Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
I believe you are the one with the provincial attitude, defining cyclists by the club cycling enthusiasts with whom you associate and identify yourself.
Please expand on your definition of "cyclists." I've been in France many times and don't recall ever seeing a person cycling in the city wearing a bicycle costume.
Does your definition of "90% of cyclists" include utility or commute cyclists?
THe fact that it's a topic at all is what makes it provincial. I agree to, it does not matter. Maybe, it is the area we live in. So many retired people here. Plus so many race teams. Plus, like California, so many pros train here because of the nice weather most of the year. Yeah- I am adamant, the vast majority wear team gear. And each town has a town club with a velo clubhouse, usually provided by the mairie, and that club has a club kit. (Heck , when our town's club sponsored a regional cyclist's breakfast, our town's village government gave 500 euros' to help pay for the event for cyclists from other villages." ) Can't imagine that elsewhere.
I see them each Sunday. Hardly any do not wear anything but the needed bike gear. Maybe it is because when the club goes out it is a long arduous ride. Not pansy stuff. Mountains, at least metric centuries- each and every Sunday. And each town's club has a sense of pride in affiliating with that given club.
And there is such a herd of riders on Sunday, it is wise to wear your team gear, because it is like being amongst a herd of zebra's. You can't find your own team mates among the crowd. Reason for that.
Each Sunday some club holds a petit breakfast in their club house for the rest of the clubs in the Roussillon area. When all the towns various clubs descent upon that given town it is like a swarm of locusts'.Just the two larger nearby cities. Elne and Argeles, club membership between the two clubs is over 300. I can easily count at least 6 other villages with over 100 members.
Maybe I should hang around the few large towns where yes, there are commuters. My unofficial average might change.
I very much disagree that anyone here judges anyone for not wearing team gear, it is just the pride and serious nature of being a club rider; they wear what is needed.
TO belong to a club here, you must be licensed with the department and carry extra medical insurance. My club also insures my bike. We must carry a department license when we ride.
I very much disagree, anyone is infantile about what one must wear. And no the club rules don't say you must ride in club gear.