Wearing team kits - do you, and why?
Discussion
Just a query I've had in my head for a while, never gotten round to asking it. I've noticed lots of roadies, and a few mtb'ers riding in complete team outfits - jersey, shorts, socks. I'm curious as to why. I sort of understand the team shirt, to show support for your chosen team, and thats in any sport, but the whole outfit, for riding around? To me, its akin to wearing a full Liverpool (or whoever your chosen team are)strip to play in a local park. As a kid, I could understand, but not as an adult.
Of course, people can wear what they like, when they like. Here's me in my chosen team kit...
Of course, people can wear what they like, when they like. Here's me in my chosen team kit...
kerVarious thoughts:
There is a Rule against wearing team kit or champions' jerseys if you haven't earned it. And, as you say, you wouldn't wear full football kit for a kick about in the park. And fat blokes in Sky skin suits look ridiculous. And it's a sign of "football style" support - which historically is unusual in cycling. You wouldn't have seen "Banesto fans" in the early 90s who knew about the team but not really anything about anyone other than a couple of the star riders...
On the other hand... Cycling isn't a kick about in the park. If I'm riding up a hill I'm doing exactly what a pro does (albeit slower), and if I'm lucky enough to be able to afford the best equipment (i.e. Best fitting, highest quality, most aero, etc) why shouldn't I wear it? And if I'm wearing the jersey, surely I'd wear the matching bibs because they match?
(I don't have any team kit. But I'd love a Euskaltel Euskadi one - that's allowed now they're shut down).
There is a Rule against wearing team kit or champions' jerseys if you haven't earned it. And, as you say, you wouldn't wear full football kit for a kick about in the park. And fat blokes in Sky skin suits look ridiculous. And it's a sign of "football style" support - which historically is unusual in cycling. You wouldn't have seen "Banesto fans" in the early 90s who knew about the team but not really anything about anyone other than a couple of the star riders...
On the other hand... Cycling isn't a kick about in the park. If I'm riding up a hill I'm doing exactly what a pro does (albeit slower), and if I'm lucky enough to be able to afford the best equipment (i.e. Best fitting, highest quality, most aero, etc) why shouldn't I wear it? And if I'm wearing the jersey, surely I'd wear the matching bibs because they match?
(I don't have any team kit. But I'd love a Euskaltel Euskadi one - that's allowed now they're shut down).
I've got a team sky (pre-rapha) top in the wwf green they did. I actually quite like the top, but usually only wear it when we do our team top day in the alps each year!
Full kit IMO is a little over the top, but I don't have an issue with people wearing what they like. They are, after all, out on their bike, enjoying the fresh air just like you an I.
Full kit IMO is a little over the top, but I don't have an issue with people wearing what they like. They are, after all, out on their bike, enjoying the fresh air just like you an I.
The list of things for cyclists to get sniffy about is getting a bit long. 
People in team jerseys
Someone with a too expensive/cheap bike
Someone with hairy/shaved legs
Hipsters
People in Rapha gear
Lance Armstrong
People with helmet cams
People using Strava
Not high enough modulus carbon fibre frames
People that don't race/bang on about racing
Road tax
Lists for PH jerseys
People in team jerseys
Someone with a too expensive/cheap bike
Someone with hairy/shaved legs
Hipsters
People in Rapha gear
Lance Armstrong
People with helmet cams
People using Strava
Not high enough modulus carbon fibre frames
People that don't race/bang on about racing
Road tax
Lists for PH jerseys
littleandy0410 said:
I don't have any team kit, but I must admit I'm tempted by a Team Sky jersey, simply because of how cheap they are in the Rapha sale. £25 for a Rapha jersey, just because it has Sky written on it, seems like good value. I'd love some Rapha clothing, but I can't justify the prices 
You often see team kit from good manufactures cheaper than 'normal' jerseys. You could also possibly save a fortune if you were willing to go around in yellow pink or KOM jerseys. el stovey said:
The list of things for cyclists to get sniffy about is getting a bit long.
People in team jerseys
Someone with a too expensive/cheap bike
Someone with hairy/shaved legs
Hipsters
People in Rapha gear
Lance Armstrong
People with helmet cams
People using Strava
Not high enough modulus carbon fibre frames
People that don't race/bang on about racing
Road tax
Lists for PH jerseys
True enough.People in team jerseys
Someone with a too expensive/cheap bike
Someone with hairy/shaved legs
Hipsters
People in Rapha gear
Lance Armstrong
People with helmet cams
People using Strava
Not high enough modulus carbon fibre frames
People that don't race/bang on about racing
Road tax
Lists for PH jerseys
I'd add 'wheel sizes' although I don't think anyone gets as angry as I do about that ha ha.
I don't currently own a road bike (hoping to rectify that shortly). But I do have a lot of team kit. I am in a very lucky situation where I get a lot of it for free/very cheap. I will be wearing it, although I wear odd socks a lot of the time so I doubt I will wear full matching kit.
I don't see a problem with it, for me, it's kit, that works so it's going to get worn.
I don't see a problem with it, for me, it's kit, that works so it's going to get worn.
I don't own any team kit. My jerseys are Help for Heroes, club top and generic ones. The same with shorts.
But, I just bought a BMC and would consider buying some BMC team kit because I think it looks cool and it matches my bike (even down to being black and red). If I had bought a Cannondale or a Cervelo then I might be thinking similarly.
Wearing other team kit out of some sort of allegiance/ wanting to look like a pro I don't really get. Although the Team Sky Rapha bibs were cheap enough to tempt me, purely because they're good bibs! Had they been another team I might have considered it, but Sky gear is massively overplayed...
But, I just bought a BMC and would consider buying some BMC team kit because I think it looks cool and it matches my bike (even down to being black and red). If I had bought a Cannondale or a Cervelo then I might be thinking similarly.
Wearing other team kit out of some sort of allegiance/ wanting to look like a pro I don't really get. Although the Team Sky Rapha bibs were cheap enough to tempt me, purely because they're good bibs! Had they been another team I might have considered it, but Sky gear is massively overplayed...
littleandy0410 said:
I don't have any team kit, but I must admit I'm tempted by a Team Sky jersey, simply because of how cheap they are in the Rapha sale. £25 for a Rapha jersey, just because it has Sky written on it, seems like good value. I'd love some Rapha clothing, but I can't justify the prices
That's why I bought my Team Sky long sleeve jersey.. Rapha quality, lovely fit and material for £25, I do quite like the team too so not bothered by wearing it tbh. I've got a Garmin Cervelo top but only because Castelli stuff fits me and it was reduced. That said its only the old farts and the snobs who have an issue with people wearing team cycling kit, no new bats an eyelid when 90% of people in a football stadium are wearing a replica shirt. Come the summer sportives though, you do see lots more Sky tops around than any other team but nowadays that's because Rapha stuff is good quality and well fitting as much as because it's a team Sky garment.
I don't think any cyclists follow a trade team to the extent that football supporters follow a particular team given football is largely regional and based often on your place of birth. Sky have become the British team in the pro tour so their support here is natural but given my hatred towards anything Murdoch related, I'd rather not wear a team Sky top and fund his corruption.
I don't think any cyclists follow a trade team to the extent that football supporters follow a particular team given football is largely regional and based often on your place of birth. Sky have become the British team in the pro tour so their support here is natural but given my hatred towards anything Murdoch related, I'd rather not wear a team Sky top and fund his corruption.
S10GTA said:
Cheers, that's the afternoon wasted and I had stuff to do.....Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff