Originally Posted by
fishboat
Gear is a MUCH better word. Kit is a bit too cute for my taste. Gosh.. I'm so "continental" as I frequently use the word, kit. "Kit" usage came from the EU(UK)..and should have stayed there.
Gear and gears is only confused by those where English is not their first language. A non-(native) English speaker often uses "equipments" where "equipment" is the correct choice. Non-native English speakers being confused by English is normal (as are those speaking many foreign, to them, languages)
So if your objection is that it's "too cute" and apparently, too British, we are really differing on esthetic grounds and there really is no point in arguing taste. I don't see the stretch from "tool kit" (a very familiar phrase to Americans) to "cycling kit" as anything significant, and I also don't think one has to be a non-native speaker to mishear "gears" for "gear" in conversation.
You want to get me started on an unnecessary, pretentious borrow-word, mention "bidon".