Is there such a thing as jersey etiquette?

feelgoodlost

Arthur Scrimshaw wrote:

As has been stated, it's up to you what you wear but be prepared for stick and being chased down while out riding by other riders who have a more stringent view on the matter.
If you can cope with it then good luck to you.
Do think there's probably a hierarchy of offence generated, wearing team kit is fairly innocuous but yellow or green jersey is probably asking for it!

If another cyclist did this to me I'd imagine it said far more about them than it does me.

The idea that you'd get grief from another cyclist because of the kit you've got on is nothing short of playground b*tching. Seriously.

Bunneh

Gonna have to get me a world champ jersey just to see if I get any grief; oh god please I hope I do!

markybros

So judging by the tone of this thread I should remove my Bradley Wiggins style sideburns?! :?

benhben

adm1 wrote:

Would you wear a Victoria Cross down the pub without having been awarded it? Or an Afghanistan Campaign Medal without having served there?

At the end of the day, wear what you want. My personal take on it though is not to wear the kit of any club or team you haven't ridden with unless it is over 30 years old or so and you are going for the slightly ironic retro look. And make sure you know all the relevant history and trivia to go with it.

But really, wear whatever you want. Just don't be surprised or offended if some people look at you a bit funny.

As for football kit comparisons, if you want to look one of like ten million other Man U fans that have never even visited the ground, go right ahead. Probably best worn with track suit pants, cheap gold, white trainers and a beer belly for the full effect.

Only took up road cycling a year or so ago, and im surprised how many snobby comments like this come up on cycling forums.

If someone gets angry and offended whilst out riding by someone else clothes, well they must lead pretty miserable lives.

Glad I havent yet encountered them personally yet.

Unless your a pro, cycling is a hobby. Be safe, be happy and enjoy it, whatever kit that involves.

rodgers73

What would be the form if you rode out wearing a yellow jersey and a Bradley Wiggins mask? Is that the point where other cyclists can legitimately complain?

rolf_f

psittacosis wrote:

Wear your KOM/Yellow/World champion jersey, it makes it more fun to ride past you as you wheeze up a hill at 5 mph.

Does it really? Are you thinking "Judging by his jersey that guy clearly thinks he is Bradley Wiggins or Mark Cavendish but I'll take him down a peg or two by overtaking him and that will make me feel cool"?

rodgers73 wrote:

What would be the form if you rode out wearing a yellow jersey and a Bradley Wiggins mask? Is that the point where other cyclists can legitimately complain?

You're fine as long as you don't start telling everyone how great Paul Weller is.

psittacosis

Taking down a peg or two? I don't think like that, it's just that without fail people wearing yellow/KOM/world champion jerseys are fat hairy legged knackers and it simply not possible to avoid overtaking them without doing a u turn

s1mon

I'll wear what I like thanks, it's my money. f*** what others think !

ErikH

wear what you like, feck the begrudgers,its a hobby for most. if buying and cycling in XYZ jersey makes you feel good and you like it, then get it.

Wonder if anyone makes a combined Yellow, Green, Polka Dot, World Champs jersey...now that would really piss a few people off . . . . :-)

rolf_f

psittacosis wrote:

Taking down a peg or two? I don't think like that, it's just that without fail people wearing yellow/KOM/world champion jerseys are fat hairy legged knackers and it simply not possible to avoid overtaking them without doing a u turn

Ahhh well, if that really is the case (them all being fat knackers - I've not noticed as I rarely pay much attention to what people wear unless it is the horror of the well worn bib shorts and then I really try not to pay attention) then maybe the jerseys are a way they find to help them aspire to improve themselves in which case it is surely something to be encouraged?

StillGoing

psittacosis wrote:

Taking down a peg or two? I don't think like that, it's just that without fail people wearing yellow/KOM/world champion jerseys are fat hairy legged knackers and it simply not possible to avoid overtaking them without doing a u turn

So what? Would it be better for you if they just didn't venture out at all or just stay away from the routes you happen to do? It isn't a pre-requisite that anyone jumping on a bike has to be able to climb an Alpine pass or even the hump back bridge down the road, what is important is that people are getting out there and if wearing team kit or classification jerseys makes them feel better for it, then fine by me.

El Zomba

markybros wrote:

So judging by the tone of this thread I should remove my Bradley Wiggins style sideburns?! :?

You'd receive far less distain with a replica Yellow Jersey that those silly sideburns, TBH.

Personally, I wouldn't wear a champion's Jersey, mostly because I'm the sort of self-loather who berrates himself for changing down into Granny Gear, so I'd never feel like I'd earned it. I'll not begrudge anyone else for wearing them though; cycling is, after all, a hobby for most of us at the end of the day, regardless of how many British Cycling points you've won.

Having said that, anyone wearing one of those godawful Foska jerseys should feel nothing but shame for their poor taste in clothing.

slowbike

El Zomba wrote:

Personally, I wouldn't wear a champion's Jersey, mostly because I'm the sort of self-loather who berrates himself for changing down into Granny Gear, so I'd never feel like I'd earned it.

I'm the same ... although no granny gear to fall back on ... so when I hit the 25% gradient on a sportive where I'd scoffed at pictures of guys in Pro Team kit walking up I had no choice but to grit my teeth and grind up the hill ... I was not getting off for anyone! Especially with the photographer at the top!
Same reason I wouldn't go and buy a P Dogma2 (if only I had the cash!) - cos I can't go fast enough for long enough to justify to myself for such a machine ...

So - you can wear what you like - but please don't mind me if I have a little snigger when I see ppl with "all the gear and no idea" - it's nothing personal and you're more than welcome to ride with me - feel free to take the p on the kit that I'm wearing or the bike I'm riding too ... it's worth a laugh ...

mouth

http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/

I refer you specifically to rules 16 and 17.

Personally I won't wear a team kit unless they're defunct or it's a retro kit (IMO more than 2 seasons old). I'd never wear an award jersey though.

My overall opinion is that if you really want to spend a premium for a yellow jersey, KOM etc then it's your bloody money so I couldn't really care less. I've been taking note of such things lately and to be honest most of the what I call 'serious' roadies (not commuters but people specifically out for a ride etc) seem to wear club kit which is a much better way to lose your money.

Ringo 68

I went out in my Sky top that my wife bought for my birthday this Sunday. She bought it for me a) because the blue/black/white match my Cube and b) because she know I have been following Team Sky over the last few years.

I certainly noticed the difference as regarding the response of other riders who didn't seem quite so happy to return my "morning" as I rode past.

Sad tw@ts I say if the type of gear you are wearing makes other look down their nose at you.

I have been a member of a good tennis club and am still a member of one of the best golf courses in my area and I have never seen the type of snobbery exhibited by some on this forum.

Really, if someone would chase me down just because they don't like the top I am wearing then they should/need to take a good, long look at themselves.

Paul E

I wear what I want when I want on or off the bike and if anyone has somne problem with that, well it's their problem not mine and they are the ones stressing themselves out about it.

mkviken

markybros wrote:

So judging by the tone of this thread I should remove my Bradley Wiggins style sideburns?! :?

ive been rocking a pair of ron haslam chops for over 10 years now - i hadnt even heard of bradley wiggins until 3 or 4 weeks ago but i suppose im still a wannabe by not choosing to shave too? :?

oh and ive got a sky top so i will have to be double berated.

markos1963

Raffles wrote:

There are elitist club morons in cliques the length and breadth of the UK who will approach a rider in any of the TDF jerseys, and think they are doing him a favour when they advise him that he really shouldnt be wearing that jersey. Best thing to do is collectively tell that clique to fekk off and mind their own business and go and enjoy the time on the bike in that nice jersey. There are some despicable elements in road cycling that a guy or gal on their bike has to suffer unfortunately.

Do you know what, I'm thinking of jacking in cycling with a club. Not because of what you accuse club riders off but because of wa&^ers like you. Without clubs you wouldn't have road racing, time trials, sportives and youth programmes. But of course that counts for nothing because you think all clubs up and down the country are full of 'elitist morons' I'm getting fed up of timid riders coming along to rides terrified because they see and hear comments by people like you. If you don't like riding in a club then fair enough but don't label all clubs as such. I have never heard any comments by people in my club about any aspect of a cyclists attire or bike but being an 'elitist moron' perhaps I missed it.

confused@BR

I think that it is the element of 'passing off' that can cause irritation, the entirely tooled up young roadie with the full set of bike and clothing does create in impression of 'trying too hard'. We all know it's supposed to be effortless, right? Black bib shorts with any type of jersey is simply declaring your heroes.

No one is going to mistake me for Alberto Contador or Miguel Indurain when I squeeze myself into my Liberty Seguros kit

jgsi

snaphappyspen wrote:

I was just thinking, and this may sound stupid.

But say someone was to buy a king of the hills Jersey but was terrible at hills for instance. Would people think why is he wearing that hes rubbish at hill climbs? Or not think anything of it?

No there isnt.
However,

Good

good too

nah

slowbike

markos1963 wrote:

Raffles wrote:

There are elitist club morons in cliques the length and breadth of the UK who will approach a rider in any of the TDF jerseys, and think they are doing him a favour when they advise him that he really shouldnt be wearing that jersey. Best thing to do is collectively tell that clique to fekk off and mind their own business and go and enjoy the time on the bike in that nice jersey. There are some despicable elements in road cycling that a guy or gal on their bike has to suffer unfortunately.

Do you know what, I'm thinking of jacking in cycling with a club. Not because of what you accuse club riders off but because of wa&^ers like you. Without clubs you wouldn't have road racing, time trials, sportives and youth programmes. But of course that counts for nothing because you think all clubs up and down the country are full of 'elitist morons' I'm getting fed up of timid riders coming along to rides terrified because they see and hear comments by people like you. If you don't like riding in a club then fair enough but don't label all clubs as such. I have never heard any comments by people in my club about any aspect of a cyclists attire or bike but being an 'elitist moron' perhaps I missed it.

Do you know raffles didn't mention the word "club" once - you did.
There are some pompous twats in cycling - but I don't think they all mean it.

Jez mon

Slowbike wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

Raffles wrote:

There are elitist club morons in cliques the length and breadth of the UK who will approach a rider in any of the TDF jerseys, and think they are doing him a favour when they advise him that he really shouldnt be wearing that jersey. Best thing to do is collectively tell that clique to fekk off and mind their own business and go and enjoy the time on the bike in that nice jersey. There are some despicable elements in road cycling that a guy or gal on their bike has to suffer unfortunately.

Do you know what, I'm thinking of jacking in cycling with a club. Not because of what you accuse club riders off but because of wa&^ers like you. Without clubs you wouldn't have road racing, time trials, sportives and youth programmes. But of course that counts for nothing because you think all clubs up and down the country are full of 'elitist morons' I'm getting fed up of timid riders coming along to rides terrified because they see and hear comments by people like you. If you don't like riding in a club then fair enough but don't label all clubs as such. I have never heard any comments by people in my club about any aspect of a cyclists attire or bike but being an 'elitist moron' perhaps I missed it.

Do you know raffles didn't mention the word "club" once - you did.
There are some pompous twats in cycling - but I don't think they all mean it.

Erm...

ShutUpLegs

sUCK mY sTUMP

arthur_scrimshaw

feelgoodlost wrote:

Arthur Scrimshaw wrote:

As has been stated, it's up to you what you wear but be prepared for stick and being chased down while out riding by other riders who have a more stringent view on the matter.
If you can cope with it then good luck to you.
Do think there's probably a hierarchy of offence generated, wearing team kit is fairly innocuous but yellow or green jersey is probably asking for it!

If another cyclist did this to me I'd imagine it said far more about them than it does me.

The idea that you'd get grief from another cyclist because of the kit you've got on is nothing short of playground b*tching. Seriously.

Maybe I wasn't clear. I don't care what people wear, and certainly wouldn't pass comment or react to what another rider was kitted out in. My comment was an observation of the frequent times this kind of subject comes up and the clearly polarised opinions, which I'm (going out on a limb here) thinking is probably in proportion to actual riders you'll meet on the road.

dw300

I wear a Yellow Jersey, with a white number on a red background .. if anyone says anything to me about it I punch them in the face.

boh67

So whats wrong with the sky jersey. I think it's cracking :oops:

psittacosis

am still a member of one of the best golf courses in my area and I have never seen the type of snobbery exhibited by some on this forum

Try going along to your club dressed in head to toe Tiger Woods clothes, cap and with a bag full of Tiger Woods golf bats.
Then on the first tee shank the ball 20 feet into the rough. Maybe they might be able to not laugh.

StillGoing

But they'd laugh if you shanked it into OOB even if you were wearing jeans and a t-shirt. That or groan in the knowledge they were going to be stuck behind you all round long.

I never imagined that cycling would have so much snobbery in its ranks or the equivalent of the cycling Taliban stuck in the dark ages. As for retro kit; Liquigas, Astana, Lampre etc have been around for years, so does wearing a jersey design from two years ago infringe these pathetic rules? If I could get hold of next seasons design in advance I'd wear it just to piss off some people.

psittacosis

The level of aggression and self justification from the KOM/Yellow/World champion jersey wearers shows that you know it's dodgy. Wear what you like but learn to laugh at yourself (everyone else is).

slowbike

Jez mon wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

markos1963 wrote:

Raffles wrote:

There are elitist club morons in cliques the length and breadth of the UK who will approach a rider in any of the TDF jerseys, and think they are doing him a favour when they advise him that he really shouldnt be wearing that jersey. Best thing to do is collectively tell that clique to fekk off and mind their own business and go and enjoy the time on the bike in that nice jersey. There are some despicable elements in road cycling that a guy or gal on their bike has to suffer unfortunately.

Do you know what, I'm thinking of jacking in cycling with a club. Not because of what you accuse club riders off but because of wa&^ers like you. Without clubs you wouldn't have road racing, time trials, sportives and youth programmes. But of course that counts for nothing because you think all clubs up and down the country are full of 'elitist morons' I'm getting fed up of timid riders coming along to rides terrified because they see and hear comments by people like you. If you don't like riding in a club then fair enough but don't label all clubs as such. I have never heard any comments by people in my club about any aspect of a cyclists attire or bike but being an 'elitist moron' perhaps I missed it.

Do you know raffles didn't mention the word "club" once - you did.
There are some pompous twats in cycling - but I don't think they all mean it.

Erm...

Oh yer!