I've been noticing that one too. It's one of the things that still puzzle me. I'd go on an organized century ride, and five or six hours later I'd still be surrounded by cyclists in flashy attire, with matching shorts and jerseys and every square inch covered with ads, looking like they are on Tour de France. (I can't always tell how expensive their bikes are, but I do see a fair share of bikes that I recognize as carbon fiber versions.)

I'm one of the slower participants (I usually finish in the bottom 20%), but I've only been training seriously for a few months. I have a total of one pair of bike shorts and two jerseys (short-sleeve and long-sleeve), all of them completely plain. I don't understand why a person whose shape is comparable to mine would get decked out in faux pro clothing. Or where he would even get that kind of attire.