Why is it considered wanky to wear sky kit

joc wrote:
I get what your

joc wrote:

I get what your saying mate, I really do…. And I too am seduced with the great colourful characters and the romanticism of the sport. But surely wiggins Winning the Tour de France last year is also something to be celebrated. To say someone is bland because they wear a team sky kit is quite something really and reeks of snobbery.

Snobbery? Abso-fucking-lutely.
That’s not to say I don’t rejoice for every single rider out there pushing their pedals, because whether you’re doing your shopping on a creaking old mountain bike or gunning for a KOM on your local climb, riding bikes is ace.
But if you choose to berk yourself up in lycra on a carbon fibre space machine with deep rim wheels worth thousands, expect to be looked at.
Now I’m hardly the fastest person on a bike out there, and I don’t get the look right all the time either – I don’t shave my legs (yet!) – but I’ve come a long way in a few years so in a very real way, I’m laughing at myself when I see people in dodgy kit.
Most of us don’t hesitate to chuckle at the mid-life crisis man in his porsche, so why not allow yourself a wry smile when someone gets it wrong on their bike?
The main thing, though, is that people are having fun. I’m happy enough for white van man to have a laugh at me in my ridiculous clothing when he drives past, I’m self aware enough to know how I look to non cyclists. What makes me happy is that I look relatively good to my ridiculous lycra clad peer group.

Gkam84 wrote:joc wrote:

Gkam84 wrote:

joc wrote:

Simon, I would tell him, YES, because of his socks….WTF are they about?

Gkam84 wrote:

joc wrote:

A ridiculous answer……. Do you wear anything with a label on it? Or are you one of these new age hippy wanks who don’t wear shoes so your closer to the earth

How was it ridiculous? WHITE socks and BLACK shoes….really??

I wear socks, sometimes white ones, but that’s because I have white shoes…..

As for your “hippy wank” comment, if people don’t want to wear shoes, that’s up to them, who are YOU to say what’s right and wrong….

Isn’t this a complete Contradiction?? Judging someone in 1 post and then complaining when someone does the same?

Not sure what gives anyone the right to judge what other cyclist wear. I wouldn’t personally choose to wear a team kit, but others do…fine. Maybe it is a way of living out a dream and inspiring them to achieve more? Either way each to their own.
As others have said, its not really any different of wear sports wear with logo’s and brands splattered all over them. Maybe we should take the same approach for the Assos/Rapha/Castelli crowd who couldn’t complete a stage of the TDF…..if we do then I’m screwed as I have a few cycling brands with logo’s on. Or maybe those who have 1 too many beers or pies and their clothing is enhancing their investment around the midriff. They are obviously not a pro-cyclist so really get them off the road!!! (sarcasm ….just in case you hadn’t guessed)

This is a very judgmental world which I sadly have been part of and I am sure I will also be in the future for things I believe strongly about, but cycling gear choice and appearance certainly isn’t going to be 1 of them. We all have our preferences and we can give our views but not to criticise others and say 1 is right and the others is wrong.
As someone whose appearance changed dramatically several years ago through no fault or doing of my own I now notice glances and snide comments aimed at me from people who I don’t know. I’m guessing ‘most’ on here wouldn’t approve of that sort of behavior so why do it because someone has chosen to wear specific cycling clothing for the activity it was intended for?

I found the picture of the individual that was posted to be a little cruel. He obviously enjoys the sport and has worked hard to get his kit and bike up to a standard to enable him to compete. If he is into cycling there is a strong chance he reads this site or will stumble across it in the future. I know I would be gutted and annoyed to know that others are publicly making fun or laughing at me for the who world to see just because he has chosen to buy a specific design on cycling top and because of his appearance.

I find a lot on here are ‘more holy than thou’. Opinion is good, cruelty is not!
Shame on lots of you!

northstar wrote:Wear what you

northstar wrote:

Wear what you want, it’s no one’s business but yours.

All that needs to be said.

Look me in the face.
LOOK ME
Look me in the face.

LOOK ME IN THE GODDAM FACE.

Is this OK?

IS IT?

REALLY?

Wear what you want, it’s no
Wear what you want, it’s no one’s business but yours.

If you are happy with it use
If you are happy with it use it. If you feel unhappy with comments growa thicker skin.
IMHO wearing team kit it “unfortunate” as you don’t ride for that team. It’s rude (although I suppose you could say that the kit manufacturers have given permission) P
People often link this to wearing footy strip.
Well thats equally stupid if you are not playing for the team

Simpler answer – those buying
Simpler answer – those buying Sky kit now are the same sort who were wearing Livestrong kit a few years back.
It’s the obvious choice, the choice which marks you out as someone who hasn’t put much thought into what they want to project of themselves. Wear the kit because the riders you’ve heard of wear it.
It’s not the wrong choice, but it’s the bland choice.
Whatever, fine, loads of people are fine with being bland, I won’t judge you too much for it.
But the history of the sport isn’t bland. The great riders had panache. The great riders looked great as well as performing great feats.
I know I’ll never be able to match their athleticism, but I know I can make an effort and find a jersey that makes me look how I want to perform. Socks that set off a detail on my frame. I’ll do that, because Merckx did that. Fignon did that. LeMond did that.
This isn’t just an excuse to huff and puff my way around a few hills.
This is so very much more. Don’t dismiss it. Embrace it all.
It’s not compulsory, but it’s fucking great to get down into the nitty gritty.