"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - More than one team kit?

The team I am considering joining (my first as you can tell by the newbie question) has a requirement that you wear the team kit any time you are on the bike. I'm sure that is a common requirement. So, considering that most everyone here probably is on the bike AT LEAST 4-5 times a week with training and all, how many team kits do you have? I really hate wearing dirty smelly cloths. Especially when they are like that BEFORE I slide into them. And not even mentioning the bib shorts. EWWW...

So what do you guys do? Multiple kits? Lot's of washing?

At first I had two kits. I washed them every time.
Through the few years I've acquired several kits. So I'm in good shape.

I get five bibs/jerseys from my team, and then singles of other clothing pieces (jacket, vest, etc), so it's never been a problem.
Only giving you one kit then expecting you to wear it all the time sounds a little silly. I would either 1) buy an extra jersey, which you can wear with different shorts or 2) ask around and see if any actually cares about that policy outside of organized rides and races.

I started with 2 kits. They changed designs last yearand I got 2 more of the new. I train in the old kits, race(d) in the new. Probably changing teams next year and I'll start out with 2 again then.

edit- and wash them every time please.

We get our clothes at cost, so I buy 3-4 sets (plus whatever extras like arm/knee warmers, gloves, vests, etc) every year. They last about a year before the jerseys are messed up and have rusty spots all over the back from safety pins and the shorts are worn out, barring any premature failures via crashes.

I get five bibs/jerseys from my team, and then singles of other clothing pieces (jacket, vest, etc), so it's never been a problem.
Only giving you one kit then expecting you to wear it all the time sounds a little silly. I would either 1) buy an extra jersey, which you can wear with different shorts or 2) ask around and see if any actually cares about that policy outside of organized rides and races.

:lol:

Yeah but you are good. I have to buy mine :D

i have 3 kits and 2 skinsuits.

i try to only race (cfross) in the skinsuits so I have my regular kits to train in but I will only wear the stuff if its clean so there are times when I go out in non race gear.

Kits get expensive and most good teams are going to understand not everyone can afford to have enough sets for every day of the week. As long as you make it a point to wear your kits at the most appropriate times (races, group rides, rides when you will be around the most people) it shouldnt be a big deal if you need to go out in regular gear from time to time.

I would advise getting at least 2 kits so you dont have to wash every single night.

1) buy an extra jersey, which you can wear with different shorts or 2) ask around and see if any actually cares about that policy outside of organized rides and races.

I probably could have done this in the last post. But how then, would I ever stand a chance of catching up with Pcad?

I will probably get two jerserys if I join but I would probably also follow choice 2. I can see races and organized rides & such. Or even my big Saturday rides if I'm riding solo just because I'm out on the road for hours. But seriously, on my one hour weekday morning (lot's of times in the dark) training rides?

I ordered 5 for the upcoming year. I have I think 6 from this year and 4 from last year. Currently I mostly just wear the current ones, the old ones are kind of ratty now. Next year I'll split between the new ones and this year's.

I've never heard of such a policy.
How exactly does this club expect to police this?
What are the penalties?

I get five bibs/jerseys from my team, and then singles of other clothing pieces (jacket, vest, etc), so it's never been a problem.
Only giving you one kit then expecting you to wear it all the time sounds a little silly. I would either 1) buy an extra jersey, which you can wear with different shorts or 2) ask around and see if any actually cares about that policy outside of organized rides and races.

This.

I've never heard of such a policy.
How exactly does this club expect to police this?
What are the penalties?

I think its a pretty common expectation where the Team is getting money from Sponsors, and paying your expenses.

The eenforcement is usually just peer pressure.

How exactly does this club expect to police this?
What are the penalties?

:lol:
Good questions. I just figured that might not be the best questions to ask right off the bat. I'm more passive aggressive :D

I have to buy mine, bibs are about $90, jerseys I forget but not cheap either.

I have one jersey from last year (old sponsors) that a buddy gave me free, and one that I paid for, and a long sleeve also. So I'm good there with occaisional washing.

Had 2 pairs of bibs, lost one at a rally, crashed in the other, so ordering 2 new.

oh and count your blessings... one of the local clubs has 2 different kit styles, depending if it's after Labor Day, or Sunday, or some kind of formula I haven't figured out.

I think its a pretty common expectation where the Team is getting money from Sponsors, and paying your expenses.


Yes. That makes sense. Sponsors are looking at it as advertising and want their name put out there as much as possible. Seems fair.

So keeping in the spirit of the deal rather than the letter of it I would probably wear the team jersey in visible situations (team rides, group rides, charity rides, broad daylight long solo rides, etc) and not worry about it so much on less visible rides (early morning training in the dark, cold solo rides wearing a jacket, etc.). So I can stay in the spirit of the agreement and save som laundry cycles.

Thanks guys. As silly as this sounds this has helped me figure things out .

:D

oh and count your blessings... one of the local clubs has 2 different kit styles, depending if it's after Labor Day, or Sunday, or some kind of formula I haven't figured out.

The pre Labor Day kit must have had too much white. Not that there's anything wrong with that ;)

Our Elite team is required to wear the kit and they have kits provided.
Us mortals have to buy our kit and, whilst we're encouraged to wear it, the only requirement is to wear a current year jersey at races.

I don't think our team has a rule like that. I have 2 kits. It's all I could afford :( I wear them as much as I can but I have 4 or so pairs of plain bibs and tons of jerseys from before the team that I enjoy wearing also.

Rob

I think its a pretty common expectation where the Team is getting money from Sponsors, and paying your expenses.

The eenforcement is usually just peer pressure.

If they're paying your expenses, they should also be capable of paying for a couple of kits for you to wear as well.

I got through this year with one kit and a skinsuit. 40+ races and training. College budget and keeping it upright ftw. New team is hooking me up though.

Team kit on group rides, team training rides, and races.

Can wear whatever on the solo rides.

The team I am considering joining (my first as you can tell by the newbie question) has a requirement that you wear the team kit any time you are on the bike. I'm sure that is a common requirement.
Are they paying you or giving you tons of free stuff? None of the clubs I ever rode for had that requirement. Just that you wear it to all races, and most strongly suggested club rides as well. I've also never ridden for a club that did more than discounted products, reimbursed specific entry fees, and had free food from time to time.

Yes. That makes sense. Sponsors are looking at it as advertising and want their name put out there as much as possible. Seems fair.

So keeping in the spirit of the deal rather than the letter of it I would probably wear the team jersey in visible situations (team rides, group rides, charity rides, broad daylight long solo rides, etc) and not worry about it so much on less visible rides (early morning training in the dark, cold solo rides wearing a jacket, etc.). So I can stay in the spirit of the agreement and save som laundry cycles.

Thanks guys. As silly as this sounds this has helped me figure things out .

:D

This is what I do. I have two S/S jerseys, two bibs, windvest, arm and kneewarmers (oh, and a tri skinsuit :rolleyes:). Obviously not enough to wear everytime I'm on the bike, so I "save" the kit for when I'm going to be seen, especially for group rides and races, obviously.

This is what I do. I have two S/S jerseys, two bibs, windvest, arm and kneewarmers (oh, and a tri skinsuit :rolleyes:). Obviously not enough to wear everytime I'm on the bike, so I "save" the kit for when I'm going to be seen, especially for group rides and races, obviously.

why is that so "obvious?"

I got 3 kits plus various singles of other things, like mentioned above.

The team I joined "requires" that you wear the kit all the time. There is no penalty defined, but part of the reason I joined that team is I thought that I would be proud of it. So far (after 2 months of off season) I have no reason to doubt my decision. I'll wear the kit as much as I can, realistically every time I ride.

We also have a super efficient washing machine that adjusts for load size, and I'll often do a batch of cycling clothes simply so I have something to wear at the next group ride (non-club/team).

cdr

Because I ride nearly everyday, I sweat like a ***** in church, and I'm too lazy to wash bike clothes every 48 hours.

Are they paying you or giving you tons of free stuff? None of the clubs I ever rode for had that requirement. Just that you wear it to all races, and most strongly suggested club rides as well. I've also never ridden for a club that did more than discounted products, reimbursed specific entry fees, and had free food from time to time.

Well there is a pretty good % discount on stuff bought at the shop and discounted Serotta frames. Higer discount when you upgrade from Development squad to race team.

Other than that, there is a small dues amount for the team and you buy kit & pay your own race fees.

I like the idea of free food :D

1 ss jersey, 1 ls jersey, 1 bib short, 2 pair of socks, and a TON of laundry (though with two kids, there's always laundry to be done).

Second season brings a kit re-design and an additional set.

I buy two jerseys and two bibs each season. Our kit design retains the same basic layout and title sponsor year after year, with only minor sponsors changing, so I wear the old kits while training and the current-year kit for races.

oh and count your blessings... one of the local clubs has 2 different kit styles, depending if it's after Labor Day, or Sunday, or some kind of formula I haven't figured out.

Sounds like my team from two years ago. Reds and whites. Now, we just have whites.

I buy two jerseys and two bibs each season. Our kit design retains the same basic layout and title sponsor year after year, with only minor sponsors changing, so I wear the old kits while training and the current-year kit for races.

Total re-design for us this year.

And our team is growing, but sponsor dollars are shrinking.... there's a lot of open space on our kit this year.

Every ride. ? Solo, independent rides. How do they know.. Sounds like slavery..
.. My non race club, they look askance if we don't wear club kit on Sunday rides- cause we sometimes receive awards at the larger association rides. None team rides. Think I'd sneak out the back door when doing a non training ride.

Well there is a pretty good % discount on stuff bought at the shop and discounted Serotta frames. Higer discount when you upgrade from Development squad to race team.

Other than that, there is a small dues amount for the team and you buy kit & pay your own race fees.

I like the idea of free food :D
So you gotta weigh the cost of the extra kits you have to buy with the benefits you will receive from them and decide if it's worth it or if you should try another team.

As far as food, I should clarify that it was a box of energy bars, gels, and/or drinks that the sponsor would send once or twice a year to get passed out at the next meeting.

I recommend that new guys buy 3 sets. One to wear, one to wash, one to destroy in a crash.

sometimes i feel bad that i dont wear a current kit to race in but i figure its better than wearing a blank skinsuit instead.

You can wear the jersey a few times before it needs washing...smell factor comes into play...You can hand wash it in a sink with a capful of Woolite, roll it up in a towel and hang dry overnight...easy peasy.

Shorts should be washed after every ride to rid them of potential bacteria.

In short one or two jerseys and 3 pair of shorts would be a minimum for an active rider.

I've never ridden for a team that required you wear your kit every time you were on your bike. Group rides, training rides with the team, races especially...of course you should wear the team kit.
I was also lucky, and worked hard, to have my kits supplied my last 10 years of racing but that is not common.

Even at cost team kits are costly...you always get what you pay for and the major makers, Voler, etc., are not cheap.

You can wear the jersey a few times before it needs washing...smell factor comes into play...You can hand wash it in a sink with a capful of Woolite, roll it up in a towel and hang dry overnight...easy peasy.

Shorts should be washed after every ride to rid them of potential bacteria.

In short one or two jerseys and 3 pair of shorts would be a minimum for an active rider.

I've never ridden for a team that required you wear your kit every time you were on your bike. Group rides, training rides with the team, races especially...of course you should wear the team kit.
I was also lucky, and worked hard, to have my kits supplied my last 10 years of racing but that is not common.

Even at cost team kits are costly...you always get what you pay for and the major makers, Voler, etc., are not cheap.

Maybe in the spring, fall & winter I could get away with 2 wearings. Summer no way. My jersey stinks after one hard ride.

+ 11ty billion on the shorts.

Thanks

:)

Every team is different. For my first team, I had to buy the clothing from the shop (with a team discount) but they reimbursed race fees. On my current team, we divvied up a clothing allowance but paid our own race fees. I still spent the same amount out of pocket.

Man, I never thought of this..

Can you generally only place one kit order a season?

Man, I never thought of this..

Can you generally only place one kit order a season?

My team does two (March and October). Usually there is extra stuff left over though that can be purchased as needed.

Man, I never thought of this..

Can you generally only place one kit order a season?

Most only do one, what with the lead times and such. However, if your team is of any reasonable size, there will be some people who ordered the wrong size or whatever - put up a WTB on your team's list/forum and you'll likely find what you need.

This year I got 2 jerseys, 2 shorts and a skinsuit. For 2010, the clothing quality is being upped and I'm getting 5-7 shorts, 5-7 jerseys and a few skinsuits. That's all I really need. I love my new sponsor!

Expecting you to wear nothing but their kit, but then not paying for it, is ridiculous.

I bought 2 kits last year, I'll buy one this year. Stuff is too expensive to be buying a ton (about $110 per kit). I'll be racing some in our old kits, even though they have some slightly different sponsors.

The team I am considering joining (my first as you can tell by the newbie question) has a requirement that you wear the team kit any time you are on the bike. I'm sure that is a common requirement. So, considering that most everyone here probably is on the bike AT LEAST 4-5 times a week with training and all, how many team kits do you have? I really hate wearing dirty smelly cloths. Especially when they are like that BEFORE I slide into them. And not even mentioning the bib shorts. EWWW...

So what do you guys do? Multiple kits? Lot's of washing?

Eh.......so what have you been doing up to this point?

The team I am considering joining (my first as you can tell by the newbie question) has a requirement that you wear the team kit any time you are on the bike.

Where dark glasses and try to be inconspicuous. :rolleyes:

...I'll be racing some in our old kits, even though they have some slightly different sponsors.

I've done this more than a few times. I raced for my prior team for two years (2008-2009). I got the full shebang the first year, the second year I just added current jersey/shorts and got the windvest that I forgot to order the prior year. I tried to cycle my clothing so the new jersey/shorts got rotated in for races (I don't live close enough to do their club rides, hence I ended up leaving a perfectly fun, friendly, involved team).

The new team I joined has an interesting requirement for sponsors - a two year buy-in. So if you want to sponsor the team, it's a two year commitment, with years starting on even years (2010). This way a kit is good for two years. This encouraged me to actually sponsor the team.

Our team just got their first round of kit this week. The next round will be in the spring. Then fill-ins as necessary. Problem with trying to get together extra orders is that many kit manufacturers require a minimum to place an order. The lowest normal number is either 10 or 24 of similar pieces (i.e. 10 jerseys of any kind, or 10 shorts/tights/knickers, etc). I think there are a few companies who have no minimum, but they're smaller and I've never dealt with one.

cdr

Eh.......so what have you been doing up to this point?

Unattached. I wear whatever the heck I want. ;)

Anyone ever wonder how the professionals handle their kit during multiple day professional races.. Who gets their smelly kit ready for the next day. How many kits does each rider receive. Or would you suspect they either start the next day in smelly or wet clothes.. Considering the size of the teams, you'd think there would be a logistical problem getting all the riders clothes ready for the next ride.. Certainly they must have at least two sets, still with that pile of clothes, - it would be difficult to get them all clean and dry in a timely manner..

Anyone ever wonder how the professionals handle their kit during multiple day professional races.. .

A couple years ago I spoke with the former director of a former domestic pro team. They were reasonably well known but some of their riders still struggled with bills (imagine getting paid $7-9k/year?). He said that you never give a team rider all his kit in December because 90% of it will end up on eBay by February. Then, in June, when the big races roll around, the guy complains he's crashed, worn out, or otherwise rendered all his kits useless.

So what he does is dole out the kits as necessary. He'll give out 5 or so at the beginning of the season. Then, before big races, he breaks out extra kits so the guys will be in new clothing for the pictures inevitably taken at the big races (think Memorial Day, the former Philly week, etc).

The kicker is the team, in its last year, got 64 kits per rider (!!!). Not jackets and such, but still, that's a lot of clothing. Figure you ride a kit 6 times and you can toss it. Or make a killing in October on eBay.

(Teams also know how to conserve equipment. They hoard things so that at the end of the season, when money dries up, they can sell off stuff like extra forks or tires or rims or frames or whatever to help cover the bills. I remember reading about Euro mechanics - they get an allotment of tires/rims etc, and anything left is theirs. Therefore they have motivation to make things last, not replace something at the slightest problem. I watched the Z team mechanics hem and haw on whether or not to replace Lemond's tire in Tour du Pont - it had a short cut in the tread, maybe 3-4mm long. Eventually, after like 20 minutes, they put some super glue like stuff in the cut and called it a day. On the other hand, Dirk De Wolf, on Gatorade at the time - with Bugno, Fignon, etc - had to ride the worst possible wheel I've ever seen. It had to be a reject from Paris Roubaix because it barely cleared the chainstays. I can't believe he tolerated that, but apparently TdP for him was just a relaxation trip. The mechanic gleefully cranked away with the spoke wrench, turns at a time, trying to make thing line up a little better. Incredible. But then, because I look like a Shimano spy, he took out the Shimano cartridge BB - a new thing at the time - carefully wiped it down, cleaned up around it, and put it back in. It's a maintenance free part. Go figure.)

Pros, even the unheralded domestic pros, know what they need to do. Okay, fine, they'll crash a kit, or they'll eBay a few (or sell them to friends) to get gas money, but they know that they simply cannot ride in dirty kit. It'll make all the other riders remember you for the wrong reasons (and they pretty much do the same circuit, so as a pro you run into the same folks all the time). Peer pressure is a great thing.

On larger teams, at stage races, like the situation mentioned above, the soigneur washes all the kits whenever necessary. That's part of their job. It's a luxury to have a soigneur though so most domestic pros know how to work a washing machine.

cdr