Originally Posted by RecceDG

Do you not understand what medals are?

Very, very few medals are awarded for bravery or valour. Most are "campaign medals" that show theatres you have been to. They are your military resume.

Campaign medals are exactly analogous to ride, club, or event jerseys. The only way to get one is to be there.

Bravery/valour medals are exactly analogous to leader jerseys (TdF yellow, national champion, etc) as not only must you have been there, but you must have done something special.

Same concept, same thing - and much like how it would be incredibly gauche to buy a replica Victoria Cross or Medal of Valour and wear it, it is incredibly gauche to wear a jersey that you have not earned.

Now if you want to argue that a military medal represents a higher level of achievement (or commitment or whatever) than a cycling jersey, that's a valid opinion. I have no desire to try and establish a ranking between a Giro d'Italia pink jersey and an OMM. But the underlying concept, that jerseys are to cycling as medals are to soldiers, is entirely valid.

And if I see you in a pro team, National (or World!) Championship, or event jersey that I know that you are not entitled to, I will find you gauche. If I think it is just pure ignorance (which happens - we were all n00bs once) I'll just pull you aside and explain calmly why that is Just Not Done. And if you persist after the ignorance has been rectified... well then you're a ******nozzle, equal, in my mind (and many others) to someone wearing a military (or if you can't get over that comparison, how about Olympic) medal that they did not earn.

DG