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OPINION

How long until cycling kit is retro-cool?

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by SamShaw
Mon, Dec 12, 2011 09:38
48
How long until cycling kit is retro-cool?Agritubel Team Kit
Is Sam going to look retro cool or fan-boy in his 2008 team kit?

Is wearing team kit douchy?  It’s not in other sports, as you can see by any number of fans wearing football tops around UK town centres every weekend, very rarely do you see someone sporting the latest BMC, SKY, Liquigas or Leopard Trek kit when out shopping – maybe they’re all out cycling when I’m carting bags/kids round the shops?  Or maybe it’s because it’s just not cool. 

I have some team kit that I received when a cycling magazine featured me as part of their reader team; I love it and really feel as though I deserve to wear it, there were only 4 kits made and one of them’s mine so it’ll always be special.

Pulling on a jersey from a ProTour team doesn’t seem to yield the same pride though.  A friend of mine recently made much mention that his team Sky jacket was cheap and that it’s a good performer as the reasons for buying it.  I didn’t quite get why he was worried about it, until we were out with the club a few days later and I heard some club members half-heartedly poking fun at him for it.  (I still think it looks kinda cool but I’m still relatively new to the cycling fold so I kept schtum…)

The reason I’m dithering away about kit is due to the birthday present I recently received from my sister; it consists of 2008 Agritubel team kit, who were based where she lives in France.  I’m over the moon with it, she got it from the chairman of the fan club, who she knows through their accountant, who has a Kuota team bike on the wall of his office… all very not what you know but who.  It’s as close to supporting a ‘local’ continental team as I can get.

Owning a winter jacket, summer jersey and socks isn’t enough for me though, I’m now finding myself scouring ebay.fr and ebay.it for matching bib shorts and longs; and, of course, the obligatory team cap, I get the feeling I’m taking this too far…

Maybe my saving grace is that the kit is from 2008 and that the team has now been disbanded; VecchioJo’s recent blog about La Vie en Claire kit suggests it might be retro-cool to wear old kit, I’m just not sure if 3 years is long enough to guarantee enviable glances from my club mates! 

Either way, I’m wearing it.

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48 comments

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atlaz | 12 years ago
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I won a BMC team kit a couple of years ago. I went for a ride earlier this year, sadly on a TdF rest-day, had a bit of a crash and was fixing myself and the bike by the side of the road when some twat went past and rather than asking if I was okay shouted "Nice one Cadel". Whether he'd have asked if I needed help if I'd been in my normal gear, no idea but it makes me think twice about the team kit.

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Simon E replied to atlaz | 12 years ago
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atlaz wrote:

some twat went past and rather than asking if I was okay shouted "Nice one Cadel".

He obviously didn't care so probably wouldn't have stopped to help regardless of what your were wearing.

I suggest you wear what you want and enjoy it. If small-minded, insecure people choose to judge you for it then they're probably not the kind of folk you should waste your time on.

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Stumps | 12 years ago
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Wear whatever you want is my opinion. You see millions of people all shapes, sizes and ages with footie kit on and no one blinks an eye so why not wear whatever cycle kit you want.

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PeteH | 12 years ago
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I got a couple of pro-team jerseys a few years ago, but don't much use them now. I'll keep them just in case, plus they do tend to be visible on the road.

I also got some Mellow Johnny's stuff that I quite like. Different - a nice variation on the Livestrong stuff. You don't see many people in the UK wearing this kit.

A couple of years ago (2008 presumably) Santani produced "anniversary" kit to commemorate Pantani's Giro/Tour wins. Pantani is a hero of mine so I bought the kit, but its still got the tags on. Next year it'll fit!

Our summer holiday this year was in Luxembourg, everything so expensive that I didn't buy much in the way of souvenirs, but I did pick up the Lux national kit in a brilliant bike shop over there. A nice souvenir of a great holiday and some excellent rides. Have no problem riding that around the New Forest. Not sure I'd want to on the Schlecks' doorstep.

Only shirt I bought recently that I've had second thoughts about wearing at all was the KoM jersey from the ToB. Loved the green polkas so very much an impulse buy when I watched a stage. But out of respect for the jersey (I'm a truly awful climber!) have not had the guts to wear it yet.

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Simon_MacMichael replied to slow-cyclo | 12 years ago
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slow-cyclo wrote:

Now I don't feel so bad about coveting this years FdJ kit

I have a mid-late 1990s FDJ jersey that I found in a bargain bin at Condor back then.

Nice jersey but nowadays while I can just about get it over my expanded waistline, there's no way I'd inflict it (or rather me wearing it) on the public.

Mind you, back in the day, it did prove a conversation starter with a rather striking mademoiselle who worked in the cafe opposite work, so not all bad... Wink

Not that I am recommending Lycra as suitable clothing for anyone on the pull, mind... Devil

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Raleigh replied to nick_rearden | 12 years ago
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nick_rearden wrote:
seabass89 wrote:

...I'd love to wear a full out Norway jersey.. Sadly the team is too small, and its not on sale 7

WHAT! There's no Norway jersey. Unforgiveable!

Standardly there is a Norway Cycling Jersey:

Poor knowledge

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thebikeboy replied to Raleigh | 12 years ago
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Raleigh wrote:
nick_rearden wrote:
seabass89 wrote:

...I'd love to wear a full out Norway jersey.. Sadly the team is too small, and its not on sale 7

WHAT! There's no Norway jersey. Unforgiveable!

Standardly there is a Norway Cycling Jersey:

Poor knowledge

The point wasn't that there isn't a Norwegian National Champ's jersey but that you can't buy a standard one - like you can for the British National Champion - you can only buy a team's version of the Norwegian national jersey. I'm guessing that Seabass would know as he is in Norway. I just tried a quick Google and all i could find was a Cervelo version and a Credit Agricole one.

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andyp | 12 years ago
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small-minded, insecure people

one man's small-minded insecurity is another's 'having a sense of respect', obviously.

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Rob_Ward | 12 years ago
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It appears that everyone has glanced over the fact that Sir Alan Sugar looks like a chopper!!!

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Raleigh | 12 years ago
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Whoa there, it was AMS1 who won Cavendish the SPOTY, undoubtedly. I loved it when he said that they frequent the same bike shop;

but "I should imagine that he'd leave me standing"

... 39

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WebDevNick | 12 years ago
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please delete

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The _Kaner | 12 years ago
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No pro kit for me...Do like last years Garmin kit though...
Mix of Altura/Biemme/PBK for bad weather...for the finer weather it's mostly sportwool type jerseys...ShuttVR,Swobo,R@ph@ and Cervo Rosso ...only usually because of discounted prices or extraordinarily great service(ie freebies/offers)from kind folks- facebook pays off!-
I've no issues with anyone buying and wearing pro kit, irrespective of their body shape or cycling prowess.
What I don't like is the 'I'm better than you attitude' of some club(s)/members that cannot even avert their '1000 yard stare' to give fellow cyclists a cheery wave and a nod of acknowledgement as they cycle past...irrespective of the kit they are wearing...

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notfastenough | 12 years ago
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Seconded. Some days I reckon less than 40% of other riders can be arsed even giving me a nod.

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Simon E replied to notfastenough | 12 years ago
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notfastenough wrote:

Seconded. Some days I reckon less than 40% of other riders can be arsed even giving me a nod.

40%? You're doing well.

I find it's even worse when I'm in the car - none of those other snobby types coming the other way even notice I'm there. Pah!

3

Rode to work in my Motorpoint team jersey (a competition prize) today and didn't get cut up once. Coincidence? BTW here's a pic of the great Malcolm Elliot wearing one.

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farrell | 12 years ago
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I was purchased a Bianchi jersey for Christmas, but I don't own a Bianchi bike. I can't wait to receive some grief when out wearing that.

I will relent and only wear it on my white bike, I think the vision of a celeste jersey with a red bike is a bridge too far.

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farrell | 12 years ago
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Going back to the GB kit comments, in Manchester* you even have to be careful where you park your bike for fear of being shown up:

http://pic.twitter.com/vyD4YRu0

*Most people outside the North West wont be bothered but the loveable caffeine dealership in this photo is actually in Gatley which is technically Stockport and I heartily recommend them if your ever up this way and fancy a brew:

http://www.wearecoffeefix.com/

And no, I'm not connected with them in anyway other than following them on twitter, I'm just a customer.

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robcrow | 12 years ago
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still wear my old gan,linder mcartney,htc,quikstep,and z kits,dont think im retro cool just to tight fisted to buy large quantity of new kit. Id rather spend my money on components.I also buy a lot of secondhand Belgium club jerseys a lot of which i feel are better than the rapha stuff that i own.Also you never see anyone else wearing club jerseys from koekelare so they often become abit of a talking point with other fellow cyclist.The best bargain i ever got was a bio racer top for £2.It outperforms any other kit ive ever tried and looks fantastic.think id like to be buried in it.

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GDCycling.co.uk | 8 years ago
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At GDCycling.co.uk we had your exact thoughts while riding in Majorca! 

 

We want to ride with our mates in jerseys which are not sabotaged by shampoo advertising or a television provider... We wanted to take our love for graphics and put that into our other love cycling... We are off and running and would love any feedback you have.....

 

Please check us out.... http://gdcycling.co.uk/

 

Or better try one of our jerseys... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cycling-Jersey-Top-Retro-Funky-Design-Biking-C...

 

GDC

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