WhyFi

If you're happy with your $20 jerseys, cool, but implying that there's little difference because they're both 100% polyester is asinine. Maybe you don't value the difference in material, construction, or cut, but that doesn't mean that those differences aren't there and that doesn't mean that others don't appreciate the benefits, particularly for long and/or hard days in the saddle.

msu2001la

To summarize your multi-post argument about the analogy I posted:

A. You don't care what people wear
B. You think it's fine for someone to wear a pro football jersey as a fan, as long as they're not actually playing football. If they're actually playing football this would be unacceptable, much like wearing team cycling gear while riding a bike is totally unacceptable.(Again, you don't care)
C. Anyone wearing team logo apparel as a cycling fan while cycling is claiming aero/tech benefits from said team logo apparel. (not that you care)

WhyFi

I think that you've mostly got it, but it should also be mentioned that he doesn't care.

Rolla

"a kit (UK): an outfit, clothes, gear, a uniform noun

To describe the clothes or uniform of a sports player, kit is used in Great Britain. In American English, it is called a "uniform". The "top" or "shirt" is called a "jersey" in American English."


https://www.gymglish.com/en/gymglish...0%22uniform%22.

Eric F 

You're making assumptions not based in fact. The fabrics used for good-quality cycling jerseys promote wicking and evaporation of moisture with efficiency that a cotton t-shirt can't come close to. They're also are not itchy.

livedarklions

So you hear a lot of people in the US referring to people wearing "cycling uniforms"? I don't know what gymglish is, but that's painting with a broad rush on the American usage at best. Even so, you do notice the word "gear" is offered as a synonym, right?

Eric F 

I know zero cyclists who refer to their cycling clothing as a "uniform", even if it's team kit.

Koyote

If you are happy with $20 jerseys, that's great. Maybe you're better off if you don't try the more expensive stuff. But don't kid yourself: more money almost always gets you better materials, design, fit, quality, and performance.

Cotton is the worst possible material for athletic apparel -- especially cycling jerseys. And that's got nothing to do with aerodynamics.

Rolla

So take it up with them, and spare me your tedium.

livedarklions

I presume you're referring to comfort here because a lot of people do not like the wet sensation you get with cotton.
I actually prefer cotton to polyester because the sweat gets cooled by the airflow when it's wicked into the cotton as opposed to pooling under the polyester. Comfort really isn't a scientific, objective concept. Unless you're talking about things that are actually causing you harm (I'm objectively uncomfortable wearing latex because I will itch and develop a rash, for example), it's more like a preference for one sensation over another.

WhyFi

livedarklions

You posted the stupid thing, not my fault if it's obviously wrong about American usage.

BTW, I know you originally quoted me when you posted it, so spare me the nonsense about how I'm being the tedious one. You've posted several "corrections" of me that aren't actually correcting anything.

mr_bill

I have a buttload* of hideous football kit that I only ever wore on the pitch.

But I recently hung up my boots** after my Achille's tendon gave out.

Question, if I wear a Tottenham jersey while riding my bicycle, is that better than, worse than, the same as, wearing a "proper" cycling jersey on my bike?

-mr. bill

----
* butt, part of the tun, butt, puncheon, hogshead, tierce, barrel, rundlet measurement system
** footballers wear boots

livedarklions

Pooling under the polyester is the way it feels to me. That scratching head thing is my reaction when I'm told polyester "breathes". Point is these sensations are subjective.

WhyFi

I'm thinking that it's less subjectivity of sensations and more variance in material being used.

prj71

You mean days like this in the saddle that I do with my $20 jersey?





As I mentioned...I have the $80 variety jerseys that I've won from bike races. Really no difference than the $20 jerseys I've bought.

livedarklions

I'm skeptical of that, but the main thing is I don't find cotton uncomfortable and I know a lot of people who don't. Getting told we're wrong is a bit tiresome.

caloso

Maybe you could share a link for these amazing $20 jerseys. People might be interested in purchasing them.

WhyFi

If you're asking me if I'm impressed, I can't say that I am. Again, if they meet your needs, that's great - others have different standards.

Also, jerseys from organized rides seem to be a pretty low bar. Most that I've seen have been club cut and not of terribly high quality.

downhillmaster

It’s so awesome that you are still ignoring my OP and are still so worked up about my posts 👍

PeteHski

I don't wear replica team sponsored kit, but I do wear quality branded kit from the likes of Assos, Rapha and Le Col. I've experimented with cheaper stuff e.g. dhb Aeron bibs and those were junk - scratchy material and seams digging into my legs. Jerseys are less critical but can still feel the quality and fit.

Eric F 

I find it interesting how different our experiences are with fabrics.

WhyFi

I'm not telling you that you're wrong about being comfortable in cotton. I'm telling you that your experiences with polyester don't match mine nor those of anyone that I've known that's worn a good quality jersey. Comfort is subjective, but the fact that my jerseys breathe and wick really, really well is not subjective - that I can sweat out liters and pull off a dry, salt-crusted jersey is a testament to that.

livedarklions

Honestly, I think a lot of comfort is really determined by what we're used to, and that affects how we actually perceive and interpret what these sensations "mean". Also, people really do vary a lot in how they sweat and, my guess is also in the chemical composition of their sweat, so that we really might be experiencing different reactions between fabric and sweat.

PeteHski

For me it's when you get into more extreme situations when the top quality gear really comes into its own. Like when you are climbing for hours on end in blistering heat or getting drenched by rain. Pottering along at 110W it probably doesn't matter so much what jersey you are wearing providing you have a half reasonable pair of bibs. But I'd still rather have a couple of really nice quality jerseys over a dozen cheap generic ones. They always wash better. Perhaps ironically I wear a lot of generic cheap junk off the bike and it tends to fall to pieces quite quickly with wear and tear.