Polka dot jersey - do I need to be a good climber??
Comments
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Of 'status' jerseys ....
... about 6 years ago, when I tried to buy a jersey which had the rainbow colours on it from a small bike shop in Ferrara (Italy), the shop owner, Signor Zanotti, was very reluctant to let me have it.
He told me that he was a member of the Fausto Coppi's team when Coppi had won the World Championship in 1953 - there were lots of faded newspaper cuttings pinned on the shop walls showing him with Coppi at different races, so verifying this.
He said it was an unwritten law that only those who had some connection with a World Champion or his supporting team at the event were allowed to wear rainbow designs, and that was why you never saw jerseys with the rainbow colours on sale (except possibly cheap imitations from the Far East with the colours in the wrong order).
The reason Signor Zanotti had jerseys with the rainbow colours was that he sponsored a local amateur team, so they were allowed to wear the outfit so long as a member of his team.
It happened that one rider walked into the shop while I was there, and so that is how I saw the jersey in the first place, and then asked Signor Zanotti whether I could have one - they weren't on show with his other jerseys for sale.
After a lot of hesitation, and only after the shop has closed for the day (so no other customers were in the shop), did he agree to sell me one, on the basis I wouldn't be riding around Ferrara wearing it and disgracing him!
Or maybe his concern was 'disgracing it'?0 -
Having done Galibier, Alpe d'Huez and Ventoux in the last 12 months, I am really tempted to get the lovely polka dot jersey and my kids are egging me on. However, I did all those climbs in very modest times (not telling!) as the goal was to get to the top alive and, anyway, I was at my limit on all of them for most of the time. I am not sure I feel worthy and would probably agree with anyone who chose to take the pee out of me for wearing it.
There is no doubt that wearing the kit is provacative. I have a TDF yellow jersey that I used to wear quite a lot. When I was on tour in Spain a couple of years ago, I overtook a gang of other cyclists in my yellow jersey going up a hill. They went ballistic at being passed by a lardy Scotsman who looked as though he had been poured into his lycras and had forgotten to say "when". Shouts went up and they gave chase. I kicked on and beat them to the top - with four panniers, a tent and a bar bag! That felt good.0 -
I feel embarassed zipping through Edinburgh with my polka-dot shirt (i rarely wear it because - conveniently - its a wee bit too short for me) but i'm not sure if its because i don't think I've "earned it" (i never will) or because it's white with big red polka-dots, and however cool i think it is, 99% of the population probably don't. Hmm..a self-esteem issue.
I have a Dauphine Libere yellow jersey, which is a better fit, and a bit less like i'm saying "I'm really good at [insert specialism]".kop van de wedstrijd0 -
Ive got one, and I struggle to get up the hills in Richmond Park London, but I dont care...the colour scheme matches my bike.0
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I have one too... I think it looks ace and don't care what anyone else thinks! Go buy it.0
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squired wrote:It could be worse - you could be 10 stone overweight walking round in a Chelsea football shirt... I know what I'd rather be seen in!
very interesting thread, I must agree with the comment above and the others quoting football shirt wearing people who obviously could not play football.......just get one and wear it with pride......mind you the kids bought me a yellow TDF shirt whilst the race was on and I have not worn it YET......
go easy, its my first post
Shane
PS Hello all
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hello shane.
yea, i agree, it's not about being good at hills, it's about supporting the Tour._____________________________________________
To infinity... and beyond!
my epic adventure: www.action.org.uk/~Antonia0 -
I've still not bought it as I spent lots of money on assos shorts this month (which my bum thanks me for). However, I did see one in the flesh in the same shop as the assos stuff and I will definitely buy one next month and will post a picture too!0
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I find the idea of anyone except a proper grimpeur wearing it to be...heresy. If I was a Catholic I'd feel the same way about people dressing up as the Pope. I really don't think polka dot jerseys should be on sale in the shops. The same goes for the yellow. I'm an atheist and the Tour de France is a religion. Don't diss it! Wear something else.<hr>
<h6>What\'s the point of going out? We\'re just going to end up back here anyway</h6>0 -
Ah, but: the Catholic Church doesn't sell Pope costumes as licensed merchandise; nor does the Royal Family sell replica Crowns (or maybe they do???). Let's face it le Tour is and always has been the most outrageous promotional circus on the planet. If they want to shower us with Skoda hats, Cochonel sausages, Champion polka dot hats, sponsor-endorsed laundry bags, pizza fans, lens wipes, cd's, pretzels, keyrings and t-shirts (I have all of these: I did well!), then they surely also expect and encourage us to go out and buy the replica kit. Frankly, they're taking the p1ss at 75 Euro for a cycling top, but they know we loyal folk will probably stump up, on the grounds that it finances the sport that we love.
Whatever we might want to think, it's no different to a visit to the clothing supermarkets outside Old Trafford, the Emirates and Starks Park (well, they have a shed, I think). It is all part of the game.
The question is do WE think we deserve to wear the kit of a celebrated grimpeur. If it is a reward for doing your very best on the same terrain as they do their very best, I'll buy it.0 -
I've got W/C socks and that's about it. I love the rainbow jersey but would never ever have the balls to put one on. I've seen people wearing them who are even worse than me...makes me cringe0
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The missus got me a Maillot Verte for my birthday and I fully intend to wear it. I'm no more than half decent, but I don't give a damn what people think. Its only supposed to be a bit of fun.It's a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired. You quit when the gorilla is tired.0
