sdgrannygear

So I just joined a team literally last week. They already placed their clothing order and received their kits. I just placed mine today but won't get anything for 5 weeks at the earliest. My question is if I'm doing a race, is it ok to wear a non club affiliated jersey even though my license has their team listed as my club? I know I can't race without their team jersey if other people from the club are in the same race, but if I'm the only one in the particular race, will that be a problem?

botto 

cat 5 question dictates: take a chill pill.

gerundium

other option: borrow a jersey from someone?

Fat Boy

After you take the pill, ask someone if you can borrow an old jersey. If not, take another pill and wear a plain one. Just don't be the guy wearing pro team kit.

king-tony

You'll be fine, wear whatever you want. Like jerseys help everyone identify who is doing what in a race so if you are alone it is no problem.

Beaker

This

And also, this

Monkeyclaw

As a 5, I've raced against members of Radio Shack, BMC, HTC Columbia, Liquigas and many others. I've done surprisingly well against them.

Do what the others said - borrow someone's old (or new) jersey or go naked (plain jersey). Don't race in another team's jersey if you can avoid it. Definitely don't show up in a pro team kit, unless it's 7-Eleven or some other 70's or 80's classic.

Best not to show up in one of those 'tuxedo' or Dr. Seuss jersey's either.

carleton

Those above me are right about borrowing a jersey. Here's how you do it:

1) Hopefully your team has either an email mailing list or group message board. Introduce yourself and state that you need a jersey for the race. Remember to state your jersey size. Chances are, a veteran team member will give you an old jersey. If not, you will certainly have one to borrow in no time.

2) If your team doesn't have an email list or message board, contact the team captain and ask for assistance. He/she will know what to do. Some teams keep a stash of extra kits in common sizes for this very situation.

3) DO NOT ask to borrow matching shorts. Just use some generic black shorts that you can get at any bike shop or that you probably already own.

kindablue

OP, I borrowed a kit for my first race this year (I was in your same situation). It was a bit big, but it worked.

I think with the recent changes in health care, chill pills are becoming a luxury for the rich. Pfizer still holds the patent for the formula, and until the generic comes out, I too will not be able to afford that upper class stress relief.

carleton

For the record, I think it's a rule that team members must wear matching jerseys. Also, a rider cannot wear the kit of a team to which he does not belong.

That being said, I've never seen any of these enforced. Not even a warning.

mattm

+1 I've never seen that enforced; even when my team had 3 jerseys in the white version of our kit and 4 jerseys in blue (not everyone bought the white ones) in a stage race - nobody said anything about it but us.

Have fun.

carpediemracing 

I think the matching kit rule comes into play as a Cat 2.

Generally speaking, as long as you're not wearing another team's kit it should be fine. Generic works. A borrowed jersey works best.

soma5

This. If I recall, the rule says that your jersey just has to be recognizable as your team's jersey unless you are P, 1 or 2. If you are that high, you need to match.

caloso

Bolded for emphasis. And hygiene.

ridethecliche

Post of the day!

sdgrannygear

Thanks to those with the helpful advice, yes, I understand borrowing is the best way to go, the team is relatively new so I'm not sure if they have extra jerseys laying around. I have had limited contact with them, I joined because in addition to gaining training partners, I figured it would be nice to get reimbursements for races.

botto 

SalsaPodio

chefxian

The USAC judge yelled at 2 guys in the 5's race this weekend for being kitted up in Pro Kits, 1 guy from the Shack and another from Liquigas.

Good Stuff.

mollusk

If you can't get a team jersey from some recent year, then use the most nondescript jersey you own.

Avoid at all costs a World or Country champion jersey unless you are the World or Country Cat 5 champion in whatever discipline you are racing. (This is a joke for the sarcasm detection impaired.)

Also you should never, ever wear a team jersey from a team in the race that is not your team. An official might laugh at you for the first offence mentioned, but they might make you get a different jersey or not let you start for this one.

Next in line is wearing a Pro team kit. The usual retribution is ridicule.

carpediemracing 

A typical response to "but my Radioshack Leopard Liquigas Quickstep jersey is the only one I have" is "wear it inside out".

I've seen quite a few inside-out jerseys in summer races.

Cold races are easier, most people have just generic jackets and such, so there are a lot of people rolling around wearing basically the same subset of clothing brands.

In a training race (typically mid-week, no cash/prizes, sometimes not even official results given) anything goes. People may snicker at you though.

merlinextraligh

I actually had a team mate that was pulled by an official in a Cat 4 (pre Cat 5 days) because he was wearing a jersey with the World Champion stripes. He didn't know what it was. Fortunately, they let him race in his T Shirt.

deyendznyr

Just make sure your jersey covers your Camelbak.

GirlAnachronism

But not your bib straps--those go on the outside.

carleton

Like Fränk...