'Rules' on Cycling Clothing...?

richk

="meanredspider"...Surely the ONLY things that matter are being friendly, safe and fast?
....

Why fast? I often have a gentle pootle with my family on a Sunday afternoon which I enjoy every bit as much (if not more) than going timetrialling.

daveydave43

This is possibly tantamount to trolling, and most definitely worthy of being hanged, but...

1. I have a cannondale caad4, yellow and black. It's a triple (!) When out riding this bike I've prefer to wear the Trek-Livestrong kit, just bibshorts and jersey, mind, because the colours match.

2. Other bike is a red/black/white Dawes giro, so, I also bought the Cervelo test team kit, and... yeah, you get the picture

I do realise how silly I am being FWIW I wear my club kit when on their rides.
On a related point, seeing any 'large' guy wearing the polka dots earns my respect. Because he's a) confident enough not to care and... b) clearly got a sense of humour.

Boy Lard

I have only recently bought a road bike, and have only managed to get out on it a dozen times because of the weather. Is it really that bad that I wear my mtb baggies over the top of some padded shorts? I have, at least, stopped carrying my rucksack as I can put the tools and stuff I need in my 'Aldi special' jacket.

I'm just not sure I can manage the full lycra thing.

Monty Dog

I expect there's some cycling club secretaries who could benefit from reading this to try and understand why perhaps that despite huge growth in bike sales, memberships aren't rising at the same rate. That said, there are a couple of rules that you ignore at your peril :

Wearing lycra shorts over tights or even worse trackie bottoms like Ron Hill Tracksters - just looks stupid - the only things worn under shorts are leg/knee warmers. By all means wear bike shorts under looser legging, but not over.

Baggy shorts over tight leggings - they only catch on the saddle anyway, you don't look like a cool dude, just a twerp!

Pross

YAWN why has some first time poster gone and resurrected this thread?

meanredspider

Chiggy wrote:

I expect you will be taking your own advice and we'll never hear from you again.
'At the end of the day', this forum is of very little importance.

Yup - I'm only writing this whilst I'm sitting in hospital killing time while my son has chemotherapy. These sorts of "life events" tend to sharpen your view of what bollox some people worry about...

meanredspider

RichK wrote:

="meanredspider"...Surely the ONLY things that matter are being friendly, safe and fast?
....

Why fast? I often have a gentle pootle with my family on a Sunday afternoon which I enjoy every bit as much (if not more) than going timetrialling.

Correct. I was just refering to the "club" riders who'd appear to be the competitive ones (and the ones seeming so sniffy about the shirts awarded to champions). You won't come across very many family groups whining about your Yellow Jersey...

langster

Monty Dog wrote:

I expect there's some cycling club secretaries who could benefit from reading this to try and understand why perhaps that despite huge growth in bike sales, memberships aren't rising at the same rate. That said, there are a couple of rules that you ignore at your peril :

Wearing lycra shorts over tights or even worse trackie bottoms like Ron Hill Tracksters - just looks stupid - the only things worn under shorts are leg/knee warmers. By all means wear bike shorts under looser legging, but not over.

Baggy shorts over tight leggings - they only catch on the saddle anyway, you don't look like a cool dude, just a twerp!

Yeah but I am the twerp who feels comfy and warm and doesn't give a f%ck

Mark Alexander

Wear what you like on a club run. Just make it practical for the type of ride, just technically correct. If it's a winter club run, shorts w.leg warmers or longs. Correct jersey shape pockets. What it looks like doesn't matter too much. I wouldn't wear 'team' kit or polka dot as I'm not in the team and can't climb for s**t.

I wear mostly my club kit because it's my kit You can go 'bling' if you want. The only true rules are helmet, pump tube, levers ( if you need them) food, water, legs.

Mark Alexander

Wear what you like on a club run. Just make it practical for the type of ride, just technically correct. If it's a winter club run, shorts w.leg warmers or longs. Correct jersey shape pockets. What it looks like doesn't matter too much. I wouldn't wear 'team' kit or polka dot as I'm not in the team and can't climb for s**t.

I wear mostly my club kit because it's my kit You can go 'bling' if you want. The only true rules are helmet, pump tube, levers ( if you need them) food, water, legs.

ridelikeapro

The only rule for cycling kit is that... there are no rules. However if you're on a club run while you may look the absolute nadgers in the mirror before you head out, the Club is only going to look its best if everyone is in matching identical team kit.

Hey, and about the pre-ride sock inspection "white is right":- http://www.gregarios.co.uk/cycling-club ... style.html

There's also a link on this page for further essential style tips from Pez!

('')

Matt the Tester

i dont like my Clubs cycling kit so i choose not to wear it, plus it's really expensive stuff!! i usually wear, Team sky kit, Rabobank or Saxobank Swiss champs kit.

i wear it because it looks good and keeps me warm.
i actually get alot of people saying nice kit

Pross

steady rider wrote:

i dont like my Clubs cycling kit so i choose not to wear it, plus it's really expensive stuff!! i usually wear, Team sky kit, Rabobank or Saxobank Swiss champs kit.i wear it because it looks good and keeps me warm.
i actually get alot of people saying nice kit

Your club kit costs more than trade replica stuff? :shock: They need to find a new supplier - our club stuff is great quality and good value (Giordana) even before the subsidy that the club gives on it.

Matt the Tester

yea its shocking issnt it lol, i can buy TWO full kits from Ebay both at £25 and i would barely be able to afford TWO single items of the club stuff.

secretsqizz

steady rider wrote:

yea its shocking issnt it lol, i can buy TWO full kits from Ebay both at £25 and i would barely be able to afford TWO single items of the club stuff.

Thou should have chosen club more carefully then....

Matt the Tester

ahh it's a good club just stupidly expensive stuff! it's the best club in the Area. anyother club near me doesnt even have a club house but SouthportCC does

all sorts of events go on regular also. Turbo training evenings for one

acebobby

Pross wrote:

YAWN why has some first time poster gone and resurrected this thread?

Got to remember Pross, this is the road beginners section, old threads in this section are always going to get resurrected from time to time as every time a newbe joins the first things they want to know will have already been covered.
Just be thankful he searched this thread out rather than starting a new one!

meanredspider

acebobby wrote:

Pross wrote:

YAWN why has some first time poster gone and resurrected this thread?

Got to remember Pross, this is the road beginners section, old threads in this section are always going to get resurrected from time to time as every time a newbe joins the first things they want to know will have already been covered.
Just be thankful he searched this thread out rather than starting a new one!

And it's not as if you're forced to post a pointless comment or even read the thread :roll:

Dancing Bear

where what matches the colours of you bike - even brand - but colour co-ordination first surely?

rick_chasey

Dancing Bear wrote:

where what matches the colours of you bike - even brand - but colour co-ordination first surely?

Yes

rick_chasey

And personally, I think most red and black combos look cheap and rubbish, especially if there's a little white thrown in too.

Exception being if you're Canc. Naturally.

Pross

meanredspider wrote:

acebobby wrote:

Pross wrote:

YAWN why has some first time poster gone and resurrected this thread?

Got to remember Pross, this is the road beginners section, old threads in this section are always going to get resurrected from time to time as every time a newbe joins the first things they want to know will have already been covered.
Just be thankful he searched this thread out rather than starting a new one!

And it's not as if you're forced to post a pointless comment or even read the thread :roll:

True, it's just this subject in particular annoys mean as other than a few bits of banter I have never experienced these people who apparently dictate rules on what you can and can't wear. I reckon it's all an urban myth. Wear what you like and if anyone laughs / comments who cares as long as you are comfortable and happy. Why are people so obsessed in what other people will think of them? To me someone laughing at my kit or bike would just inspire me to kick their butts when riding with them - unfortunately I have only ever come across people being supportive so they don't give me this motivation

meanredspider

Pross wrote:

True, it's just this subject in particular annoys mean as other than a few bits of banter I have never experienced these people who apparently dictate rules on what you can and can't wear. I reckon it's all an urban myth. Wear what you like and if anyone laughs / comments who cares as long as you are comfortable and happy. Why are people so obsessed in what other people will think of them? To me someone laughing at my kit or bike would just inspire me to kick their butts when riding with them - unfortunately I have only ever come across people being supportive so they don't give me this motivation

Couldn't agree more

markos1963

I don't understand all this bashing of clubs who ask their members to wear the club kit. The case in our club (VC Norwich) is that we recieve a quite substantial amount of money from our sponsor who naturally would like to see their name out and about. This subsidy nearly halves the cost of our very stylish Castelli shirt so it's a good deal all round.
By all means wear what you like whilst out training or doing events of your choice, it's your money after all and 99% of people who'll see you won't know what a KOM jersey looks like anyway.

rc856

As I'm about to join a club, I'd be keen to wear the team kit.
For those who are in clubs, do you avoid the club shorts in favour of your comfy, expensive Assos shorts....unless you're lucky enough to have Assos made team shorts!?

Loretta Damage

I had a couple of weeks riding this summer in the Vendee. Wore plain kit, no team stuff, no leader jerseys etc just in case the locals thought I was posing. Spent the whole time riding with riders of all ages, both sexes and all abilities - every single one team kitted up to the max!! The only one I didn't see was a yellow Tour jersey, but I saw green and polka dot almost hourly. For this year's trip I have accrued a varied (and suitably garish) ensemble, just so I fit in.

jgsi

Loretta Damage wrote:

I had a couple of weeks riding this summer in the Vendee. Wore plain kit, no team stuff, no leader jerseys etc just in case the locals thought I was posing. Spent the whole time riding with riders of all ages, both sexes and all abilities - every single one team kitted up to the max!! The only one I didn't see was a yellow Tour jersey, but I saw green and polka dot almost hourly. For this year's trip I have accrued a varied (and suitably garish) ensemble, just so I fit in.

An ideal opportunity to ride in your own club kit and fly the 'flag' as it were.
You cant be accused of posing then can you?
I was looking thru the Paris Roubaix Cyclo photos of 2010 and a colourful bunch... seemingly a good number in their club colours as well as 'pro team' stuff
My own club sponsor has had the foresight to make the shorts with a decent insert.

meanredspider

On the continent it seems to be de rigeur to wear fancy gear. When I lived in Brussels, I was always surprised by the old fat blokes tootling along in bright team kit - we British are so afraid of the "all the gear and no idea" stigma.

In Italy of course it is important to look great even if you can't actually ride a bicycle

singlespeedexplosif

Out of interest, ref: trophy jerseys.
If you were, say, into football, would you happily also display a replica of the World Cup on your mantelpiece at home?

CiB

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

Out of interest, ref: trophy jerseys.
If you were, say, into football, would you happily also display a replica of the World Cup on your mantelpiece at home?

No but I happily wear my Leicester shirt. Doesn't make me think I'm Steve Walsh, but I like it.