ruck

Noob type question: when cycling do you only where jerseys/kit of teams your are either on or a fan of? The reason I ask is being a bit new and all I am looking at getting a few more jerseys, currently I have just basic colors, and a lot of the kit out there looks pretty cool. That being said I don't follow racing or plan on racing so I know nothing about the actual professional sport of cycling so I am curious as to what to do. As a Bears fan I would wear their jerseys but it'd be cold day in hell before you'd see me wear a Green Bay jersey or for that matter a Colts jersey, and in general football fans wear jerseys of "their" team, is it this way in cycling?

Oh I also did a search but really "team jersey" brings back like 20 pages...

crash13

whatever's on sale....

Namenda

A lot of people think that wearing team cycling kit is bad form. "You didn't earn it, you look like a Fred, you're a wannabe, etc". Truth is, you can wear whatever you want. If you see a team jersey you like, and it inspires you to ride more, that can only be a good thing.

CyLowe97

Wear any jersey you want on the road.

I'm pretty sure no one will mistake you for Bettini if you pick up a QuickStep WC stripes jersey. Just rock it like you were meant to wear it. (except at UCI races, of course... )

Anyone who gives you the "you didn't earn that jersey" needs to lighten up. Anyone who gives you the "I wouldn't pay to advertise for someone else" needs to do the same. (just getting these points out of the way early in the thread....)

voltman

People don't really have teams.

ruck

thanks for all the input, definitely will be using a bit of the "whatever's on sale approach"

johnny99

I think overweight people look pretty silly wearing their favorite skinny basketball player's jersey, but I don't condemn them for having fun. Same goes for people wearing ill-fitting pro cycling jerseys. At least an overweight cyclist is trying to get some exercise.

BlessedHellride

I belong to a team and do some racing so I don't wear other teams kits. However if I did not belong to a team or race I would probably wear some of the team kits of teams I thought were cool or cool looking. Well probably just the jersey not the full kit. I am a football and hockey fan and I will wear a Vikings, Wild, or U of M Gophers hockey jersey on occasion.

ruck

you know I had the size dilema when I was getting a bears jersey, being a thin guy I thought getting a kreutz(he's their center) jersey would be weird, think I'll probably pick one up this year though.

grahny

+1

Plus, pro team kits on a recreational cyclist is no different than someone wearing an NFL jersey while playing weekend football, or anyone wearing their favorite pro team apparel while enjoying the same sport. It's just support for your favorite team... cycling has the added benefit of the clothing having more of a functional purpose as well.

Wear what you like and enjoy it.

Tri JP

Whatever you feel comfortable with, man. What one person might want to avoid because of a fear of feeling like a Fred, another might totally dig on. Do what feels good, and if someone on your group ride busts your chops about "trying to be Levi," who cares? At least you're out there taking care of business.

johnny99

What ever you do, buy a jersey that fits. Poorly fitting jerseys with lots of loose fabric flapping around are little better than (much much cheaper) T-shirts.

VanceMac

+1 with a bullet. Cycling seems to be the only sport where you get this pompous attitude. The guy with the MJ #23 Bulls jersey doesn't get flak for not really being MJ. The guy with the Dodgers jersey doesn't get flak for not really being on the Dodgers. It's totally absurd.

If you like the green Sprinters jersey because green is your favorite color, or the KOM polka dots because you like to climb, or the World Championship rainbow jersey because you think it's a gay pride jersey... then that's super keen, and more power to you!

baj32161

Stoeger

My Gerolsteiner jersey fits the best out of all the ones I own so I wear it quite often. Seems like the only "looks" I get are from fat, old, poseurs who dropped thousands on dollars on their bike which they only ride a few miles at a clip. "Hey, I may not have a cyclist's body, but at least I can have the attitude!"

vpiuva

? still waiting for Unibet

VanceMac

Wait no longer, my friend: riddler jersey.

vpiuva

Thanks, I see it was just added yesterday. Bet they sell a few.

ILUVUK

i don't wear team cycling apparel, but i dig the euskaltel stuff. looks cool.

Mike_Like_Bike

I'd wear the jersey, but not the full kit.

SteveE

We've got a few folks in our club who've actually earned the rainbow stripes on the sleeves of their kit, so I wouldn't presume to wear certain jerseys. YMMV.

t4mv

Yeah, I remember back in...'94?...after Karen won the ITT, it was hecka strange seeing her riding down Bowers w/ her WC kit and knowing it wasn't some poseur. As good as they look, I'd have to pass on the WC, and state champ kit around here.

yogi13

Um, actually, if you show up at one of the better basketball pickup game courts wearing an MJ or whomever jersey you better bring some game, too, or you're likely to get slapped down both verbally and physically.

spiderbike

I passed a guy wearing a KOM jersey on his P3 last week. I rode up to him and told him what a great looking bike and jersey he had. He was just a rich guy enjoying the sport. I thinks that great!!! If I'm rich guy that gets slightly out of shape you better believe that I'm going to have a sweet bike and kit because I enjoy the sport....

Wear what you want, its not like cycling is your job! Its a hobby.

G60

FDJeux because it rules and it's cool in 114+ degree heat.

to match my bike, i'd have to wear T-mobile though. yuck!

playing hockey, i've never seen anyone belittled for wearing a pro jersey. there is one exception...you DO NOT wear #99. pickup games or league play.