Mobile 155

What if a bent rider wanted to wear cycling shorts, shoes and a jersey? Would that automatically make them, " Kitted out arrogant, elitist, unfriendly, aloof bent snobs"? Because it seems as if the dividing point as to when name calling is permitted is when someone wants to wear something different or if it might be considered British. I wonder if it keeps the anti bike clothes and anti European cyclists up at night knowing that if they do decided to buy bike shoes, even for mountain biking, they come in sizes with European numbers on them?

Ever wonder if it would shatter the anti roadie universe if it was discovered the roadies were normal people? What if roadies were really friendly even with a jersey and cycling shorts on? What if one day a group of roadies stopped to help another cyclist not on a road bike fix a flat? Would that be like finding a bent rider that wasn't anti social or with a beard, pony tail and pocket protector? (Wait except for the pony tail and pocket protector a social bent rider with a beard sounds like Dudelsack.) My whole theory just fell apart.

I-Like-To-Bike

Could you find any American dictionary that provides a definition of "kit" that includes bicycling attire, except as British slang?

What a lot of words to exclaim a preference for cryptic jargon. More silly is your extrapolation from my criticism/objection of using affected jargon to describe bicycling attire, into a fabricated attack and hate fest on the people who wear it.

Wear your stuff with pride if you wish. My point is you would sound more like "Mericans" if you talked like them, rather than a British soccer fan or a roadie/elitist snob.

OldFartCyclist

Wow! Thankfully I got into bikes in a later era. I would love to have that Follis in my possession though I can only imagine the consequences of my attempting a shift with that.

cplager

As a 'bent rider, I really wish you'd stop saying stupid things like this.

Mobile 155

Good to know there is an approved "Merican" lexicon I can look forward to. Maybe if I were nice you could point out the difference between the people I have been talking to and real "mericans" I should be sounding more like? By the way, do the British have "soccer" fans? Seems to me there are words that are used by both nations that may have come from either one. I have noticed that many people have adjusted to saying their vehicles have a 2 liter engine rather than 122 cubic inch American motor. Even Mustangs came with a 5.0 rather than the Camaro's 305 CI. If I am understood I am less concerned with how I sound or how others sound if I can understand them. But it is good to know there is someone looking out for all of the lint that might gather on my description of cycling clothes.

However I will accept your chastisement for the use of kit even if I am not sure uniform or outfit would be as descriptive at least specifically. Much like I had to accept that when I was in the military I was told the only trucks they had were on the top of a flag pole. I sure didn't want to disagree with the assigned expert. After all you did enter a discussion starting with the verb "kitted" (A collection of materials or tools used for a particular purpose) indicating you understood the reference. I even once had a Kit car, but it was a sand buggy not British.

Dudelsack 

I-Like-To-Bike

An American routinely describing/discussing the/a game of soccer as "football" to an American audience would sound just as stilted and affected as if describing placing the ball in the "boot" of his car. Maybe an American club of MG or Jaguar owners would find that normal, but not many others.

Perhaps you think your preference for use of specific words and dress are inseparable, one kit and kaboodle so to speak, and therefore chastisement for the affected use of "kit" also includes chastisement for its wear. That is your construct, not mine.

Retro Grouch 

Are you guys still arguing over the word "kit"?

Dudelsack 

Wow. I just drove by some old guy in my neighborhood kitted out in a full Giant Bicycle team kit. I had no idea there was one so close by. I thought they had to be registered with the police or something.

Retro Grouch 

Well if you can play guns wherever you want, you certainly ought to be allowed to wear full Giant Bicycle Team apparel.

DnvrFox

I'm remembering again why I left the forum for 4 months. Who the heck cares? Kit and caboodle? Clothes? Outfit? Gear? Football? Soccer? Cricket? Aarrgghh!!

OldFartCyclist

I wear high-priced bib shorts, usually "Specialized" jersey to match my bike brand, "Specialized" branded shoes to fit my clipless pedals, and a helmet that just happens to match my bike brand. My wife demands that I make an effort to be color coordinated, and as a result, although all my bibs shorts and winter tights are black, my jersey must fit my bike color theme (red, black, and white). That doesn't make me a snob and I don't want to be one. I make it a point to ride courteously when encountering walkers and slower riders, ALWAYS acknowledge others regardless of their mode of transport, and make friends of other riders. I often slow down and engage someone I pass in a moment of conversation.

My brother-in-law (He's 60) and I bought a couple of "Old Fart Cycling Team" jerseys and have found that they start conversations due to the humorous slogans. The big one on the back reads: "Age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability". We make an effort not to be snobs and as a result we encounter very few. We get good-natured laughs from lots of the "young guns" because we don't take ourselves too seriously. We're trying to be good ambassadors for our sport, like the majority of us are.

BlazingPedals

Are we still talking about KITT?

Shp4man

Hey, wear or ride whatever floats your boat. It no longer bugs me when some young dude on a $3K bike blows by me at 27 miles an hour. I try to be courteous to everybody- slow, fast, Wally world junker bike to high dollar road bike.

I-Like-To-Bike

Obviously at least two posters do. And you don't, so what?

Participate or not, as you wish.

Mobile 155

Nope, never was an argument about the word only about the right to use the word in this thread. It seemed the thread pretty much agreed for the most part that the concept that just because someone didn't wear levis and a cotton T-shirt they weren't necessarily, "Kitted out arrogant, elitist, unfriendly, aloof roadie snobs" We drifted to fast low racer recumbents, racing the 508, and a few other side trips just to keep the thread open and just happened to run into a debate on the proper term to use for the style described in the heading of this thread. I thought it was over and then some guy from Louie-Ville had to post this. "Wow. I just drove by some old guy in my neighborhood kitted out in a full Giant Bicycle team kit. I had no idea there was one so close by. I thought they had to be registered with the police or something."


Now I may have to reconsider ordering a retro Molteni Jersey even if it is in the approved wool.

icyclist 

It's not that difficult to use. At least it isn't for me, since I started using it when I was 14, a mere 51 years ago. It's akin to using a water bottle. Lean down a little bit - no need to look - and push the rod one way or the other while pedaling. Done!

BluesDawg

Not that it comes up all that often, but "kit" is commonly used by cyclists in my part of 'Merica to describe matching team or club cycling apparel.

JanMM

Niagara Cycles offers Kit-in-a-Box.

https://www.niagaracycle.com/categori...s/kit-in-a-box

Doesn't look like anything that I would want to wear.

Mobile 155

Strange that even Saint Sheldon would call that a group. And being from campy you would have expected them to use the term Gruppo. In my shed such things are called spare parts and they would be SRAM or Shimano. But from Campy I would call them, Big Bucks stuff.

big john

Well, after 30 years of blissfull ignorance I have been educated in the origin of the term "kit". I guess the hundreds of people I have heard use that term are in some sort of "clubhouse".
No, it doesn't make me feel special to use the term any more than any other term, label, nomenclature, or title I use, or may have used.

I suppose you could be joking, which seems more likely than not.

big john

All of the recumbent riders I know wear cycling specific clothing, kits, if you will.
I think it has more to do with the type of riding you do and those you ride with rather than what type of machine you use.

OldFartCyclist

Earlier I posted my philosophy regarding my "kit" and whether I was an elitist snob or not. Then I went out for a ride that concluded 38 miles later. Interestingly I came up on a rider who looked older than me but was riding a recumbent tricycle (is that a legitimate category or did I just invent one?) Keeping with my philosophy, I slowed and engaged him in conversation, talking about his unusual ride. It looked like a barcolounger on wheels but it was all obviously very high quality equipment and he was stroking right along at about 12-13 mph into a headwind. As I pulled away, he yelled to me "Love the jersey!". I was wearing my Old Fart Cycling Team jersey with the slogan "Old age and treachery will triumph every time over youth and ability". I don't think he thought being "kitted out" makes someone an elitist snob, though he was wearing sport shorts and running a barcolounger. Looking back on the ride, I only had 1 other rider that didn't acknowledge me back today. Great ride!

m2tiguy

while passing said Kitted out arrogant, elitist, unfriendly, aloof roadie snob. - during the Breathless last weekend,,, I turned to him and said good morning,,, how's it going ??? - to which he replied - ? you talking to me ???? Being as there were 0 other riders around,, I simply just rode away from him thinking - - F him arrogant little $hit !

Gerryattrick

You say tomaytos and I say tomartos, let's call the whole thing off - Please.