b2run

I have a comfortable, close fitting running shirt that I wear when I'm biking. I don't feel the need to look cool and elite. Is there any benefit to getting a biking jersey? Comfort? Better aerodynamics? Sweat wicking?

dminor 

If your running shirt has a wicking fabric, you're good.

Esteban58

Well, the spiffy pockets in the back are kind of handy, but as long as what you wear helps keep you warm / cool / dry or whatever you're good to go.
I do like having something that zips down for those really warm days.

Pamestique 

I have a whole closet full of cycling jersies - in fact I've had to give some away too make room and yet the tops I now prefer I bought at Target and J C Pennys - simple wicking work out tops... very comfortable and very cheap. I admit don't need the rear pocket because I alway ride using a Camelbak or a Bento Bag.

lhbernhardt

Naw, you don't really NEED a cycling jersey. I would say you need cycling-specific shorts, shoes, and maybe even gloves before you need a jersey (you can make up your own mind about helmets, if you live in a jurisdiction that doesn't require them).

But a cycling jersey does have certain advantages/useful features:
- back pockets that you can access while you're moving, and that will hold stuff without the jersey sagging,
- cut close enough that it doesn't catch a lot of air or flap around too much in the wind,
- the best jerseys have a full zipper so you can unzip completely on hot days/climbs, or you are able to remove the jersey completely without having to empty the back pockets,
- recognition value. Shows you are a member of a club, or have achieved a particular status (e.g., California Triple Crown, or National Champion, or done a particular big ride)

People who have been cycling for years will have a closet full of jerseys. Although they don't contribute to comfort as much as shorts or shoes, jerseys are what you usually keep long after the shorts and shoes have worn out and been chucked.

If you don't feel the need for a cycling jersey, don't even bother. Life is too short to be cycling in ugly or mundane jerseys you don't even care about. But at some point, you will find yourself attracted to a specific jersey for some reason, whether it's because you've joined a club, or done a ride, or whatever. That's when you buy the jersey.

Luis

Doohickie

Pockets is the only real reason for me. And there are lots of ways around that. A lot of my rides are in street clothes.

Yo Spiff

I like my cycling jerseys for the pockets and the sweat wicking material. They also tend to be cut a little longer in the back so you don't show plumbers crack as you ride. I also have a few of the wicking shirts from the sporting goods dept. I don't like riding in a cotton t shirt myself. I find it's like wearing a sponge in warm weather. Others do prefer a cotton T shirt.

Like Doohickie.

If you don't care about the pockets or the styling, the wicking shirts are fine. If you don't care about the material, then plain old t shirts work just great.

Biker395 

+1

What he said. I cycled for years with T-shirts and short pants, and was perfectly OK with it. Now, I have a closet full of them. The reason?

1. I can't resist jerseys offered only to those who finish epic rides (Deathride, Terrible Two, Alta Alpina, etc.).
2. The damn things don't wear out.

leob1

The longer cut in back isn't just for covering up the plumbers crack, it also keeps you lower back covered on cold\cool days. Cycling jackets do the same thing. Having cold air on your lower back will get real uncomfortable real quick.
But in the end, wear what ever you like.

fietsbob

It's more about the Look .. got all the rest of the racer bike spandex kit? its the last part ..

A wicking synthetic Polo shirt is my new favorite if and when it ever gets hot enough to be down to one layer

flip the collar up to keep the Sun off your neck..

blt

Keeping the lower back covered is also nice for preventing that odd sunburn line between the shorts and the shirt.

Doug64

No, but.

Those pockets sure come in handy. Jerseys don't have to be expensive or part of a "kit". they can be pretty plain and fully functional. I usually wear a plain white one in the summer, mainly for visibility, sun protection, and coolness (not looking cool, but to beat the heat). My wind jacket, GPS, arm warmers, hat, assorted snacks and misc end up in the pockets. anything I want to get at while I'm moving. I have several jerseys and my goal is to wear them all out! Nice jerseys can be found on sale costing about the same as a high priced T-shirt. However, I do ride a lot on long warm trips wearing just a wicking or cotton T-shirt depending on the humidity.



In cooler weather a long sleeved heavier jersey is comfortable. The pockets are still full

jdon

Trust this man.

Dudelsack 

What everybody else said.

But bike jerseys can be fun. I love my Barloworld team jersey. Bike tshirts are also fun. I started a half hour conversation with a total stranger at an airport because I asked him about his Ocean 100 ride shirt. We almost became best friends.

irwin7638

Short answer, no. Any sport shirt you buy these days is made with good moisture wicking material. Since gas reached $2 permanently and I started riding more for transportation, I started using golf and tennis shirts more often because they look better when I get where I am going. They wick moisture as well and the aerodynamics of a skin tight shirt are just plain over rated if you don't race.

Marc

Velo Dog

Most of mine, too. I don't think I've worn a real, cycling-specific jersey in eight or 10 years. Too much like putting on pads to play catch with your kids in the park.
As a side benefit, I think drivers are more courteous and give me more room when I'm wearing a t-shirt or something like that. We have a lot of testosterone-crazed wannabe cyclists here, and drivers react negatively to them. When they see somebody just pedaling along like they're out for a ride, they cut more slack.

b2run

I see a lot of replies saying they like the bike jerseys for the pockets. What do you put in them?

(Gollum voice: What does it put in its pocketses?)

Zorba

No

dajohnson

Must have jersey for pockets. I carry food, tubes, chapstick, lock, glasses case, even leg wamers and sometimes cycling raincoat if weather changes during ride. One of the chief advantages is that you have access to the stuff in the pockets while riding. I have been amazed at the amount of stuff I can carry in the three pockets.

jon c. 

I only have one jersey and otherwise ride in cotton t-shirts. Which I seem to find more comfortable than the rest of the world does. But the jersey is nice for the pockets.

Clarabelle

My problem with Cycling Jerseys is the fit. I'm in my 70's and really don't need to show off my svelte figure. I love some of the graphic designs they have, and the cool colors, but there is something about an old-age bulge that detracts from them. I'm still wearing loose fitting t-shirts, some of which are moisture wicking.

skilsaw

I've got a body that looks terrible in anything close fitting, and me in a biking jersey is an oxymoron.
My new, favorite fabric is merino wool. It is available in various weights (thicknesses) and is soft, not itchy like regular wool. It has good wicking properties, and remains warmish when wet. I would not buy merino wool shorts or tights because it does not stand up well to friction so the seats will wear out.

elboGreaze

Gotta love the rear pockets, I carry my cellphone ,Ipod ,food ,spare tube and tire irons , and anything else I may need for the ride.

JanMM

Those rear pockets suck if you put stuff in them and ride a recumbent. (You know, leaning against the seat back)
I have one cycling jersey and lots and lots of wicking poly shirts.
Tried a wicking poly polo shirt once but the collar flapped in the breeze.
Wore cotton tees for a long time - wicking poly is so much better most of the time.

wphamilton

No, a biking jersey is not necessary, but they're really nice. For the pockets and longer tail if nothing else.