ovoleg

I will be the first to say that generic Pearl Izumi/LG/Cannondale/etc kits are very very boring and bland. There are some epic ugly jerseys that people wear from various rides that includes Death Ride, Iceman, Cool Breeze Century, MS, etc. About the only acceptable ones are RAAM finisher jerseys and FC508.

So with all the ugly jerseys out there, why do people hate so much on pro team kits like SaxoBank, BMC, Sky, etc? In larger cities, its not as big a deal and people embrace all sorts of jerseys but in smaller cities its either your team race kit, ugly organized century jersey, or bland generic jersey...but the nerve to call out people who wear cool pro team kits? Come on now...

bikerjp

I don't know about hate, but I'd feel pretty silly plodding along with my fat ass in pro kit.

abstractform20

if you like it, wear it.

being fat should make you feel silly. wearing clothing you like should not.

if you wont wear clothing you like because you are fat, then you are also a coward.

abstractform20

jesus.

6 foot tall men weighing 145lb looks absurd and disgusting.

if you want to look "manly" then get your squat up 1.5x bodyweight, deadlift 2x bw, and press 1.5x bw.

if you want to ride your bike because you enjoy it, then ride the bike and wear what you like.

Element GT

Yup way too fat

bikerjp

If you are referring to my comment it's not cowardice. I'm just not strong or fast and don't feel I would do a team kit justice - unless maybe it was FDJ or something but I don't like their kits

kenji666

I'm sure you can find deals on US Postal team kits.

abstractform20

so you're afraid you wont do it justice...?

you're some dude riding on a bike path or side of the road. trust me, no one is going to think you are a professional cyclist.

buy what you like and wear it. are you afraid that people would think you were sponsored by Castelli or Pearl Izumi if you were wearing their kits?

companies dont exist for you to give them flattering branding. they exist to sell things to you.

RIRview

I wouldn't wear a pro team kit because I'm not a member of a pro team.

NathanC

I would wear a pro-team kit unless I am racing, then I will wear club/generic kit.

bikerjp

Where are you getting this fear aspect? It's just an opinion, a personal feeling. OP asked a question and I shared an opinion. If you feel the need to read more into it, fine.

He said it better.

coasting 

that makes no sense. what about football shirts. it indicates support and admirtion, not just membeship.

coasting 

i don't buy them because i am cheap and the generics are much cheaper.

MRT2

This. There are people who wear professional football jerseys. While I might wear a T Shirt with a pro team logo on it, I wouldn't wear a pro football jersey. I wouldn't condemn those who wear them, but it isn't for me. Moreover, with pro athletes in baseball, football and cycling going down for everything from EPOs/PEDs to murder, it maybe isn't a great investment. I would wear a local club jersey if I belonged to the club, a generic jersey, or even a jersey with a state (or national) logo or cycling related theme. I would also consider wearing a cycling jersey with a bike brand logo, if I found it aesthetically pleasing.

coasting 

merchandising for pro football teams is huge business. where does this snobbery in cycling come from? typical roadie elitism rears its ugly head again.

MRT2

I dunno. I find it strange to wear a uniform with another man's name on the back. BTW, I have noticed a trend with cheap baseball T Shirts with players names and numbers on the back. Given that player personnel changes every year, your T Shirt with your favorite player's name and number might be instantly obsolete if the player is traded, cut, retires, or gets suspended for using PEDs. Saw a local story of a guy who spent tens of thousands on Ryan Braun merchandise, wondering what to do now that his "hero" is disgraced and out of baseball, at least for this year.

I imagine there are plenty of people with Livestrong, US Postal, or Team Discovery Kit who have the same problem.

wallrat

I try not to wear any logo'ed clothing, especially pro kits with LARGE logos. I don't believe in providing free advertising.

halfspeed

I don't fault anyone who does this, but I stopped doing that when I was 10.

SkyDog75

Unless I'm getting paid for the advertising, I don't want corporate logos all over my clothing. And I don't need to dress up in costume and play-act that I'm a pro to enjoy my time in the saddle. But if you like the way they look or whatever, knock yourself out.

coasting 

now that i get and concur.

caloso

I only wear the kits of teams for which I've raced. But I try to not be judgmental about what others wear while they ride.

MRT2

I think I understand this. Call it insecurity, or whatever you want, but it is one thing to get dropped on a group ride, another to get dropped on a group ride while wearing replica pro kit.

coasting 

you people have so many anxieties; how do you get up in the morning?

Brian Ratliff

Why?

It seems, especially in the road cycling community, that people think they are being judged way more than they actually are.

99Klein 

That are fine as long as you earned it. Otherwise you look like those old guys at wallyworld in their NASCAR jackets;-)