FF, this one is for you: Pro cycling attire don'ts....

DeadCalm

inkyfingers wrote:

There's a simple answer to this whole discussion, join a club that has a good looking kit.

Nah. Clubs are for people who actually like other people.

prawny

I see a chap riding round my way in full Raleigh team kit riding a Raleigh SP Team bike, what a twonk, ok it is Liam Holohan but still

inkyfingers

I often see the champion of Luxembourg coming the other way when I cycle home down the Elham valley. He once asked me if I was OK when i'd stopped to fix a puncture, such grace for a champion of his standing.

I also saw Mark Cavendish cycling through a red light in Ashford on Tuesday, he was wearing his Sky WC jersey but with a pair of plain black household brand shorts and was riding a Trek, it very nearly blew my mind. Frenchie would have had some kind of fit.

I often see a guy out riding near where I live in a full Discovery channel kit, once he had even replaced the normal jersey with a replica yellow jersey. As I passed him going up hill I didn't know whether to compliment him on his matching kit or push him into the ditch whilst casting aspersions about his mothers profession in a french accent.

lostboysaint

Pro kit shouldn't be worn unless you are a pro. End of.

rick_chasey

inkyfingers wrote:

I often see the champion of Luxembourg coming the other way when I cycle home down the Elham valley. He once asked me if I was OK when i'd stopped to fix a puncture, such grace for a champion of his standing.

I also saw Mark Cavendish cycling through a red light in Ashford on Tuesday, he was wearing his Sky WC jersey but with a pair of plain black household brand shorts and was riding a Trek, it very nearly blew my mind. Frenchie would have had some kind of fit.

I often see a guy out riding near where I live in a full Discovery channel kit, once he had even replaced the normal jersey with a replica yellow jersey. As I passed him going up hill I didn't know whether to compliment him on his matching kit or push him into the ditch whilst casting aspersions about his mothers profession in a french accent.

lostboysaint wrote:

Pro kit shouldn't be worn unless you are a pro. End of.

BOOOO!!

frenchfighter

inkyfingers wrote:

I often see the champion of Luxembourg coming the other way when I cycle home down the Elham valley. He once asked me if I was OK when i'd stopped to fix a puncture, such grace for a champion of his standing.

I also saw Mark Cavendish cycling through a red light in Ashford on Tuesday, he was wearing his Sky WC jersey but with a pair of plain black household brand shorts and was riding a Trek, it very nearly blew my mind. Frenchie would have had some kind of fit.

I often see a guy out riding near where I live in a full Discovery channel kit, once he had even replaced the normal jersey with a replica yellow jersey. As I passed him going up hill I didn't know whether to compliment him on his matching kit or push him into the ditch whilst casting aspersions about his mothers profession in a french accent.

LOL x 3

Are these made up?

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

inkyfingers wrote:

I often see the champion of Luxembourg coming the other way when I cycle home down the Elham valley. He once asked me if I was OK when i'd stopped to fix a puncture, such grace for a champion of his standing.

I also saw Mark Cavendish cycling through a red light in Ashford on Tuesday, he was wearing his Sky WC jersey but with a pair of plain black household brand shorts and was riding a Trek, it very nearly blew my mind. Frenchie would have had some kind of fit.

I often see a guy out riding near where I live in a full Discovery channel kit, once he had even replaced the normal jersey with a replica yellow jersey. As I passed him going up hill I didn't know whether to compliment him on his matching kit or push him into the ditch whilst casting aspersions about his mothers profession in a french accent.

LOL x 3

Are these made up?

No, all real.

I see Disco man on a regular basis, we always exchange a wave or a breathless hello. I am built for the flat rather than the hills, but he makes me look like Robert Millar.

B3rnieMac

Oh dear. I have a T-Mobile jersey, and an Astana one. Two full rock racing kits - the black and white anarchy ones - and Floyd's interview with kimmage convinced me to buy a Phonak jersey. I am clearly doing it wrong.

rebs

lostboysaint wrote:

Pro kit shouldn't be worn unless you are a pro. End of.

I'd agree if said kit isn't commercially available. But as it's available for anyone to purchase and wear.... Next peopel shouldn't be riding bikes that are supplied to the Pro's.

Oi you on the spesh WTF are you doing?!?

tailwindhome

John Terry getting changed into full team kit (inc Shinguards) to collect the Champions League Trophy.


That's you that is.

disgruntledgoat

rebs wrote:

lostboysaint wrote:

Pro kit shouldn't be worn unless you are a pro. End of.

I'd agree if said kit isn't commercially available. But as it's available for anyone to purchase and wear.... Next peopel shouldn't be riding bikes that are supplied to the Pro's.

Oi you on the spesh WTF are you doing?!?

Wearing stuff that isn't commercially available gives you that "insider" feeling of superiority though...

Jez mon

TailWindHome wrote:

John Terry getting changed into full team kit (inc Shinguards) to collect the Champions League Trophy.


That's you that is.

Surely not if you're actually going for a bike ride.

andyp

TailWindHome wrote:

Aside from the usual debate regarding WC, team team and national jerseys *yawn*.....

I reckon the worst crime is for a grown man to be wearing matching trade team kit.

Surely a far more heinous crime is for a grown man to be wearing mis-matching trade team kit?

davidof

I've got a bit of trade kit from the 70s and 80s, we used to buy it back then for training because you could get it cheaper than non trade kit. Obviously you raced in your club kit.

skavanagh.bikeradar

Similar logic for me: I've bought one team kit in 2003, the Mr Bookmaker Hammond/Hunt era. I bought it as I needed new kit and it was going chirpy cheap cheap. I've only ever worn it on the turbo or for commuting (not on a road bike) by way of concession to the no team kit rule. Am I safe?

It also took me 4 years to get round to wearing a Marmotte sportive event jersey; mostly in case I get over taken on a hill (this is a regular occurance).

Ultimately who cares? As you can see though I'm having some sort of Catholic guilt thing about it!

davidof

skavanagh.bikeradar wrote:

Ultimately who cares?

self appointed rule makers largely based in American, it would seem

LeicesterLad

This week i've mostly been wearin'.....

Colombia-Coldeportes kit. Sorry, but it's just so feckin nice, and ive never ever seen anybody else wearing it out and about, so that's all fine and dandy.

tailwindhome

Just pulled the trigger on a Quickstep SS jersey 30% off at Wiggle

Will wear it with plain black shorts.

majormantra

LangerDan wrote:

Rick Chasey wrote:

Vladimir Karpets should have so raced for that team

I see what you did there.

mrushton

Even FF has to agree that Astana kit is shite to look at even with his hero blazing the field. That new Saxo kit doesn't look that good either compared to the previous 2 generations. Saw some GB riders going to the Mcr velodrome the other morning and they had the kit on - looked good on them (young,fit,thin). Castorama has to be the worst ever. Caisse was lovely as it had that subtle pattern in the black sections. Hated Tinkoff but they had Colnagos and Mercedes Estates so not all bad.

Vino2007

It is no longer accepted that having matching kit makes you a proper roadie. If you don't have a full drawer of castelli/assos/the like clothing range then basically you're as big a fred as they come.

Gazzaputt

mfin wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with matching kit. It looks better on the bike which makes you ride faster, feel better and make you more respected by car drivers as well as making more people want to ride.

It doesn't make you ride faster!!! what a load of rubbish.

Makes you more respected by car drivers?? equal rubbish, what are you on!!

Makes more people want to ride??? ...you think a non-cyclist sees someone riding in full team kit and it measurably inspires them to ride versus seeing someone riding in non-team kit?? brilliant!!

I know they're only your opinions, the only one that isn't laughable is if you think it makes you ride faster, but if you're applying that to everyone else, well, you're making some weird assumptions there!!

frenchfighter wrote:

I have two matching kits - one is a little known French trade team no longer in existence, the other is OPQS as that kit is simply amazing.

Aw, you have a dressing up box, that's nice.

Hmm me and Frenchie don't see eye to eye on a lot but here I'll stick up for him.

Yes it does make you ride faster as everyone and their dog want to have a dig at you and if your wearing team kit you got to be able to walk the walk. I find this a lot when when i wear my Sky kit.

Yes drivers do give more respect. When wearing the Sky kit drivers defo give a little more respect. I've actually made mental notes of this to back it. Even had thumbs up and beeps from drivers smiling.

Yes it does make more people want to ride if they have a team kit. They see Sky a British successful team and would like to associate with this.

OPQS is a lovely kit!

disgruntledgoat

Vino2007 wrote:

It is no longer accepted that having matching kit makes you a proper roadie. If you don't have a full drawer of castelli/assos/the like clothing range then basically you're as big a fred as they come.

I prefer Etxeondo, the connisseurs choice

However, the ability to put swanky kit on the credit card doth not a cyclist make. It's an attitude. If a casquette looks cooler to you than a helmet, you've got it.

NB joyless types, i said "looks" not "you believe it offers more crash protection"

disgruntledgoat

Gazzaputt wrote:

mfin wrote:

frenchfighter wrote:

There is absolutely nothing wrong with matching kit. It looks better on the bike which makes you ride faster, feel better and make you more respected by car drivers as well as making more people want to ride.

It doesn't make you ride faster!!! what a load of rubbish.

Makes you more respected by car drivers?? equal rubbish, what are you on!!

Makes more people want to ride??? ...you think a non-cyclist sees someone riding in full team kit and it measurably inspires them to ride versus seeing someone riding in non-team kit?? brilliant!!

I know they're only your opinions, the only one that isn't laughable is if you think it makes you ride faster, but if you're applying that to everyone else, well, you're making some weird assumptions there!!

frenchfighter wrote:

I have two matching kits - one is a little known French trade team no longer in existence, the other is OPQS as that kit is simply amazing.

Aw, you have a dressing up box, that's nice.

Hmm me and Frenchie don't see eye to eye on a lot but here I'll stick up for him.

Yes it does make you ride faster as everyone and their dog want to have a dig at you and if your wearing team kit you got to be able to walk the walk. I find this a lot when when i wear my Sky kit.

Yes drivers do give more respect. When wearing the Sky kit drivers defo give a little more respect. I've actually made mental notes of this to back it. Even had thumbs up and beeps from drivers smiling.

Yes it does make more people want to ride if they have a team kit. They see Sky a British successful team and would like to associate with this.

OPQS is a lovely kit!

Evidence is not the plural of experience.

rick_chasey

8 points to the chap I saw in '11 QS top, matching cap, and, wait for it.....










Exactly the same blue matching football shorts.

dave milne

caisse kit was awful .movistar is so much better

I like the castorama kit, wouldn't wear it though

mfin

Gazzaputt wrote:

Hmm me and Frenchie don't see eye to eye on a lot but here I'll stick up for him.

Yes it does make you ride faster as everyone and their dog want to have a dig at you and if your wearing team kit you got to be able to walk the walk. I find this a lot when when i wear my Sky kit.

Ah, so the logic is basically that you ride fast because you're in fear of looking a knob, because someone in team kit not riding fast will look like one?

Gazzaputt wrote:

Yes drivers do give more respect. When wearing the Sky kit drivers defo give a little more respect. I've actually made mental notes of this to back it. Even had thumbs up and beeps from drivers smiling.

Okay, so this is not a valid point about every team kit, just your experience of Sky kit, where Sky have had the highest profile of any Team in the UK this summer after Wiggos win etc... I can understand that a little, but surely its just a few cars rather than a 'ready-brek glow' kind of forcefield which pretty much all drivers pay attention to and give you room etc (or perhaps it is in your head, I don't know) ...and if you were wearing any other kit, you'd be just a cyclist, and the public wont recognise the team any more than they'll recognise a club kit, and no special treatment??

Gazzaputt wrote:

Yes it does make more people want to ride if they have a team kit. They see Sky a British successful team and would like to associate with this.

The point was by wearing team kit yourself, people seeing you will be inspired to get on a bike, and at least tangibly if not apparently a lot more that seeing you in non-team kit. (which I believe to be guff) ...and, as for your statement that it does make more people want to ride if they have a team kit, do they, really??? Of all the cyclists I know, none of them would be seen dead dressed up in a full team kit (some retro continental meets aside).

greasedscotsman

This is all a bit "meh", how about so more awful pro jerseys!




(not strictly a bad looking jersey, but didn't Domex make toiler paper?


(and not a really bad looking jersey, but the rider on the other hand...)

disgruntledgoat

The horror... The horror.

rick_chasey

That Australian one is pretty bad.

Purple and orange?