Yaniel

I avoid the guys that can't hold a line. If I'm avoiding you because of a jersey, it probably means you should wash it. That said, I wouldn't wear a champions jersey, but thats just me. OP can do w/e he wants.

Inertianinja

And it's ok to buy a saxo jersey but not the jersey of their best guy?

Meh

roadiejorge 

If you care about what people think then don't get a team kit if you don't ride for them, if you don't care then wear what you want.


Mock if you want but the guys who wear the kits of the clubs they ride for tend to know what they're doing, people in the replica kits not so much. On most rides I've been on it's the guys in the replica kits that often make up the pack fodder.

adriano 

where can you get nice custom jerseys in small quantities?

Inertianinja

I wish there was a dazzle/cafe press for jerseys. I have great ideas. They would be epic

Nimitz87

I think cyclists are the dumbest freaking damn people when it comes to this...people wear superbowl jerseys doesn't mean they think they "earned" it.

wear what you want..frankly I want a Spartacus jersey as well.

I guarantee if they had the name of the rider on the back of jerseys people wouldn't ***** at all about this.

Chad

Inertianinja

I know what I'm getting into when I make a thread like this...but i'm not trolling. Honestly just making conversation.
I'm going to get them regardless of what others think, because we should not be estimating or judging others cycling ability based on their clothes or gear. Church.

The Weak Link

My favorite jersey right now is a Barloworld team jersey.

I mainly like it because it is super comfortable and I love the full length zipper because, and this might be TMI I suppose, I wear bib shorts and when I get cyclers diarrhea it helps me to keep my britches clean.

I also feel kinship with the Barloworld rider who, in the TdF a few years ago, cooked a downhill turn and ended up watching his bike roll thousands of feet down the mountain. He was lucky he didn't go down with it. If it were yaughting he would have gone down with his bike and neither would have been seen again.

hurley.girl

Yes, that was tmi.

Back to the OP - you can do what you like but you've been warned.

Of course we shouldn't judge people based on what they're wearing, but it happens all the time. On and off the bike.

FLvector

Buy the jersey if it makes you feel good. The only one who cares and will notice is you.

Sommy

THis is why cyclist can be odd sometimes. I agree with the argument that in any other sport it's acceptable to do, so why not cycling? I only have one replica jersey, but really don't wear it much. I think we as cyclist need to stop judging people on what they wear. I like the Columbia team kit, but don't want to shell out a few hundred bucks for it.

Obviousely wearing a champions jersey, doesn't imply that person earned it. If anything, in an around about way, you're sort of honoring what the person achieved.

hurley.girl

It's not odd. People judge others by what they're wearing all the time. You're fooling yourselves if you think this is exclusive to cyclists.

rangerdavid

Gonna call BS on this one. I got a Saints jersey, but I didn't play for them, or any pro football team. So the fact that I can't buy a Astana or Radio Shack jersey because I didn't "earn the right" to wear it is total BS. If it's for sale, you "earn the right" by purchasing it. The team, race, or individual sold the rights to someone to make them so people would buy them. I seriously doubt that if you wear Cancellerra's jersey people are going to confuse you with him.


Get whatever jersey you want and wear the heck out of it. No one (who really matters) will care.

Nimitz87

yes however I don't think most people go "OMG that bastard is wearing a saints jersey what a noob how dare he, he never EARNED that!!" like they do in cycling if I were to wear the Cancellera champ jersey.

Chad

rangerdavid

+1

hurley.girl

They don't do it to anyone's face. Just like in other stuff. If you're wearing a plaid shirt with striped pants and a polka-dot tie, no one's going to say anything to you directly. Well, your true friends might. This really isn't different.

jetbike

I wouldn't wear the world champ's jersey, but having said that I have found my icon lingering on the Rapha British Champ jersey 'buy it' button.

https://www.rapha.cc/content/uploads/k&t.jpg

jetbike

I wouldn't wear the world champ's jersey, but having said that I have found my icon lingering on the Rapha British Champ jersey 'buy it' button.

https://www.rapha.cc/content/uploads/k&t.jpg

hurley.girl

I'm not saying I'm the one who will be snickering behind your back. Wear what you want. If it motivates you, wear it!

But be aware that there are some that will judge you. I personally won't wear a champion jersey, or a professional team kit. But that's me. I don't think less of anyone who chooses otherwise.

DRietz

Uh...be aware? We're judged constantly by everybody who sees us. Not even just because we ride around in bright, flamboyant spandex, but because we're alive. We will always be judged by anyone.

And with that, to the OP, buy what you want. I think it's cool that you admire riders, I have some favorites too.

Mekrob

Wear whatever the hell you want.. just not in a race. If you are in an organized race, you had better rate whatever jersey you zip up.

Anyone have any thoughts on if this rule applies to equipment? I love Dave Z's Captain America rear disc graphic.

Inertianinja

Man, I don't think I care what anyone says about me so long as they're behind me.

Yes, this is one situation in which i would not wear team kit. In fact I wouldn't ever wear team kit if there was even the slightest possibility that someone could think that I want them to think that I'm the real deal. I'm just a dude who thinks cancellarras pretty impressive.

ElJamoquio

Any decent official wouldn't let you start with the rainbow. And if they're following the rules, they wouldn't let you start with the Saxo Bank jersey, either.

mercator

The people who buy the football and baseball (and hockey and basketball) jerseys are buying them as fans, and if they go to the stadium to watch the team play they will probably wear the jersey. No problem with mistaken identity/poser issues if you are sitting in the stands and the team is on the field.

Most people buy cycling jerseys to wear when they are riding. It's a different situation. That's why the fat guy in the lampre jersey standing by the side of the road on the ventoux in July is perfectly justified in wearing that jersey.

alexvpaq

They sell some pink Giro d'italia jersey at my LBS, it made me laugh and I hesitated. Then I remembered that I mustn't go all fanboy over procycling stuff or I'll look dumb especially with a pink jersey. Though, buy these jerseys if you like them.