Little Darwin

Actually, even though it may not fit with my previous post, I usually wear plain jerseys simply because I see no reason to pay extra for anything else. I am a simple guy.

If I were to pay for something, it would probably be silly.

EDIT: I do actually own an event jersey I bought at last year's Livestrong ride I hope to shrink into next year... everything else I own is plain.

geoGraphicFTD

plain cus that's what I've found on sale.

also, GO TRIBE!

LostBoizdown

No. Having a top-of-the-line bike is different than wearing a team jersey that's worn in a race specifically to advertise the fact that some certain team is sponsored by some such company in order for that company to garner sales from fan boys thinking "HOLY LANCE ARMSTRONG Batman! Those TREKS must be SAWEEEET! Ima get me one of them!"

Ih8lucky13

Nope, but I can get you a "Red Wings fans can distinguish a Hockey team from a University" Jersey

LowCel 

That is correct. I don't own any football, baseball, or hockey jerseys. I don't participate in any of those sports so I really don't have any need to have one of their jerseys. Once I started thinking about it, I don't even own a pro team bike jersey. I generally wear my team kit or an older team kit. If I'm not wearing one of those I usually have on a Corona Jersey or a Spongebob jersey.

sagginwagin

Whatever jersey or bibs you're wearing has the brand name on it for the purpose of advertising.
I'll bet they're not paying you.

I usually wear my club kit but I also have a couple of team kits: Communidad Valenciana and
Euskatel, both have hi-viz green in their design and I also have an old Oktos team jersey. I don't have
much plain kit other than my winter stuff.

ThrottleJock

Lately i've been wearing black shorts (plain) with white sleeveless underarmor for "jerseys", or something out of my old race kit team stash that looks hilariously dated now. Pink/purple livery, who cares.

I used to be a major mental game player though and I'd frequently show up to the start of big race/training rides or elite class mt bike events wearing ridiculous gear... my favorite was dress shirts. I'd have bike shorts covered by cutoff knee-length dress slacks on the bottom and a blue pinstriped or sometimes (trendy) pink button-up collared Oxford with the sleeves ripped off up top. It's all fun and games and when you're a bachelor with nothing but dirty riding gear, you get creative and start raiding the old work clothes in the back of the closet.

Oh, the mental part I guess is that though I looked like a total goon, I was extremely competitive in those days, a top 3 guy always. I'm a has-been weirdo fixed gear guy now, but whatever. I still have a lot of fun with the very serious racerboy crowd. I feel like it's my job to be equally goofy in a completely opposite manner to poke a little fun at the guys pretending to be Lance.

ThrottleJock

Oooh, and I found this great bin of ancient early lycra from the days when half the peleton was still wearing wool... I sported that stuff a lot when I was smaller too. Classic Schwinn jerseys, old Italian brand stuff. Neat stuff but none of it fits anymore. Cyclists did come in size XL back in the day, I don't think.

sagginwagin

Could it possibly be because they happen to like the jersey or team or both?
I think people are entitled to their opinions but if this particular "poser" wearing a team kit or just a jersey
can ride you off their wheel while you're on high end bike with carbon wheels and club gear or whatever
you wear are they still the "poser"? Or are you really the "poser" (not that you are, this is hypothetical)
because your ability comes no where close to the level of bike that you're riding?

Personally I think there is just a lot of bike snobbery and elitist behavior that goes on in the cycling culture
with folks that can't seem to accept others tastes, opinions, and even their level of cycling ability.

All this "I don't want to pay $200 to advertise", what do you think you're doing when you plop down the
dollars that you pay for your Sidi shoes or any bicycle related purchase? By wearing or riding your chosen
brand of clothing, helmet, shoes, bike, wheels, whatever you are advertising for that company.

poul kjaerholm

I feel the same. The "club cut" is way too big for me and it is annoying to try to guess what size will fit me best if I am browsing on the internet (is this pro cut or club cut, or race cut? how long are the sleeves on this one? sleeve opening? length for torso? chest measurement? neck opening? are the measurements quoted taken from the manufacturer or did the vendor take them? how accurate? etc). I like full zip jerseys and found some pro tour santini ones (and now "nalini" as well) for around $55 that fit great and I think they are a good quality. Did I look for a plain white full zip santini (of identical construction) that I could possibly get for less? Yes. Unfortunately I have found when Nalini, Assos, Santini, Pearl Izumi makes their non-pro jerseys they will make the multiple panels of the jersey different colors. I think part of this is the branding so you can tell if it is an Assos jersey even if the name is not plastered across it (free advertising, tsk tsk). This is fine if you like that look, but I don't want to spend 95$ on a jersey that looks that way especially when I can get a pro team jersey for less that I like the look of more. The closest I have come to finding a plain white full zip santini jersey was their pro tour one (worn by di luca) but I could only find it for around 80-90 dollars! It also had some blue, which I didn't mind, but I could not justify spending the extra money.

As far as feigning earning the jersey or trying to pass as a rider for a pro team - I think that with my generic bike, gloves, helmet, socks, shoes, water bottles, and black bib shorts that most would not think I am trying to "pass" for a pro. I agree with an earlier post that mentioned it can also be looked at as a way to support cycling.

Just curious - does the logic of earning what you wear apply also to other cycling related goods? Someone already mentioned the bikes but what about the top of the line group sets? Wheels? Power meters? Have you earned the right or need to measure your watts? I anticipate someone mentioning they "race for a team" and so they can, but be honest with yourself, what is your end goal? To become pro - and if so do you earn that right before or after - or are you just riding as a racer for fun - and at what point does that become recreational and thus one is stripped of his/her right of donning the goods of pro cyclists? It's ok to admit, like myself with my record equipped bike, that I don't absolutely need that amount of bike but I bought it any way because I love the sport and the goods that go along with it (american capitalist pigs and our excess, I know). I will buy a power meter when my disposable income allows it, but it is only because it will make cycling more enjoyable for me because I like keeping track of those measurements I can (maybe because of a pre-existing love of science?).


I think everyone has raised valid points though, not trying to say you're wrong. I also think we all have a little bit of emotion tied up in our purchases, cycling or otherwise. Do I sometimes fantasize being a pro when I am riding - with or without a pro jersey - you betcha. Is that alright if it means I push myself a little harder and get more out of the ride? If I am trying to "fool" anyone the only person is me really, and I guess that is all that should matter.

My favorite design of sports jerseys in terms of graphics are the ones in soccer. I love their simplicity and yes while they are advertising nike, adidas, etc I think they do it tastefully. I wish cycling would have a little more of that and I know rapha sponsors a team and I think they are going for that angle but I wish more would. But let's please not start over the rapha debate, I am not saying I like/dislike what they are doing.


With all that being said I look forward to more discussion/ arguments over the issue, but please no fighting. It seems like what starts out as a mature argument between a couple of people very quickly turns to fighting on these forums, which is a shame I feel because 99% of the time I figure why even post when I know someone will post something really rude and uncalled for in return. I imagine other forum lurkers feel the same way, I hope at least.

I apologize in advance for my grammar - my strengths are in mathematics, science and business, not english!

Also, if someone can find a santini or nalini full zip jersey of a solid color (preferably black or white) with the exact same construction materials and number of panels that are used in their pro tour jerseys (I don't need a 50-panel jersey), or something close, for around 50 or less, let me know!

poul kjaerholm

One more quick point and I will leave you guys alone. I find the paying to advertise argument funny because besides the obvious ones say with Credit in the name who the hell knows what these are adverts for?? Is it really advertising in the effective sense if you are riding with some jersey that most people who see it here in the states could barely pronounce let alone know what their line of business is? Of course it is different for discovery channel here, and I am sure in europe with a european kit it is different as well. But if someone state side sees you pass by in a caisse de pargne (did I spell that right) jersey are you really advertising in the way the sponsor intended?

prendrefeu

You were having trouble there, so I fixed it for you. You're welcome.

HWS

The ONLY kit I'll ride in....

Blossom

I think that the analogy between a basketball jersey and a pro team cycling kit is misleading in describing why some people are uncomfortable wearing a pro team kit.

When I show up at the weekly group ride, most guys are their in their team kit. That is, the kit of the team that they actually race with (or have raced for in the case of a few of them). Most of them are being 'paid' to wear those logos (i.e. decent discounts at the sponsor shop, etc). In that atmosphere, I don't want to being wearing what I haven't earned.

The problem with the retro kits is that if you are 45 and pretty fast, there is a chance that you might have actually raced for 7-11. (one guy in my group ride did...)

When riding solo or with a small group, then I wouldn't feel nearly so uncomfortable wearing a pro kit, though.

I think one reason that we feel like we haven't 'earned the right' is that the experienced riders from whom we have learned the social norms of cycling don't wear pro jerseys because they are wearing their local teams kit. Only 'freds' wear the pro kits and so the social pressure (even though it might be unspoken) is to not wear them.

Cassave

plain or club, no pro.

geist

Wear whatever you want. I like to wear proshorts and solid jerseys. The thing is, the average citizen has no idea between the difference in a pro kit or your club jersey or an Assos or a Performance or whatever.

santiroad

I really don´t understand why is "Plain " option winning this Poll, if i can read from your posts that the mayority of you are ok with wearing Pro kits. :O

14max

You would...schmuck

Ryanf

Hows my kit? Should I raise my saddle?

0_o

RyanF :
I am not trying to be funny but the bike looks kind of small for ya. Were you riding your sister's bike in that photo ?

asherlighn

I wear a mix of red/black/grey. Except during hunting season when I thrown on the blaze orange jersey.

WheelsOnFire

I wear what the heck I want. Pro kit or not. I like both . . why should I care what you think?

Ryanf

Yes. I would have to be 5 foot to ride that tiny thing.