A better, cheaper option to cycling jersey
 

And at your local thrift store for $3 to $8.

While checking out shirts at the local Goodwill, I noticed they had a good selection of what looked like new Golf shirts which are made from the latest, greatest active wear materials. I like them much better than cycling jerseys as they look like normal clothes with a more comfortable cut and fit, have a long tail, and don't have those stupid pockets on the back.

I know they won't appeal to hipsters and those who race or want to look the part, but for commuting and recreational riding they're awesome. They had a couple in high-viz, but not in my size.

I've been a big fan of the "golf" knit shirts for many years. They are comfortable.

I've been commuting for 8 years and I don't even own a cycling specific jersey. I am trying to stay away from the "proper cyclist look".

The shirts I purchased aren't traditional knit Polo/golf shirts, but true active wear wicking, quick drying material.

I have a few somewhere, but haven't worn them in 15+ years because I find their fit uncomfortable, and ugly.

Yeah... in the old days all we had was cotton. But for some time now textured poly and even slit goods have been knit and made into the golf shirts. The knit shirts (like tee shirts) don't have that (yoke) seam across the back. Most textiles work well as a knit (as opposed to woven).

For warm weather cycling I like long sleeve cotton with a collar I can turn up to help avoid sunburn.

My favorite too... But I don't know of anything really cheap with a collar. Would love to find something... especially in bright annoying colors.

Wally World

Those work, and I've also got a bunch of generic athletic shirts that you find at Khol's and the like for $8-$10. But I also have and prefer actual cycling jerseys. The cut and fit does feel weird, walking around, I'll grant that. But on the bike, I guess with a fairly aggressive position on the road bike, the jersey fit feels right and the generic shirts awkward.

I have a number of those shirts...they pack well and don't wrinkle. I'll never give up on the cycling jersey...i like the rear pockets for putting things like my phone and keys. But to each their own. If it was a shorter ride, I would forgo the kit, but as it is, to me, riding in cycling specific clothing is by far the most comfortable.

As someone who grew up leaving basketball and soccer practices with soaking wet, heavy cotton t-shirts...I can say I m 've using synthetic wicking fabrics...no need for med to have a heavy, soaked shirt on after a ride, when something else will dry faster....if I shower offen the smell Is not too bad...

FYI, I've deleted my original post quoted above. No need to be negative. I may not like those wicking shorts, but lots of people do and I think it's cool that Wickstart found an affordable way to have them.

Picked up a wicking poly polo/golf shirt on sale a few years ago. It was a lousy cycling jersey, what with the collar flapping in the wind. ( I ride verrrry fast.)
I wear polo shirts at work a lot ('business casual') but prefer basic wicking poly athletic jerseys for cycling.
Strange to see so much anti-cycling gear bashing in threads like this. From cyclists.

My favorite cycling wear are a pair of J&G touring shorts and a Duluth Trading CoolMax shirt,
this is also my favorite wear when mowing the lawn, going grocery shopping, hiking, fishing,
canoeing, drinking beer by the back yard fire pit, etc, etc. Comfortable for cycling without the
plastic bag look, comfortable for most other warm weather activities.

There's no way around the fact that cycling is a physical activity, but for some of us its not a "sport", therefore we have different needs and desires. The main problem with most cycling specific gear is that its designed for performance riding on drop bar road bikes making it ugly, uncomfortable, and useless for anything else. Other types of cycling gear are out there, but tend to be very expensive.

I did notice some long sleeve golf shirts there too, but didn't think about it at the time, and some were very brightly colored.

There you go again: '.....ugly, uncomfortable and useless for anything else.'

I have a bunch of wicking sport performance t-shirts from running road races like 5ks and marathons which I like for commuting. You can usually find the same kind of shirts at Walmart, TJ Maxx, Ross and other bargain places for $5 to $10.

I have a few polo/collared wicking performance shirts too which are nice. I'm relatively thin so most of the golf shirts fit a little too tent-like for my taste tho.

Do you wear cycling jerseys when not riding, or when you want to look presentable? Does anybody?

I have cycling jerseys and recently purchased a poly t-shirt for hiking since I am hiking every Sunday and it's getting warm and the cotton t-shirt was feeling gross after a 7 mile, 1200 ft hike. I've worn it twice now and it makes a big difference. It doesn't even seem to get soaked like the cotton shirt did. It doesn't take much of a breeze to keep it dry. If you are biking in cotton and sweating a lot..... ew. I recommend a cheap athletic shirt. Marshall's, TJ Maxx, etc have a decent selection of these shirt for $10-15.

I gave a coworker permission to shoot me if I ever show up to work in lycra. It's in writing.

My favorites are merino wool t-shirts I got at a deep discount, though at ~$35 they're still kinda pricy. A long sleeve over a short sleeve with a windbreaker worked quite well today. I also have some $10 synthetic wicking t-shirts which work almost as well, but they get stinky faster, and I don't know that they would have kept me warm on a day like today, when it was still breezy and cool (in the 50s). On the lower half, I wear regular pants if it's cool, and cargo shorts if it's warm.

In this transitional weather, I don't know what to wear. In the last couple of weeks, figuring it was still cold, I wore regular cotton shirts, managed to sweat anyway, and then nearly froze to death. I'll try not to do that again.

I have a few jerseys, but I've never felt really comfortable in them. As a 250# clyde, any shirt which clings to my belly just reminds me that I'm fat, also it generally creeps upwards (and that includes cycling jerseys).

I prefer a loose synthetic tech tee. Aero be dammed! If I lost 80lb and had a six-pack to show off, I might like a tight-fitting shirt. Meanwhile I need to flap in the breeze!

Golf shirt is a good idea too. I've often thought that the couple golf shirts I have would perform well in athletic situations, although I'm not sure I could get used to the feel of the collar.

Target has a bunch of T-shirts and golf shirts in wicking material which are pretty inexpensive. Golf shirts aren't my thing but I have a few of the t-shirts. I wear them while cycling and anyplace else you might wear a t-shirt.

I also have a couple of solid color jerseys (with contrasting piping around the sleeves and collar) that have a looser cut. I feel comfortable wearing those most anyplace. The pockets are pretty obvious on one but on the other you probably wouldn't notice them unless there was something in them. Sometimes the pockets are really handy.

Then there is my favorite jersey with the Gecko on the front. ;) If I ever got an M&M jersey, that would become my new favorite.

People get way too hung up over this stuff IMHO. There's a huge variety of jerseys if you don't like a particular style or cut. There are also plenty of alternatives so you can forgo them entirely.

This particular jersey is about $10 on Amazon. It has a side zip pocket rather than a rear one (not a fan of that choice personally).

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...uL._UX425_.jpg

I only have one actual cycling jersey which I wear occasionally - it's neither ugly nor uncomfortable and I look great in it. As great as I can look, anyway.
Guessing you wouldn't approve of my Spongebob socks/Shimano shoes combo.