late

I wonder what Len wound up getting.

FXjohn

i prefer running singlets but those pockets are damn handy

NYSteve

This makes so much sense.

I never ever looked at what another rider is wearing. I look at riders and if I notice anything it's their Cadence and how often they stop pedaling.

jefnvk

This, and the Nishiki brand that Dicks Sporting Goods sells. I really like the Nishikis, with the exception of the pockets on the back they look just like a golf polo. Nice and understated if you are going into a bar or cafe on your ride.

I didn't personally find the REI Novaras to be that loose. They fit fine around my shoulders (which aren't really that fat), but cling to my belly quite well.

dr_lha

Pockets in the rear are a requirement for me.

As for loose fitting jerseys... go to your LBS and try on some? I've found that some of the more mountain biking orientated clothing has a looser fit. I've got a few Cannondale jerseys for example that fit like T-shirts, but still have the pockets on the back. They didn't cost more any more than $30 from the sale rack.

jefnvk

Oh, you may give Sugoi a try too, I have one from a brewery that fits fairly well.

PhotoJoe 

Mod Note: Offensive posts and those quoting them have been deleted. This is the C/A. That stuff doesn't fly here.

CosmicF

Are jerseys really all that necessary? I usually just wear a tshirt. What would the benefits be of a jersey?

bulldog1935

sierratradingpost is a great place to buy lightweight merino and terramar tee shirts, which make great loose fitting jerseys
get good at using your coupons there

MRT2

Most jerseys have an elastic waist band so the jersey won't fly up or flap around in the wind. Some also have elastic on the sleeves for the same reason. Zipper to help with the heat, but can be zipped up if it gets a little cooler. Back pockets to hold ID, phone, snacks or even tools. Jerseys are made of technical fabric to wick sweat away from the skin. (some T shirts are also made of technical fabric, but cotton can get soaked with sweat and becomes uncomfortable.

dr_lha

If by T-Shirt you mean a cotton one, then the advantages are clear, if you sweat anything like I do at least. Close fitting wicking material will keep you cool as the sweat will evaporate easily off you while you're riding. Cloths that flap in the wind are generally uncomfortable for long rides too. I tend to wear stuff that is unflattering for someone of my size, but I don't care because it's most comfortable.

Rear jersey pockets, they're one of those "once you've tried them you can't go back" things. They're just the most convenient place to put stuff like Clif bars, cell phones for easy access when riding.

I guess it depends on what sort of riding you do. If you're going out for 10 miles, then a regular tech T-shirt is fine. If regularly ride > 1 hour, I think the benefits become obvious.

The costs obviously can be high, much like everything in cycling, but you can find decent jerseys out there for cheap. I've got ones I paid $15, and ones I paid $100 for.

Leebo

I don't wear bike jerseys or need pockets. Commuting or mt biking mostly. I like performance wicking shirts, poly pro or merino wool. Mostly long sleeve. REI stuff works well. Most bike " stuff" is made for skinny Euro guys who weight 150 lbs. That is so not me. Found some marketing genius shirts at Patagonia, great wool shirts that work very well. The size was " XXL slim fit" At 6'4" and 230 lbs, they fit my long arms and torso great.

seypat

This is the best advice. In fact, the only thing people may notice is the print/design/colors of the jersey. So,.....find one that matches your personality and get out there. Solid, leopard print, skeletons, kittens, unicorns, etc. it just doesn't matter.

Hermes1

In addition to some of the suggestions for a jersey already mentioned, consider Voler as they offer what they call a "club fit" which is a looser fit than a traditional race jersey. Their products seem to run true to size, so take it from there as to what might work for you.

CosmicF

Ahh, I tried a few of those polyester-like shirts a few years ago, but in 98% humidity Alabama, anything I wear gets wringing wet and stays that way, because evaporation is not gonna happen. It didn't help me stay cool, and just kept a body odor smell no matter how many times I washed it.
I need to visit and ride somewhere like you guys live, where things evaporate, and try out one of those jerseys.

MRT2

My experience with Voler has been different. In my experience, Even the club cut for this brand runs small. My experience is the following from biggest to smallest. I weigh around 270 so take my experience fwiw.

Bontrager Solstice (2 XL baggy, XL fits regular)
Nashbar. (2 XL fits regular, XL is tight)
Pearl Izumi (2XL fits snug, XL very tight)
Primal (3XL fits snug)
Twin Six (3XL very snug)

dr_lha

I agree. I recently got a Voler 2XL "club fit" jersey, and it's skin tight on me. It's OK, because I don't have an issue with it being skin tight, but the only baggy part of it are the arms.

Other 2XL jerseys I own like Pearl Izumi select and Cannondale ones are fairly loose in comparison. The only jerseys that I own that is tighter than the Voler one are my Garneau jerseys.

Milton Keynes

Actually this is why I got into cycling. Last summer I noticed that all my T-shirts were starting to get tight, and I became self-conscious about how I looked. Pulled the bathroom scales out of the closet and was shocked to see that I weighed 280 on them, so pulled my old mountain bike out of the shed, cleaned it up, and started riding. Didn't lose much weight until I changed my diet. Now, happy to say, with a new bike and new diet, I'm 30 lbs lighter, my shirts all fit, but my pants don't seeing as how I've gone from coming close to needing size 44's to back to 38's.

All I can say is keep at the riding, watch what you eat, and you'll lose that gut and moobs.

PhotoJoe 

A couple of sayings that pop up around here are:

1) You can't out-ride a bad diet

and

2) Ride for health. Diet for weight loss.

#2 is not a black and white thing, but many, many people have proven #1!

Milton Keynes

I agree 100%. I started riding last August to get into shape, but I wasn't losing any weight at all until April when I learned that dietary fat isn't the culprit keeping people fat, but sugar. I cut sugar out of my diet and it made a world of difference, dropped a lot of weight quickly. Now I'm trying to cut out carbs but it's not easy. But I keep getting on the bike every morning just to maintain my health, mainly getting some cardio.

RubeRad

6', 250, I also have some moobage, and I'd say I go beyond 'love handles' to 'sweet sweet eternal throes of passion anchors'. I almost never wear jerseys because I don't like fabric squeezing me and riding up. I do have a mtb jersey I like ok, it's probably a size too big according to most people's standards. Even that I don't wear much, usually I just wear a synthetic tee.

I'm the same way with just regular T-shirts off the bike; I am very uncomfortable if the shirt is at all snug, I choose to wear shirts that flap loosely.

Wear what's comfortable! Ain't neither one of us gonna be winning any races because our clothes are so aero

JReade

Get a jersey that has a pattern, and look for one with the silicone grippers around the waist.

cyclist2000

I ride mostly with road jerseys, sleeveless ones so I can show off the guns. But I do have a single mountain bike jersey because it is the only one that I could find with a full zipper. I like the full zip jerseys to keep me cool. What I don't like about the MTB Jersey is the lack of rear pockets. I don't use the pocket for much but it is a convenient place to put the phone and keys while I'm getting organized. I normally keep the phone in a feed bag and keys and wallet in a different bag. I don't keep these in the shirt pockets because I don't want them getting sweaty.

Lenkearney

for me- I want bright colors for visibility - great wicking as it get hot in Kentucky - and pockets for stuff (ID, money, keys, ...

mrodgers

Absolutely x100.

I agree 100% about the sugar being the biggest culprit as well. I can't keep out of the sugar.

I weigh 220 lb. I weighed 220 lb last year. I weighed 220 lb the year before. 3 years ago, I weighed 247 and didn't cycle and ate a lot more calories than I do now. Initial weight loss was from cutting out sugar, but now I'm back addicted to sugar and don't lose weight.

Fitness on the other hand... 3 years ago when I started my goal was about 50 miles a week riding 10-12 per day 4 or 5 days a week. 12 miles was about my limit. The next year was about 15 miles a day limited by my saddle. Last year I could ride 20-30 miles. This year, I'm upset if I don't get out and ride at least a 60 mile once on the weekends (I use to say I don't care to ride goals like 50 miles, metric century, or a century. Now I do, I need to ride a century.)

Blood pressure had always been borderline high at 149/95. Because of cycling, it's 122/78. Triglycerides were what I thought was extremely high, at least until others at work had told me theirs, at 475. Now, my triglyceride count is 189. Cholesterol was around 250. Now it is 186. Blood glucose was around 218 I think. Now it is close to 100. All of this is from cycling because I still eat horribly, which is why the weight has stayed at 220 for the past 2 years.

I personally do not thing the blood numbers has anything to do with eating at all. It is naturally what it is going to be unless you exercise. I have 1 guy at work with perfect numbers who sits and eats 2 bacon and sausage sandwiches every day for breakfast at 290 lb while another coworker who is 160 lb and micromanages everything he eats eating nothing but pure low cholesterol stuff like salads, tuna fish, and lean chicken breast and spends 4 hours a day in the gym who's cholesterol is through the roof.