Alternative To Primal Jerseys.
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Alternative To Primal Jerseys.
I have several jerseys from them, really like them, but the designs lately really aren’t my style. The sports teams and cities I don’t live in. I also realize it is winter so it is a few months till spring.
Who do y’all recommend as an alternative though. I am not sure I am cool enough for Rapha or fast enough for Castelli . I am a Fondo rider, don’t race or need race fit.
ETA: I wear a large, 5ft10 180ish pounds.
I have really good luck with Bontrager/Trek bibs. They seem to do well and last pretty good for the price.
Who do y’all recommend as an alternative though. I am not sure I am cool enough for Rapha or fast enough for Castelli . I am a Fondo rider, don’t race or need race fit.
ETA: I wear a large, 5ft10 180ish pounds.
I have really good luck with Bontrager/Trek bibs. They seem to do well and last pretty good for the price.
Last edited by voyager1; 01-03-23 at 01:17 PM.
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Primal is like most every other brand- they have club and race fits. Since you are talking teams and cities for Primal, I am guessing you usually buy the club fit since that is the default fit for those style graphics.
No idea what style you do like as you only mentioned what you dont like.
Look at Voler- their Jet, Caliper, and Peloton levels of jersey that are club fit. Jet is entry and the other two are higher level and quite similar. USA made and good quality.
Rapha Core jerseys are frequently $60 or so and come in a bunch of colors. There is the regular Core and Lightweight Core. Its free shipping and returns, so there is very little risk in trying them. Maybe you are cooler than you think...or maybe its just a jersey and if it fits, that is most important.
No idea what style you do like as you only mentioned what you dont like.
Look at Voler- their Jet, Caliper, and Peloton levels of jersey that are club fit. Jet is entry and the other two are higher level and quite similar. USA made and good quality.
Rapha Core jerseys are frequently $60 or so and come in a bunch of colors. There is the regular Core and Lightweight Core. Its free shipping and returns, so there is very little risk in trying them. Maybe you are cooler than you think...or maybe its just a jersey and if it fits, that is most important.
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Too many to list.
Pearl Izumi
Louis Garneau
SMS
Vermarc
Performance
Giordana
Craft
De Marchi
Gore
Nalini
Santini
Przewalski
Bellwether
And on, and on, and on... (this is not even getting into wool jerseys - another list)
I stay away from Canari (poor quality, feels "cheap", don't last long, ill-fitting) and Primal (I detest their designs).
Pearl Izumi
Louis Garneau
SMS
Vermarc
Performance
Giordana
Craft
De Marchi
Gore
Nalini
Santini
Przewalski
Bellwether
And on, and on, and on... (this is not even getting into wool jerseys - another list)
I stay away from Canari (poor quality, feels "cheap", don't last long, ill-fitting) and Primal (I detest their designs).
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Primal Wear jerseys are sooo awful that almost any name brand is an upgrade.
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#5
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I had my favorites over the years, as well as Primal but about 8 years ago I bought my first Santini. All I can say is wow! Their quality is impeccable and they are made in Italy. The tailoring is old school quality with no shortcuts.
Santini is a small company and can control that better. They also have relaxed fit in large sizes. I am 6' 1" tall and around 220 and they fit snug but not like a sausage casing. Their winter gear is especially good and they have non-race team jersey's in nice colors and patterns.
Santini regularly has sales and you can find some really good buys if you can wait. Their winter stuff should go on sale any day now.
Voler (American) is also a maker I favor and they offer even more relaxed sizes.
---
Santini is a small company and can control that better. They also have relaxed fit in large sizes. I am 6' 1" tall and around 220 and they fit snug but not like a sausage casing. Their winter gear is especially good and they have non-race team jersey's in nice colors and patterns.
Santini regularly has sales and you can find some really good buys if you can wait. Their winter stuff should go on sale any day now.
Voler (American) is also a maker I favor and they offer even more relaxed sizes.
---
Last edited by drlogik; 01-04-23 at 03:31 PM.
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Twin Six (which is made by Voler, IIRC)
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I generally stay away from all the big name brands as I find just about everything cycling related to be generally overpriced. (don't get me started on golf wear!) I search out end of season and close out sales. I do buy the few event shirts/jerseys that I ride because they are one-offs.
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My bike wardrobe includes (in order of preference)...Le Col, Ale, Neopro, Craft, Voler, Twin 6, Fitter, and Hincapie. New club kit will be from Endura - nice fabrics.
I've pretty much always found Primal to be kind of hideous, but everyone's tastes are different.
I've pretty much always found Primal to be kind of hideous, but everyone's tastes are different.
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Their jerseys tend to be more club fit, but they do make one or two race fit jerseys - they make the official jersey for the Pittsburgh Dirty Dozen ride each year, which is a very cool fundraiser. As a bonus, they are made in the USA (Pittsburgh) by cool people: when I rode a famous gravel race in WV some years ago, the Aerotech crew ran one of the aid stations. They just happened to have my preferred chain lube and a clean towel, just when I needed them. Nice folks.
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I totally agree on the hideousity of Primal Wear, and recommend that you try Rapha...If you shop in their sale section, you'll find stuff that's as good as anything you've tried, but at Primal Wear (okay, maybe Pearl Izumi) prices.
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Currently a huge winter sale going on, too. Many tempting pieces.
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I'm not a fan of their club fit stuff, but their race fit stuff is fine, if you find a design that you get along with (my club's team kit is via T6).
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I've become a big fan of Le Col stuff. They run sales and offer other discounts to make things reasonable on a pretty regular basis. Their fabrics and details are as good as anything else out there. No flashy graphic designs, though.
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