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

[nz-tim]

I've been off the bike for a few years now, but I get my Vini Caldirola jacket out whenever the temperature drops at home

 

[illinihand]

I enjoy wearing team kits. I like to show my support for my favorite teams and I think that their kits are very comfortable. I own a cervelo kit that I bought, I also have some Jelly Belly jerseys as well as a few US nation team kits. I was given these by a good friend who raced for these teams when I was starting to ride. I only wear the US team kit stuff when I am with people I know or on my own. I wear the Cervelo and Jelly Belly stuff whenever though. I also have a down hill world champion ship jersey from when I was 12 signed my Missy Giove but I have never worn it as I agree that those types of jersey are not to be worn by those who have not earned them.

 

[Laszlo]

yeah jelly belly should be worn only by skinny people- I would worry about tempting a self-fulfilling prophecy though.

 

[blaxland]

i would say its a personal choice to wear trade team kits they seem to draw a lot of attraction..i only ride in a particular brand of clothing(pearl izumi)and i think they only do Garmin as there protour trade team.(wont buy that kit-so ugly).....hopefully bmc will redesign their team kit for next year...seeing that the world champion is now on there roster.

 

[pedaling squares]

I also have a down hill world champion ship jersey from when I was 12 signed my Missy Giove but I have never worn it as I agree that those types of jersey are not to be worn by those who have not earned them.

Dude, you could trade that for like, a QP of Texada Gold!

 

[Leopejo]

I don't like seeing today's team kits - if not other, it makes recognizing real pros and elites more difficult...

On the other hand, old jerseys of teams that are no more, up to 5-10 years ago (Mapei, Fassa Bortolo, Pantani's Mercatone Uno) are thumbs up. And I admire those who dare wear Pantani's teams' jerseys, as they get their share of roadside comments.

I imagine myself only wearing either my own team's kit or stuff I got for free or specifically needed and bought from a sports discount. No pro team kits for me!

Leopejo, who instead plays football with original and fake shirts of both trade teams and national teams.

 

[kelvedon wonder]

This thread got me thinking that it seems like there is a market for fan kits that aren't exact replicas to what the pros wear. Something with the colors and certain design elements but definitely different from the team issue kit. Riders could still support their favorite team without feeling like as much of a poseur.

I'd go for that....only if the jersey was a loose fit, though.

 

[Bluebeard]

I don't like seeing today's team kits - if not other, it makes recognizing real pros and elites more difficult...

Oh, it's not that hard. Chances are they are the ones in black in a country not averse to challenging new chemical experimentation. You can't drive on the roads of North Korea for black clad professional cyclists. They are single handedly keeping Kim Jong Il in power.

 

[racerralph]

This thread got me thinking that it seems like there is a market for fan kits that aren't exact replicas to what the pros wear. Something with the colors and certain design elements but definitely different from the team issue kit. Riders could still support their favorite team without feeling like as much of a poseur.

Since so many feel practically offended by exact replicas of team kit, I propose this:

or this:

Does this fit your idea of similar but different? And what do you think the market might be for these alternatives?
I mean, nobody wants to be a POSEUR, aieeeeeeeee!

 

[scribe]

Did you make those images Ralph?

 

[sherer]

can't see the point of wearing a replica that looks different. Kind of defeats the object of wearing a replica team kit.

 

[racerralph]

Did you make those images Ralph?

Yes, all homemade

 

[racerralph]

can't see the point of wearing a replica that looks different. Kind of defeats the object of wearing a replica team kit.

I agree, but I was just throwin' out some thoughts based off of what md2020 was saying.

 

[scribe]

Yes, all homemade

Dang!! You are good at that. Can we can hilarious photochops of cyclists?

 

[md2020]

Since so many feel practically offended by exact replicas of team kit, I propose this:...

Does this fit your idea of similar but different? And what do you think the market might be for these alternatives?
I mean, nobody wants to be a POSEUR, aieeeeeeeee!

I'm not personally offended by the team kits, I'm just not into pretending that I'm on a pro team. I would like to show support to the teams I like, though. Unfortunately, your design isn't really what I'm after. I'd want less of the graphical elements but still have the title sponsor somewhere. What you did looks like a replica without the text. Reminds me of little league baseball teams that have uniforms that look like pros but not quite.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

I'm not personally offended by the team kits, I'm just not into pretending that I'm on a pro team.

Many times I've found myself pretending I was Andrea Tafi dressed in full Mapei regalia, even with his trademark top cut out of cycling cap style. Laying down my 4th breakaway attempt in the Ronde, breaking the back of Johan out of spite on the Kappelmur. Am I a "poser", or just using some imagination to supplement my boring training routine?

A friend of mine told me once he doesn't wear pro team kits "because you have to earn it". I called BS on that. We're still friends.

 

[racerralph]

Many times I've found myself pretending I was Andrea Tafi dressed in full Mapei regalia, even with his trademark top cut out of cycling cap style. Laying down my 4th breakaway attempt in the Ronde, breaking the back of Johan out of spite on the Kappelmur. Am I a "poser", or just using some imagination to supplement my boring training routine?

A friend of mine told me once he doesn't wear pro team kits "because you have to earn it". I called BS on that. We're still friends.

I'm right there with you! I have that Tafi Mapei-Quickstep kit myself, and I love it. Sometimes I imagine I'm off to meet Lucy in the Sky, with Diamonds, when I'm in that technicolor kit
To all the serious folks out there that think you have to EARN wearing kit, I similarly feel that's nonsense, as I've stated time and again on this thread. It's all about enjoying yourself........enjoying YOURSELF! Getting all involved with what someone else is wearing is a futile waste of energy.
When Andy Schleck comes out and says he doesn't want to see anybody on the road, in his kit! Then, I'll give it some serious thought. Until then, I'm dressin' up and having a good time on the road!

 

[racerralph]

I'm not personally offended by the team kits, I'm just not into pretending that I'm on a pro team. I would like to show support to the teams I like, though. Unfortunately, your design isn't really what I'm after. I'd want less of the graphical elements but still have the title sponsor somewhere. What you did looks like a replica without the text. Reminds me of little league baseball teams that have uniforms that look like pros but not quite.

I'm not really sure that someone is necessarily pretending they're on a pro team when they dress in pro team kit. It might be just as you said, they are supporting a team or teams they like. And they like the designs of the kits.
When I made those alternative kits, I felt that you probably didn't mean that. But, what you seem to want is for the teams/sponsors to conjure up totally different bibs and jerseys so that they still get the advertising on the road, but they look different than the elite level racers. IMO, Too much energy spent on differentiating. They aren't that insecure about it. You want to look like us? Okay, if you're willing to spend the money, the look is yours. It's really all pretty harmless, I don't see the need to label it pretentious. Just my opinion

 

[racerralph]

Dang!! You are good at that. Can we can hilarious photochops of cyclists?

Thanks, my work is sprinkled here and there throughout several threads. Glad you liked it. It's fun playing with some of the images.

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

Plus I forgot to mention that I used Mapei grout to re-tile both bathrooms when I remodeled 4 years ago.

 

[md2020]

They aren't that insecure about it. You want to look like us? Okay, if you're willing to spend the money, the look is yours. It's really all pretty harmless, I don't see the need to label it pretentious. Just my opinion

I agree. I probably should've added the disclaimer to my original poseur comment that I was speaking entirely about how I personally feel. I really don't care about other people's kits so, as you said, it's my own insecurity. I just wonder if there aren't enough people who feel the same to make a market for different designs. My guess is no.

 

[racerralph]

I agree. I probably should've added the disclaimer to my original poseur comment that I was speaking entirely about how I personally feel. I really don't care about other people's kits so, as you said, it's my own insecurity. I just wonder if there aren't enough people who feel the same to make a market for different designs. My guess is no.

Hi there md2020! Thanks a million for not being thin skinned about the insecurity comment, it wasn't maliciously aimed at your heart, and the last thing I wanted was to start a full blown argument. Your response was nicely measured. And as I know that you know, If you're not comfortable in team kit, there is a lot of other attractive apparel out there, that will make you look good and feel good too. Nice to see that not everyone overreacts.
As far as your guess on the market for alternate designs of team kits, I'd have to agree with you.

 

[mikeNphilly]

Cycling people are funny to me. Always worrying about what other riders are wearing and such, who made their bike, cosmetic stuff. If the person is out there riding and having fun, who cares what they are wearing. They "earned" the right to wear full team kits when they paid they heard earned money to purchase it. People are just showing their love of the sport. Same as people who wear team jearsey of other sports. No one will mistake you for a pro. Just a person out having fun. I wear full Rock Racing kits when I ride...because I like the colors and the logo. Other people wear other team kits, no logo kits, and local team kits. We all have one thing in common..out there riding having fun and not worrying about what we look like, or who made our bikes. As long as the riders is safe, they are welcome in my book.

Someone said they were offended by people wearing them....really??!! wow. Some of you need to loosen up and have some fun I think. Go buy a TdF poka dot kit and go blow up some hills and have fun!!!

 

[md2020]

Hi there md2020! Thanks a million for not being thin skinned about the insecurity comment, it wasn't maliciously aimed at your heart, and the last thing I wanted was to start a full blown argument. Your response was nicely measured. And as I know that you know, If you're not comfortable in team kit, there is a lot of other attractive apparel out there, that will make you look good and feel good too. Nice to see that not everyone overreacts.
As far as your guess on the market for alternate designs of team kits, I'd have to agree with you.

I'm pretty secure with my insecurities . Plus, I realize that it did sound like I called all the team kit wearers (which seems to be most people here) poseurs, which wasn't my intent. As they say, "those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."

 

[racerralph]

Felt a little designer urges for team kit that is a little different than the PRO team kit. Try these on for size

or then there's this one that's just a little off, but a fan would know the difference: