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Pro Team kit - Naff or not

Having got back iinto cycling after years away my vintage (2002) Italian team jersey and winter jacket seem pretty cool.

I have a plain Loius Garneau top but still like the look of the Pro kit.

Now wanting to buy some new stuff, I would feel a bit silly in Sky kit because it is so well known but not sure whether to buy some 2013 Pro Team jerseys (quite like tge 2013 Radioshack Trek jersey) or get some Retro old designs.

Whats your thoughts on wearing recent Pro Team kit. Is it naff.

If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.

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58 comments

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ilovemytinbred | 10 years ago
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I dont care, it is just good to see people on bikes but I think it is especially nice when I see people in club kit. Its good to see who someone rides for, or where they are from. It often is a good conversation starter too.

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pj | 10 years ago
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+1 for club kit.

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don simon fbpe | 10 years ago
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I don't really care, wearing pro team kit seems a bit odd to me. Club kit is absolutely fine, of course, otherwise wear what you want.
Now, baggies and peaked helmets on road bikes are another thing altogether..........

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RPK | 10 years ago
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No different to wearing the team strip of your favourite soccer or rugby team.

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mrmo | 10 years ago
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//24.media.tumblr.com/8025a5cacfa52febd1a5cdb5d076cbaa/tumblr_mq1na4yH1t1rqrqs1o3_1280.jpg)

i sort of like this, not sure how you would go about getting club kits from other countries though.

Basically if you like it wear it, but be prepared for someone to complain, it is the British way.

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dunnoh | 10 years ago
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Who cares? I rode up and around the the Pym Chair/Lamaload roads (Peak District) today and was so banjaxed that i could have moonwalked home to Sale quicker. I cant remember what I was wearing never mind everyone else. Although there was some vision in Pink. Marvelous.

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SideBurn | 10 years ago
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I am sure I saw him riding round Devon with a whole bunch of others all in team kit last September... Talk about taking it too far, they even had replica team cars following them and presumably fake Police outriders!!!!
Talk about taking things too far..
And you can tell by the look on his face that he is sitting on a Chinarello  3

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Dazza_Tee | 10 years ago
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Same as any other sporting team gear really:

- watching the sport, supporting 'your' team: ok to wear

- actual member of team participating the sport: ok to wear

-attending fancy dress party with theme "my favourite sporting hero": ok to wear

- practicing for same sport but at grassroots level and you are not a member of the team and not a kid: NAFF

- competing in same sport and you are not a member of team: NAFF. Also confusing and probably against the rules of the sport (but I have seen it)

-any other time: NAFF. And just plain unfashionable in the most basic sense.

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Sensible replied to Dazza_Tee | 10 years ago
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Dazza_Tee wrote:

Same as any other sporting team gear really:

- watching the sport, supporting 'your' team: ok to wear

- actual member of team participating the sport: ok to wear

-attending fancy dress party with theme "my favourite sporting hero": ok to wear

- practicing for same sport but at grassroots level and you are not a member of the team and not a kid: NAFF

- competing in same sport and you are not a member of team: NAFF. Also confusing and probably against the rules of the sport (but I have seen it)o

-any other time: NAFF. And just plain unfashionable in the most basic sense.

In honesty, I was thinking the same as you when I started the thread. I do like the Radioshack shirt and was on the verge of buying it, but then wondered if other cyclists would take the p***. I know there is a train of thought that you wear what you like and sod everyone else. I wouln't say I'm a fashion victim but I do care what people think and I would have felt awkward n a current team top.
I am glad I have found the retro market. Some of the gear is understated and quite cool. There is also enough choice to keep me going for my cycking life.

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700c | 10 years ago
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Post deleted

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700c | 10 years ago
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Nothing wrong with wool, or at least a wool mix -of my Jerseys the retro style wool mix one is the most comfortable.

It also suits the style well

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ashfanman | 10 years ago
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Quote:

This one was made in Italy by Santini using 'Microsense' fabric, whatever that is.

It's made with a tiny bit of sense. One up from their 'nonsense' range.

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Sensible | 10 years ago
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No its not wool. They get old designs and make them from modern cycling materials. This one was made in Italy by Santini using 'Microsense' fabric, whatever that is.

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jollygoodvelo replied to Sensible | 10 years ago
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Sensible wrote:

No its not wool. They get old designs and make them from modern cycling materials. This one was made in Italy by Santini using 'Microsense' fabric, whatever that is.

I was looking at that specific jersey the other day, love it. Would go well with black bibs. Might I ask how the sizing is? How big are you and what size did you get?

I'm a 41" chest so most of the Italian makes consider me morbidly obese.  4

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andystorey replied to jollygoodvelo | 10 years ago
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Send us an email to info [at] prendas.co.uk and we'll happily help you with sizing.

Height/weight/chest/waist normally help us get the size right....

Without that XL would cover a 41 chest

a.

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Sensible replied to jollygoodvelo | 10 years ago
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Gizmo_ wrote:
Sensible wrote:

No its not wool. They get old designs and make them from modern cycling materials. This one was made in Italy by Santini using 'Microsense' fabric, whatever that is.

I was looking at that specific jersey the other day, love it. Would go well with black bibs. Might I ask how the sizing is? How big are you and what size did you get?

I'm a 41" chest so most of the Italian makes consider me morbidly obese.  4

The sizing chart was spot on for me. I am a 42.5-43" chest, 36" waist, 13 stone 6 lb, 5'11".
I went for an XXL 42-44 and it is perfect. Not too tight but not loose either. I would think you would be an XL.

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700c | 10 years ago
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Nice.

Agreed retro tops have some style and class lacking from the very modern team gear around today

Prendas ciclismo are great for the more unusual and retro tops, I highly recommend them.

Wearing my giro d'italia Maglia Nera top today, bit controversial but a lovely look, fit and feel as it's partly made from wool.

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Sensible | 10 years ago
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Orange retro San Pellegrino top arrived today. They were a cycling team from the 50's & 60's. Very pleased with it. There are some nice retro jerseys about. Thanks for all the comments.

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Leviathan replied to Sensible | 10 years ago
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Sensible wrote:

Orange retro San Pellegrino top arrived today.

I am assuming the 'retro' bit means it is not made of wool? *shudder* like in the good old days.

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Sensible | 10 years ago
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This thread has only been 'done to death' if you have been on this forum for a while. In fact I would think that most topics have been discussed here at some time or another.

So for those of us relatively new to cycling, we will keep asking the same old questions even if it is a bit irritating.

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700c replied to Sensible | 10 years ago
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Sensible wrote:

This thread has only been 'done to death' if you have been on this forum for a while. In fact I would think that most topics have been discussed here at some time or another.

So for those of us relatively new to cycling, we will keep asking the same old questions even if it is a bit irritating.

Well, ok, but the last comment was just 2 weeks ago and the thread had 160 comments!.. For reference, this is the topic I, and others are referring to: http://road.cc/content/forum/84151-why-it-considered-wanky-wear-sky-kit

Arguments went back and forth but general consensus is wear what you like

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pj replied to Sensible | 10 years ago
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...

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pj replied to Sensible | 10 years ago
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Sensible wrote:

So for those of us relatively new to cycling, we will keep asking the same old questions even if it is a bit irritating.

that's most people; judging by the ridiculous number of nodders in full team kit out on the roads every weekend.

i came across the chopper in full-on expensive team kit recently on the edge of Bristol. total douche o'clock.

//farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/8921824839_fa5e2c021f_z.jpg)

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700c | 10 years ago
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 37

This one's been done to death already! Ref the Sky kit topic

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SideBurn | 10 years ago
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See this is the sort of attitude that most people find so perplexing....

I think tradition is perplexing! A bit like not crossing the path of a black cat, passing port to the left, not passing salt hand to hand, buying a round of drinks for a hole in one, not wheel-sucking etc. You cannot expect a sport that has been around for over a century to not have traditions.
I think people are getting 'wrong' mixed up with 'un-cool'. Most cyclists seem to say wearing champions jerseys is wrong or un-cool, this was made clear to me from day one of entering a club, but so is wearing Man U kit when you are not a 'true fan' whatever that means. But what about wearing a yellow jersey on the day a countryman or favoured rider of yours wins the yellow jersey? Do not take 'the rules' too seriously, but ignore them at your peril!
The transient nature of cycling teams means that wearing an up to date jersey makes you look like you are jumping on the bandwagon of success and/or are a newbie. I bought a La vie Claire top in Hinault's day I now wear it with pride but did not wear it at the time! Tradition...
Be safe out there and do not walk under any ladders!

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spongebob | 10 years ago
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This thread has been done to death, dear road.cc make some sticky threads, perhaps a tire one a wheel one a kit one a what new bike one a show us your bikes one; there are probably more that should be included but they have slipped my mind.

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bashthebox | 10 years ago
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Yellow/Pink/Rainbow etc jerseys aside, of course you can wear what you want on the bike. But just like if you were to wear an orange and pink t-shirt down the pub plastered with logos, don't expect not to get judged for it.
"Oh but what sort of dick is so shallow that they judge people for what they wear?"
It's the sort of dick who has eyes. And a sense of aesthetics.

It doesn't mean you're a bad person. It just means you are lacking in sartorial taste. That's absolutely fine.

If you care enough to ask, you care enough that you ought not to wear it.

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KirinChris replied to bashthebox | 10 years ago
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bashthebox wrote:

Yellow/Pink/Rainbow etc jerseys aside, of course you can wear what you want on the bike. But just like if you were to wear an orange and pink t-shirt down the pub plastered with logos, don't expect not to get judged for it.
"Oh but what sort of dick is so shallow that they judge people for what they wear?"
It's the sort of dick who has eyes. And a sense of aesthetics.

It doesn't mean you're a bad person. It just means you are lacking in sartorial taste. That's absolutely fine.

If you care enough to ask, you care enough that you ought not to wear it.

Very well summarised.

The only thing I would add is that if you really want to wear team kit, join a club.

There are plenty of them out there, and they could probably use your support more than Team Sky or Radio Shack.

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3cylinder | 10 years ago
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I think it's a no-brainer that you shouldn't wear anything that is awarded (World/national champions, yellow/green/pink jerseys etc) unless you are one of the rare individuals who earned it. (if you think that it's OK to do so, why don't you put a F1 championship, World cup winners medal, and a Nobel prize on your mantelpiece too?)

Personally, I think current team kit is similar - if you made the team you get the kit, if not, you don't deserve it. But although I wouldn't do it*, I can live with team kit, and clearly the football world view of "I get the latest team kit 'cos I'm a supporter" mentality is becoming more and more common, obviously encouraged by the manufacturers. Fair play to them. *The Belkin kit would be my choice if I wasn't such a ar$e about it.

Old/retro kit is fair game. Old being anything that isn't the current kit (once the pros offload it on ebay you can fill your boots). Retro is better

The argument that Team kit is better in someway is bogus. Most of it is 'replica' and at best is no different to a top-end jersey from the same manufacturer simply because the real team kit wouldn't fit most non-racers anyway (I think it is fair to say that if you race, you have your own team kit that you probably value more than someone else's). The really esoteric stuff you can't buy anyway, and probably wouldn't want to - would you really wear the Sky ultra tight mesh stuff Froome and Porte were rocking in the tour? Really?

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Leviathan replied to 3cylinder | 10 years ago
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3cylinder wrote:

Personally, I think current team kit is similar - if you made the team you get the kit, if not, you don't deserve it. But although I wouldn't do it*, ....

Old/retro kit is fair game. Old being anything that isn't the current kit (once the pros offload it on ebay you can fill your boots). Retro is better

See this is the sort of attitude that most people find so perplexing. Most teams have a similar kit for a couple of years, they might tweek the design but the colours are the same. So when are you supposed to buy the kit? Once the team has disbanded? So you can't buy it in shops at the time and show your support, you have to wait a couple of years and buy it on ebay. So who is supposed to buy it in shops and list it for you to buy on the cheap? Or are you supposed to buy the cheap chinese knock offs if you can't tell the difference. Maybe people WANT to go to a shop and buy the real thing WHEN its available, WHEN the team is racing.
I will stoop to insults on this occasion and say that people who say this kind of thing are muppets and shouldn't go to any large public cycling or spectator event or their heads will spin.

PS:

Quote:

Most of it is 'replica' and at best is no different to a top-end jersey from the same manufacturer simply because the real team kit wouldn't fit most non-racers anyway

If it fitted Jan Ullrich or Miguel Indurain it will fit me.

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