Jersey History Question
07-08-14, 06:11 AM
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Jersey History Question
Does anyone know around what year jerseys starting becoming full zip down the front?
It seems to me that around the turn of the century, there was a change in jersey technology from the quarter zip, to a full zip front, allowing riders to fully open the jersey up climbs for ventilation. Even the MJ jersey of the Tour de France during the late 90s was quarter zip.
It seems to me that around the turn of the century, there was a change in jersey technology from the quarter zip, to a full zip front, allowing riders to fully open the jersey up climbs for ventilation. Even the MJ jersey of the Tour de France during the late 90s was quarter zip.
07-08-14, 07:50 AM
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I too have noticed the same thing but don't know when this occurred and if it was gradual. If you have some time on your hands, I suspect google images with dates could be an interesting project that would give an answer.
I know my bike club's jerseys started going full length zipper only about 2006/7 but we are probably a few years behind the pro's.
I know my bike club's jerseys started going full length zipper only about 2006/7 but we are probably a few years behind the pro's.
07-08-14, 08:23 AM
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Full zip jerseys have been available for a long time. My team kit from 1987 has a full zipper jersey.
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07-08-14, 08:27 AM
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BTW, Ullrich wore full zippered jerseys back then.
The MJ was a generic jersey, with the Team's logo decaled on. It wouldn't work with the iron on and full zipper.
The Yellow jereseys appear to still not be full zipper, presumably for that reason.
The MJ was a generic jersey, with the Team's logo decaled on. It wouldn't work with the iron on and full zipper.
The Yellow jereseys appear to still not be full zipper, presumably for that reason.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
Last edited by merlinextraligh; 07-08-14 at 08:37 AM.
07-08-14, 08:54 AM
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Supposedly Greg Lemond gets partial credit for this. In one of the TdF's, 85 or 86, it was real hot and he started tearing his jersey on mountain stages for more venitlation. Story is he had someone start cutting out the factory zip and sewing in longer zippers. Seems like the full zips came not that long after that.
Caused a few riders to cross the finish showing nothing but a skinny pale torso and bib straps.
Caused a few riders to cross the finish showing nothing but a skinny pale torso and bib straps.
07-08-14, 09:57 AM
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Supposedly Greg Lemond gets partial credit for this. In one of the TdF's, 85 or 86, it was real hot and he started tearing his jersey on mountain stages for more venitlation. Story is he had someone start cutting out the factory zip and sewing in longer zippers. Seems like the full zips came not that long after that.
Caused a few riders to cross the finish showing nothing but a skinny pale torso and bib straps.
Caused a few riders to cross the finish showing nothing but a skinny pale torso and bib straps.
That's what I remember and seeing the open jersey on the CBS Tour de France broadcast around 1985.
07-08-14, 10:01 AM
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Those images date around the 2005/2006 season so I am not surprised that the jerseys were full zip.
Also there are two variants of the Yellow jersey that the riders receive that we should not confuse. The image of Kittel shows podium variant which has a full zip down the back, so the rider can slip it on whilst on the podium. They are for show, and to my knowledge don't have any front zippers. Then they receive a race Yellow jersey which these days is full zip and has no restriction from the team logo/sponsor square on the jersey.
I think a good reference would be the book, The Jersey Project. Unfortunately this book is sold out and out of print, but it provides many photos of jerseys from the years and could be the best way to pinpoint a date. If anyone has this book please comment!
TheJerseyProject.com
The Jersey Project | CyclingTips
I think a good reference would be the book, The Jersey Project. Unfortunately this book is sold out and out of print, but it provides many photos of jerseys from the years and could be the best way to pinpoint a date. If anyone has this book please comment!
TheJerseyProject.com
The Jersey Project | CyclingTips
07-08-14, 12:22 PM
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Those images date around the 2005/2006 season so I am not surprised that the jerseys were full zip.
Also there are two variants of the Yellow jersey that the riders receive that we should not confuse. The image of Kittel shows podium variant which has a full zip down the back, so the rider can slip it on whilst on the podium. They are for show, and to my knowledge don't have any front zippers. Then they receive a race Yellow jersey which these days is full zip and has no restriction from the team logo/sponsor square on the jersey.
I think a good reference would be the book, The Jersey Project. Unfortunately this book is sold out and out of print, but it provides many photos of jerseys from the years and could be the best way to pinpoint a date. If anyone has this book please comment!
TheJerseyProject.com
The Jersey Project | CyclingTips
Also there are two variants of the Yellow jersey that the riders receive that we should not confuse. The image of Kittel shows podium variant which has a full zip down the back, so the rider can slip it on whilst on the podium. They are for show, and to my knowledge don't have any front zippers. Then they receive a race Yellow jersey which these days is full zip and has no restriction from the team logo/sponsor square on the jersey.
I think a good reference would be the book, The Jersey Project. Unfortunately this book is sold out and out of print, but it provides many photos of jerseys from the years and could be the best way to pinpoint a date. If anyone has this book please comment!
TheJerseyProject.com
The Jersey Project | CyclingTips
07-08-14, 06:13 PM
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07-08-14, 09:10 PM
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Jersey History Question
Looks really bad when guys do the full unzip. Worst innovation ever. That along with white shoes, and those helmets(yikes), the pro peloton looks ghastly.
And what kind of exposure do these sponsors get?. I cant read anything on those jerseys. Unzip them and the pedaling billboard is gone.
And what kind of exposure do these sponsors get?. I cant read anything on those jerseys. Unzip them and the pedaling billboard is gone.
07-09-14, 09:48 AM
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Looks really bad when guys do the full unzip. Worst innovation ever. That along with white shoes, and those helmets(yikes), the pro peloton looks ghastly.
And what kind of exposure do these sponsors get?. I cant read anything on those jerseys. Unzip them and the pedaling billboard is gone.
And what kind of exposure do these sponsors get?. I cant read anything on those jerseys. Unzip them and the pedaling billboard is gone.
As for the Billboard, you just need to win with clean wheels so you have time to zip up the jersey before the line.
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
