Noobtastic

I was digging in my closet yesterday when I found my old long sleeve rugby jersey from high school. I wore it on my 10 mile ride to class and it didn't feel hot in the afternoon; I was most impressed with it because it was completely dry after the ride and looked presentable enough for me to wear all day around school since it simply looks like a long sleeved golf shirt (my friend even thought it "cute"). The only thing I didn't like about the jersey was that it did not keep me well insulated as I was riding home in the cold night, I wasn't freezing but I definitely was not comfortable. I've never owned a cycling jersey so I don't know if it's normal for cold wind to go through a jersey when you're riding fast.

My main point is that buying other sport jerseys instead of cycling jerseys is much easier on the wallet and they look good to me so I won't feel like I should change shirts after my commute. I can buy a few long sleeve rugby, soccer jerseys for the price of one cycling jersey this winter and be able to support my teams at the same time. But is there any quality to cycling jerseys that I'll miss out on(except the pockets)?

Here's a picture of a nice one:

CNY James

i use running "jerseys" myself... you can get them anyplace (I got my short sleeved jersey at walmart for like $8) and they are the same material as cycling jerseys. the only disadvantage i've found is the lack of zippers and no rear pockets. neither of those have become so much as an annoyance to me.

this is my sleeved jersey:

Noobtastic

Wow, $8 is stupid cheap. I'll look at that while checking walmart for Under Armour. I figure that will keep me toasty on those really chilly nights, I already wear gloves and a wooly hat

caloso

Zippers, for one.

ReducedLunch

If you don't need the pockets I say go for it... I had short sleeve jerseys my team provided but I had to buy my own long sleeved, so I always just wore the Walmart long sleeved under armor knock off and was more comfortable than in the long sleeved jersey. I think the lack of zipper can be nice in the cooler temps, although more expensive jerseys generally have something to keep the wind out

TurbineBlade

If you buy soccer jerseys to ride a bike, how will you ever advertise Kellogg's cornflakes or some weird, exotic pilsner?

BulkyRider

I'm in Japan and seems it's typical to wear UNIQLO shirt for riding especially those who ride hybrid bikes. Some snobby road bikers are laughing on that and common ppl are laughing on road bikers like this "Why do they put mushroom on their head and wear diaper??" lol

Garfield Cat

Wear what you want as long as it works. Don't let the conformists rule your day. Despite a widely held belief, young people are the greatest conformists.

Neil_B

+1.