Lesper4

So what is the saying, its just un cool to wear a team kit (i.e. you don't shave your legs unless you race)? Either wear an event jersey or a club jersey or maybe even just the top of a team kit. What does everyone think about shop kits and shop teams or even local teams? The problem is I have credit a Arts Cyclery, which seems like a great shop. I am trying to decide between two kits. one is their shop kit and the other is their shop team. I kind of like the team kit better just because it is not a vanilla black kit and it is also more visible. Currently all my clothing is from an event or for the most part generic.

This one https://www.artscyclery.com/Arts_Shor...umb=RDMAPPAREL
And the one attached.

Elvo

I'd rather wear the one in the link

calamarichris

Screw what other people think. Wear the team kit. I'm a big fan of high visibility and safety.

-Posin' Proudly since '09...



Edit: Heh--just noticed the guy behind me in the second pic is wearing the jersey in your link. Unintentional coincidence from '11 l'Etape.

furiousferret

That jersey is atrocious. I have 2 kits from Don's Bikes, they built up my bike on the cheap and they recommended buying a kit in lieu of a tip. I also shop at Cyclery USA, which is a good shop but has atrocious kits.

About wearing team kits; its never been my thing but I'd rock a retro kit any day.

calamarichris

+1 What's the deal with all the black kits nowadays? Asphalt camouflage? Absorb more heat when it's hot & radiate more heat when it's cold? No thanks.
I'd use that credit on a chain and some tubes over a black jersey.

rooftest

My favorite is the guys wearing them for night rides. I wear 'em during the day all the time.

Lesper4

So that is 2 for the black and 2 for the color. I was told once the color of the fabric has no real effect on performance. The great thing about retro is is the lack of advertising.

calamarichris

Not true. La Vie Claire is French for Hotdog-on-a-Stick. And you won't find a tastier corndog on either side of the Atlantic.


Funny thing is HDoaS's new corporate headquarters is less than a mile from my place.

calamarichris

True in mild temps like the French Alps in July. But I wouldn't wear solid black to an Adventurecorps event, where temps can get above 100 or below freezing.

jsigone

gotta go color on the kits. It's too HOT to wear a all blk kit for the day


G0262442e by jsig1, on Flickr

cruiserhead

Both look good but I like the team one with yellow. graphics look a bit more creative

catonec 

I like the black and yellow one better.

I dont think its wrong to wear a jersey w/ a logo/ team on it or even an event shirt that you didnt ride in but add the matching bibs and its a little misrepresenting and probably not cool.

Rick@OCRR

You probably already know this Lesper4, but I'll type it anyway:

It really doesn't matter what we forum members think! Pick the one you like and wear it proudly and don't give a moment's thought to what other riders think of it. It's okay to get other riders opinions (thats one of the things forums are good for!), but in the end it's your jersey.

Regarding Team Kit, I have exactly one team kit jersey (Lotto from '98, the year they rode GT's) which I got when I worked at GT. My club jersey does have bike shop names on it but I don't give it much thought . . . one of them is out of business now anyway. I have two black jerseys, both from charity rides in England, but I haven't noticed any heat related issues when wearing them. So that's my opinion, but please ignore it and do what you want .

Rick / OCRR

Lesper4

Totally agree, thanks Rick. Personally I do not want to wear a pro kit, I think the lower levels are more reasonable. I also think no one is going to mistake me for a racer.

TrojanHorse

If you're wearing a team KIT you better not let me pass you or I'll think condescending thoughts. That and 80+mm rims, why the heck do people need those to ride slowly up and down the river trails.

You're probably safe (from me passing you I mean). I think people who get all decked out in a current pro tour team's kit look like ****ers but personally, I don't mind older stuff or small shops or team kits in general. Beer jerseys look goofy too but that doesn't stop me from owning two of them.

So get the colorful one. You're not going to a dinner party in your team kit and dressing like a parrot has it's visibility advantages. Black jerseys are definitely hotter in our summer times too, no doubt about it.

Dunbar

On a side note, how much do those kits typically run for team members? I can see going that route if they are a good deal. A good set of bib shorts and a jersey can easily run $150-200+. I see a lot of Big Orange guys/gals riding along the coast and I think their kit looks pretty decent.

Lesper4

Yeah I am just not a fan of high visibility aka neon jersey. I don't mind that in a jacket or vests though.

Beachgrad05

The shop I ride out of just got new kits...disregard the model and location of photo... LOL we just got them yesterday...

this is is what we are wearing in Palm Springs next month


Some will be in knickers and long sleeve jersey

Lesper4

Nice looking

JimmyNH

OK, I'm one of these ****ers that wear pro-team kits. Let me make it up to you - pro-team kits are much better quality, they are cheaper (just check probikekit.com or ribblecycles.co.uk) and they look great (designed by professionals after all). And here is what most people don't understand: wearing a pro-team kit doesn't mean "I'm badass cyclist". It simply means that I'm a cycling fan who's not afraid to show his support for the sport. Pretty much like when you show up in the bar with that football jersey - it means that you're a serious football fan, not that you can withstand even the weakest tackle. Capito?

Sad to say BG, but this kit is plain ugly. You can wear it on a funeral, but I don't think it's good for anything else. At best, it is an "asphalt camouflage" as Mr. Calamari put it above, and I reckon it doubles your chances to get run over by a car even in broad daylight. The old kit (the one on your avatar) looks much better. I'm not trying to be offensive, just giving you my honest opinion. You are a girls' team; you want to look good even on a bicycle.

Beachgrad05

Wow...just wow.
and
to to be honest...your comment about funerals is rude and your comment about being a "girls" team and looking good is sexist.

you can have your opinion...but think you are flat out wrong

rooftest

What's with the "asphalt camouflage" comments? Cars aren't looking at you from above. It may make it harder for birds of prey to see you on freshly poured streets, however.

Rick@OCRR

Sad to say BG,

But that's just how JimmyNH is. He insults me too but I just ignore him (and call him a "wuss") but when/if you meet him someday you will find that he is a great guy in person; not so much on bikeforums.net (kind of like Mr. Beanz in that way). He is definitely "flat out wrong" on quite a few subjects. As an example, the "NH" in his forum name stand for "No Helmet."

So you can draw your own conclusions . . . and you'll probaby be right.

Rick / OCRR

calamarichris

Didn't mean it as an insult or criticism, but I personally prefer bright colors that vibrate off each other. I like BG's argyle jersey, and I have a few pre-Garmin Slipstream argyle jerseys, but flat blacks & grays are not what I'd personally choose to ride in the midst of modern, distracted drivers.

Even with the goony, garish colors and multiple blinking lights, I still have close-calls once in a while.

jimxyz

I dig the LBS matching kits, looks great when a pack of them pass me going up GMR (which happens pretty much every time I'm out there) but since they generally dont fit, I only own two full sets. One I can wear (Bike Religion) and one that I need to lose weight to squeeze into (Bike Effect). Why I bought the second one I will never know.