - SO WHY ARE YOU WEARING THEIR KIT ???? )

Whats that kit you are wearing?

 

[Captain_Cavman]

Whats that kit you are wearing?

Come on man, save the 'what are you wearing?' thing for PM.

 

[Stingray34]

i don't think anyone would mistake me for a pro.



Thanks, people. All are good ideas.

i just remembered that i have one piece of retro kit that i like and use sometimes.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Good ol Suntour. They were good gear- used to run Superbe Pro on both my bikes back in the day.

 

[Anonymous]

Come on man, save the 'what are you wearing?' thing for PM.

blah blah blah

 

[lancaster]

about two months ago, a girlfriend of mine out-of-the-blue gave me a set of leopard-trek gear

does she know that she's one of many?

 

[Anonymous]

a girlfriend of mine out-of-the-blue gave me a set of leopard-trek gear:

i had a problem with adsense advertising leopard trek gear on teamskyfans

I seem to have been able to put a stop to that now though

 

[Matteo]

I don't wear team kits but I like it when kit snobbishness backfires.

Yesterday I raced at my local crits (Balmoral Club in Brisbane) and Jonathon Cantwell showed up to race A grade.

Lower graded guys started turning up to sign on during the race and there were three or four people who turned to their mates and asked "Who is that w@nker racing in the national champions kit?" There were a few red faces when they realised it was the national crit champ

That's just reminded me, back in 1997 at a race in England, I was warming up when I saw a rider in full Banesto kit with team bike. I thought 'who is that idiot?' until I got a closer look and realised it was Jeremy Hunt, who at the time was a 2nd year pro with Banesto.

Halfway through the race a bus turned onto the circuit just in front of the bunch. At first we were all stuck behind it, but as it accelerated away we all dropped back one by one, as we couldn't keep up with it. By the time it was up to about 80kph Jeremy Hunt was the only rider still able to keep up with it and he disappeared up the road behind the bus, crossed to the break and helped an ex-teammate get the win.

 

[B_Ugli]

Team Jersey with colour co-ordinated shorts = Cool
Full Team Kit = Groupie
Full Team Kit & Bike = Wannabee Pro
Full Team Kit & Bike & Aero wheels = Rich Wannabee Pro
World Champion Jersey = Disowned from the club run

 

[Orvieto]

I have no problem with anybody wearing team jerseys on a regular ride. It's probably uncool to wear it in a race.

The team bike, I'm unsure of, which leaves me self critical. Last year I ordered a Specialized road bike in white and blue, unaware that it was actually the Saxo team logo bike. I already had a Saxo jersey, so when I ride with both I feel distinctly lame. I can't decide if it's more or less lame to ride the Saxo bike with my Liquigas jersey. Such are the existential dilemmas I face.

What's not lame is the matching Saxo Tacx water bottle my daughter bought me for my birthday. Passers by may think so, but it's real significance is this: my daughter not only remembered my birthday, but made the effort to look at the stickers on my bike. (Either that or she's hoping for the bike as a hand me down one day when she's finished growing.)

 

[Archibald]

came across two riders while commuting today - one had BMC bibs and the Hincapie US champ jersey, while his mate had black bibs and an Evans jersery (the store chain not the BMC rider).
Funny part was that the dude in the shop stuff was on the BMC bike while the BMC kitted guy was on a bianchi

 

[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?

Why not wear a jersey from your LBS (well, if you like them)?

 

[simo1733]

Mum

What if your mum buy's the kit?Then you have to wear it because she will check!

 

[fatsprintking]

What if your mum buy's the kit?Then you have to wear it because she will check!

Yeah I have heaps of trouble with my mum buying me cycling stuff that just does not meet the accepted etiqutte and then getting her nose out of joint when I wont wear it.

I had heaps of trouble trying to explain to her that it was just not on for me to wear a Lucio Hererra Cafe de Colombia replica king of the mountains top when I am 110kg's and there was a reason that the xxxxl was so cheap.

In the end I just gave up and started wearing it to family BBQ's. The fact I am in my 40's doesnt make the situation any easier.

 

[FabulousCandelabra]

it's all about the dorky Wolverin X-Men jersey... i believe peral izumi makes it..

 

[SteveT]

Yeah I have heaps of trouble with my mum buying me cycling stuff that just does not meet the accepted etiqutte and then getting her nose out of joint when I wont wear it.

I had heaps of trouble trying to explain to her that it was just not on for me to wear a Lucio Hererra Cafe de Colombia replica king of the mountains top when I am 110kg's and there was a reason that the xxxxl was so cheap.

In the end I just gave up and started wearing it to family BBQ's. The fact I am in my 40's doesnt make the situation any easier.

Classic Jersey nowadays i would have thought and i would have no worries about wearing it.

 

[Angliru]

Hi Gregod,
This has been a recent dilemma of mine also...mainly because the choice of jerseys for girls is so limited...and plus - the women i ride with wear the club jersey. Club kit is okay - but i have to agree with you on the pro teams kit. You arent a pro cyclist - SO WHY ARE YOU WEARING THEIR KIT ???? I am riding in the Algarve at present, watch the Tour of the Algarve every year and all the teams - even got to follow Philippe Gilbert and Adam Hansen in the time trial, in the Omega Pharma Team car in February - and a lot of the teams train here pre-tour and also womens teams - SO WHY would you wear a pro team kit and have other riders / general public think 'thats a pro approaching us' - only to see JOE Bloggs average 25 - 30km per hour. For me i find it a huge let down !! Oh, I think - its a wannabe pro-rider AGAIN. Put down the present years kit for this year and leave it for Alberto, Bradley and Cadel to wear.

Hopefully you're kidding but in case you're not: What does your personal disappointment have to do with what someone wears? If you're going to base your opinion of someone on the fact that they led you to believe that they were a real pro and thus let you down, then that reflects quite negatively on you and your values.

 

[Stingray34]

Hopefully you're kidding but in case you're not: What does your personal disappointment have to do with what someone wears? If you're going to base your opinion of someone on the fact that they led you to believe that they were a real pro and thus let you down, then that reflects quite negatively on you and your values.

Exactly.

They're pros, not popes. Put the SOBs on a pedestal at your own risk.