Team Kits? Your Views.......

[elapid]

hmmm there seems to be a theme going there... if i see a 2007 astana jersey on sale will buy you one to add to your collection..

Yep - I do call it my doping kit. Actually, now that I think of it, I do have a Garmin jersey as well. Does that mean something?

 

[I Watch Cycling In July]

Saw a really tubby guy in full rabo kit gasping up the hill last week. Why do they make them that size?....or would a fat guy in a too tight kit be worse?

 

[St. Elia]

I see it differently, If you are a fan it is a way to show your support. I own a Orbea and was tempted to get an eskatel jersey.

I have to say that I saw so many poka dot jerseys while I was in France that I would feel like a total goof wearing one. But on a club ride why not show your support for your fav. pro team. I'm sure I'm not fooling anyone wearing a pink CSC jersey just a fan of Basso. I have to say something about wearing Yellow bugs me, but to each their own. Also if you like the look of a team kit and like the team why not. I really like the look of the cervelo team kit and am a fan of Garmin...... so what to do.

L

 

[rgmerk]

FWIW, pro jerseys are perfectly acceptable as far as I'm concerned. Everybody knows that you can buy them at your local cycle shop. Full kit is a bit OTT, though.

Agree that championship jerseys are a different matter; the UCI and the national associations would be well-advised to not sell such jerseys. Cricket, somewhat by accident, has managed this well - you can buy as many replica one-day cricket shirts as you want, but you cannot buy the official team cap of the Australian Test cricket team (the "baggy green").

I tend not to wear my amateur club (team) jersey when I'm not racing or doing an organized club training ride where it's sometimes compulsory.

Why?

Because (as mentioned on another thread) one of the major forms of racing we do is handicap racing.

Earlier this year, I wore club gear on a bunch ride out to one of the local climbs. This was the first time I'd joined this particular bunch ride, in fact; the only reason I had the club jersey on was because it was the only clean long-sleeve jersey I had to hand. This particular bunch cruises out to the base, and then gasses it up the climb, so if you can hang with them to the top it's an indication that you're in pretty good shape.

As we neared the bottom of the climb, the guy next to me waves to a small bunch of cyclists going the other way. I thought I recognized him too, so I asked who just went past.

"Oh, that's the chief handicapper."

Needless to say, I haven't worn club gear on that particular bunch ride again

 

[elapid]

hmmm there seems to be a theme going there... if i see a 2007 astana jersey on sale will buy you one to add to your collection..

Actually, I just realized I have the 2006 CSC Maglia Rosa jersey celebrating Basso's Giro win. I don't know why it took so long for me to remember this because it is actually one of my favourite jerseys! St. Elia jogged my memory. Likewise, other than continuing my trend of buying team jerseys from dopers, I know no one is going to mistake me for Basso (or a professional cyclist for that matter - hairy legs, no where near cycling weight, etc, etc)!

 

[El Imbatido]

Actually, I just realized I have the 2006 CSC Maglia Rosa jersey celebrating Basso's Giro win. I don't know why it took so long for me to remember this because it is actually one of my favourite jerseys! St. Elia jogged my memory. Likewise, other than continuing my trend of buying team jerseys from dopers, I know no one is going to mistake me for Basso (or a professional cyclist for that matter - hairy legs, no where near cycling weight, etc, etc)!

+1

I've got one of those as well. I got it cheap off ebay so i guess it is one of those cheap fakes but i'm not complaining. I'm also +1ing the rest of your statement as well.

 

[Roude Leiw]

Saw a really tubby guy in full rabo kit gasping up the hill last week. Why do they make them that size?....or would a fat guy in a too tight kit be worse?

Give the overweight cyclists a break, they are actually doing something to get in shape, better than watch the tube and yelling at the pros to climb faster

Wearing a team shirt is for me a way of showing my support for a team, a bit like wearing my teams jersey to a rugby game or a football game.

the GT shirts are clear no gos, as is the worlds jersey. The national jersey are different, some of them look kinda cool, so why not wear them esp. if your living a 1000 miles from the country in question.

 

[ak-zaaf]

1. Team kits are fine. Where i live in Australia i see people out in team kits all the time and not just protour kits. I've seen LPR, Cervelo and plenty of older gen kits ie. ONCE, the yellow Saunier Duval kit (i guess also for it's brightness), T-mobile (also the same reason i guess). I just about always wear my Silence Lotto, Astana or CSC kit. I love them.

2. National Champion kits i dont like. I guess it is sort of a 'you should earn it' kit and also the Champion Of Australia kit is shithouse, looks gay and i wouldn't be caught dead in it and i would try to crush them if i saw someone wearing one.

3. Same with world champion kits. I see them as more as a 'earn it type kit' and again i don't think white is a real good colour especially if you have to wash it.

4. Grand Tour Jerseys are a definete no-no. I don't think ive ever seen one of these in a bunch ride either. Also if i saw say a KOM jersey in the bunch it would definetely get the competetiveness going with me not leting up till i probably crushed them with my awesome display of quad power.

What are your thoughts???

I own a Freire rainbow jersey and a Maglia Rosa from 1996, but i've never even considered wearing them on a ride. Completely agree with your 'earn-it' philosophy.

Most of the time i wear my awesome Gewiss-Ballan shirt.
I've used enough amphetamines to earn that one.

/edit: You can wear a national champs jersey as long as it's not from your own country. There should be strict rules about this.

 

[md2020]

As much as I like some of the pro kits (especially the older ones), I can't imagine wearing one on a ride. I just started riding again after a 15 year layoff and I even feel a little strange wearing my own old team kits (although I do because it's all I have, along with downtube shifters). I chalk it up to personal insecurity because when I'm out riding I could care less what others are wearing.

 

[craig1985]

I once did a race and some guy turned up in a 1999 USPS TdF Yellow Jersey, and tbf to him, he won the race, but I would never wear one. I have the full kits of the Quick Step, Silence Lotto, and Liquigas, and I have the (T-Mobile) German national champion jersey that I bought in 1996 (I don't wear it anymore on the road) and all of a sudden I was called Andreas Kloden. I didn't wear it that much when I went to the 2007 TdF on the basis that somebody would assume I'm German (I'm not) and therefore would speak German to me (one language I don't speak). Whilst wearing Quick Step kit in France I have people yelling out "Tom Boonen" at me, not sure how that will work in Belgium.

Other then that, I seldom wear them these days and just wear club kit, or the kit of my local bike store. I do wear the S/L gloves and cycling cap when I ride with my club colours as they do match.

I got given a T-Mobile jersey from around 2004 or 2005, but I never wear it.

 

[Father Jack]

Do the teams have any stake in selling kit? I'm thinking of the big bucks the ManUs etc make out of selling football strips (home, away, special european games etc) to kids.

I must say I've never seen a cycling jersey worn as a fashion statement but I will admit to wearing the very short lived internet team jersey (anyone remember them - I think from Australia - mid nineties) to work for a charity thing, from the response - I earned every penny!

First post so be gentle! Lurking since the Giro and this is the best forum when it is not hijacked by the idiots.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

I mainly wear my rabo kit (surprise right )
My GF was begging me to buy the belgium jersey, because she simply has a crush on boonen haha.
Have been considering buying a skil jersey recently... I prefer to stick to the ligher and brighte rcolors too, for safety reasons.

 

[hayleyy]

To me, wearing a team jersey is showing support for a team. When you go to the footy, you see everyone wearing their team jerseys. Wearing a full kit, could be a bit over the top, and can look really dorky, comparing it to football and you dont see fans wearing footy shorts.

 

[racerralph]

Such an incredibly silly thread. How so many people think they have the right to "judge" others by the bike clothes they choose to wear says way too much about the way too many cyclists meander about in the windmills of their minds.
There's only one way you need to "earn" wearing anything you want, and that is called MONEY. If it is available for purchase, and you have the money to do so. You've earned it.
You can get competitive all you like with someone who is wearing kit. But to be unable to control silly prejudice, and tongue lash someone because they have the gall, or the arrogance or whatever, to be a poseur, wearing widely available team kit, is so ridiculous , it is hilarious.
One thing you fashion police should remember is something Mommy used to say: "Jr., if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your trap shut!" Nobody really cares what you think, just ask the fat guys, in team kit. The assumptions I've read in so many of these posts sound like sound bites out of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: "Hi, I'm a rider and I'd like to admit that I have team kit but I can't wear the team jersey the same time that I wear the team bib shorts because my friends would laugh at me. In fact, I leave it in my closet, and wonder why I ever bought it at all. I don't feel I'm good enough to wear this "costume"- maybe on Halloween! for a joke!"
You fashionista's remind me why I am a lone wolf when I am on a bicycle.
I don't ride to prove anything to anyone else out there. I ride with friends, I ride to enjoy myself. I wear kit, Maillot Jaune, Belgian National Champion, included. I'm not arrogant or a "poseur". I'm out there to enjoy the sunshine, the speed, the fresh air, freedom, and the healthy feeling that comes with cycling. And I happen to like the look, and the quality of the team kit I've chosen to ride in.
Some of you folks ought to chill out, and look in the mirror, before you feel the righteousness within you, to cast aspersions upon people you don't even truly know, just because of the clothes they choose to wear. As one poster stated, at least they're out there, on their bikes. Thanks for the Hilarious thread, I welcome the silly pile on, I feel might be coming.

 

[elapid]

One thing you fashion police should remember is something Mommy used to say: "Jr., if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your trap shut!" Nobody really cares what you think, just ask the fat guys, in team kit.

Thanks for the Hilarious thread, I welcome the silly pile on, I feel might be coming.

Ha. After 100+ posts you haven't realized yet that the majority of posts in this forum are usually negative in one way or another. And then the opinions you express in your post are not very complimentary either! And finally, this is a forum: posters express their opinions. You can take it or leave it, but to have written what you did in your post you obviously do care what others think.

 

[psychlist]

I pretty much agree and for the same reasons. I would never wear that stuff, including team kits. But what others choose to wear is their business.

My thoughts exactly. I only wear kits from teams I have belonged to/raced with. If others want to that is their business.

 

[Cobber]

Saw a really tubby guy in full rabo kit gasping up the hill last week. Why do they make them that size?....or would a fat guy in a too tight kit be worse?

This picture has been posted before.. but it still makes me laugh!

 

[**Uru**]

It is ironic given the general position of posters on this thread that I saw an ad link at the top of this forum (or perhaps it was another cycling forum) advertising world champ jerseys for sale.

 

[racerralph]

It is ironic given the general position of posters on this thread that I saw an ad link at the top of this forum (or perhaps it was another cycling forum) advertising world champ jerseys for sale.

Funny, I'd noticed the same thing. Reading these posts, I have no idea who buys that stuff, or how it gets sold out.

 

[dolophonic]

Come on RRalph.. you buy it all ...!

 

[racerralph]

Come on RRalph.. you buy it all ...!

Oop's BUSTED

 

[usedtobefast]

This picture has been posted before.. but it still makes me laugh!

it's cunego in the off season?

 

[krebs303]

This picture has been posted before.. but it still makes me laugh!

He is the World Champion in 60+ Downhill MTB
weight+gravity=speed
don't be so quick to judge


OK I made that up

 

[pedaling squares]

Such an incredibly silly thread. How so many people think they have the right to "judge" others by the bike clothes they choose to wear says way too much about the way too many cyclists meander about in the windmills of their minds.
There's only one way you need to "earn" wearing anything you want, and that is called MONEY. If it is available for purchase, and you have the money to do so. You've earned it.
You can get competitive all you like with someone who is wearing kit. But to be unable to control silly prejudice, and tongue lash someone because they have the gall, or the arrogance or whatever, to be a poseur, wearing widely available team kit, is so ridiculous , it is hilarious.
One thing you fashion police should remember is something Mommy used to say: "Jr., if you don't have anything nice to say, keep your trap shut!" Nobody really cares what you think, just ask the fat guys, in team kit. The assumptions I've read in so many of these posts sound like sound bites out of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings: "Hi, I'm a rider and I'd like to admit that I have team kit but I can't wear the team jersey the same time that I wear the team bib shorts because my friends would laugh at me. In fact, I leave it in my closet, and wonder why I ever bought it at all. I don't feel I'm good enough to wear this "costume"- maybe on Halloween! for a joke!"
You fashionista's remind me why I am a lone wolf when I am on a bicycle.
I don't ride to prove anything to anyone else out there. I ride with friends, I ride to enjoy myself. I wear kit, Maillot Jaune, Belgian National Champion, included. I'm not arrogant or a "poseur". I'm out there to enjoy the sunshine, the speed, the fresh air, freedom, and the healthy feeling that comes with cycling. And I happen to like the look, and the quality of the team kit I've chosen to ride in.
Some of you folks ought to chill out, and look in the mirror, before you feel the righteousness within you, to cast aspersions upon people you don't even truly know, just because of the clothes they choose to wear. As one poster stated, at least they're out there, on their bikes. Thanks for the Hilarious thread, I welcome the silly pile on, I feel might be coming.

Hey Ralph. I think you have misunderstood some of these posts. People are writing that they consider certain jerseys to be so special that only the person who has won that jersey should wear it. This does not make the authors self-righteous or prejudiced, merely persons willing to express their reverence of a certain symbol. And let's face it, fat guys in team kit are funny. It's a paradox that someone dresses like a pro but is shaped unlike a pro. Nobody has suggested that they not wear team kit, just that it is funny. At least to me. And... maybe I'm a fat guy. I'm not going to pile on, but I wonder why, if this thread is so incredibly silly, you bothered to add to it.

 

[flicker]

Best jersey

Faema. Mapei, Saunier duval, T-Mobile Telekom, National championship jerseys, Belguim and Germany. World Championship Jersey Road

Ugly jerseys Most Italian excluding Liquigas which is nice.

**** uglee Colombia clothing.(You would think they would know better.)