Cycling gear and what it says about you!

Chartsengrafs

Probably a strange thread, but I hope ye will get where I'm coming from. Basically I need to pick up some 'proper' cycling gear to stop myself wearing winter running gear on the bike. Basically, does certain team gear make certain say, statements about the person wearing it? For instance I'm guessing that wearing Astana gear would make me look like one of those types wearing a Chelsea jersey in the pub?

Or am I paranoid?!! Is the An Post some fair game? I like the idea of wearing Irish gear. Cheers!

Captain Havoc

Basster wrote: »

Probably a strange thread, but I hope ye will get where I'm coming from. Basically I need to pick up some 'proper' cycling gear to stop myself wearing winter running gear on the bike. Basically, does certain team gear make certain say, statements about the person wearing it? For instance I'm guessing that wearing Astana gear would make me look like one of those types wearing a Chelsea jersey in the pub?

Or am I paranoid?!! Is the An Post some fair game? I like the idea of wearing Irish gear. Cheers!

I made a faux-pas there two years ago when I got my first road bike, I bought a TdF yellow jersey, I rarely wear it on the bike now, but it does get a reaction down the pub

Beasty

Captain Havoc wrote: »

I made a faux-pas there two years ago when I got my first road bike, I bought a TdF yellow jersey, I rarely wear it on the bike now, but it does get a reaction down the pub

I'll donate €100 to your charity if you wear that yellow jersey in this year's Tour de Kilkenny

Captain Havoc

Beasty wrote: »

I'll donate €100 to your charity if you wear that yellow jersey in this year's Tour de Kilkenny

SOLD (If I can't do TdKK, I'll make sure it's another one with you)

lescol

A must have for your first Wicklow 200 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/-_-/5360042896/

The essential accessory http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Boards.ie_cycling_jersey

Captain Havoc

lescol wrote: »

A must have for your first Wicklow 200 http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/-_-/5360042896/

The essential accessory http://wiki.boards.ie/wiki/Boards.ie_cycling_jersey

If you're going to do it, do it right:

Beasty

Captain Havoc wrote: »

SOLD (If I can't do TdKK, I'll make sure it's another one with you)

I guess I'll have to put the "Beasty" jersey on display then

dave2pvd

Basster wrote: »

Probably a strange thread, but I hope ye will get where I'm coming from. Basically I need to pick up some 'proper' cycling gear to stop myself wearing winter running gear on the bike. Basically, does certain team gear make certain say, statements about the person wearing it? For instance I'm guessing that wearing Astana gear would make me look like one of those types wearing a Chelsea jersey in the pub?

Or am I paranoid?!! Is the An Post some fair game? I like the idea of wearing Irish gear. Cheers!

To not look like a fred: only wear sponsor's logos if they are sponsoring you (includes Astana, SKT, etc). Avoid wearing TdF jerseys (yellow, polka dot, etc). Do not wear world champion stripes, unless earned. Keep it plain, HTFU and pedal harder.

petethedrummer

I'd definitely wear an an post jersey but not the whole rig out. Its pretty much like playing 5-a side, any jersey is grand, you just look like a 9 year old if you turn up in a full Man UTD kit.

I wear an an post hat all the time. I saw a girl skiing in an an post cycling jersey last year. And completely irrelevantly I once saw chinese girl in San Francisco out jogging in a Dublin jersey.

Chartsengrafs

Thanks Dave / Pete, that makes sense. And everyone else for the extremely helpful input! Shame though, I think I'd look good in polka dots. Lack of climbing ability notwithstanding...

Missed the last Boards order so I'll pick up something plain in the meantime.

Mint Sauce

my poker dot jersey has certainly got a few comments on various charity runs, and has led me to try and prove its worthyness, with various degrees of sucsess

petethedrummer

Buy the anpost jersey. I presume some of the proceeds of the sale will go to the team.

IM0

All depends on how self conscoius you are really..meh.

but buying an an post one is more of a faux pas than the astana or a protour team one, you're wearing the jersey of your national grade team, but like I say depends what stick you have to put up with (group rides) or if you do solo rides, or if indeed your in a group who cares.

depends what tribe you want in to

ednwireland

just bought a milram jersey to go with my focus (its not an izalco unfortunatly). But i do have a indurain banesto jersey and a skil miko kelly jersey. Basically wear what you like but youll be ribbed for leaders jerseys unless your alberto

martyc5674

If your not too worried about appearance a tipperary hurling shirt, shorts outside the tracksuit pants...a pair of old tackies and the hurling helmet if your a bit soft...yeah that should do it!!
I wear aldi stuff myself!!
Marty.

lescol

I tend to buy plain jerseys but then I generally will not wear clothes with advertising on them. I really don't mind what the cyclist next to me is wearing even if it is the full USPS kit, so maybe that says something about me! I have one team jersey since I asked my wife to bring me something Italian from a trip to Rome, it is lovely on a hot summers ride so is hardly worn. Have a Boards.ie jersey which has been worn twice. Black shorts, mostly white socks. Of course your cycling club gear is always cool.

poolboy

Op. I have to admit starting out i was a bit worried about what to wear not wanting to draw attention to the total newbie on the road i lurked on boards reading all the rubbish posted about euro rules, dont wear this or that dont be caught dead in anything connected to lance etc. thankfully i now pay no attention to it i wear any jersey i like the look of and am waiting for my new livestrong jersey to arrive. Basically ignore the cycling snobs (there are many) wear a polka dot jersey with yellow shorts and a radioshack gillet if thats what you want! "Its not about the clothes";)

IM0

to a point but wearing (on the bike) the yellow, polkadot, or green jersey are sins, god says so.

DirkVoodoo

poolboy wrote: »

i lurked on boards reading all the rubbish posted about euro rules, dont wear this or that dont be caught dead in anything connected to lance etc. thankfully i now pay no attention to it i wear any jersey i like the look of and am waiting for my new livestrong jersey to arrive. Basically ignore the cycling snobs (there are many) wear a polka dot jersey with yellow shorts and a radioshack gillet if thats what you want! "Its not about the clothes";)

Keep lurking

Vélo

poolboy wrote: »

"Its not about the clothes";)

:eek: You're brave!

petethedrummer

me@ucd wrote: »

but buying an an post one is more of a faux pas than the astana or a protour team one, you're wearing the jersey of your national grade team,

why not show your support by buying the jersey? I'm sure the team would be better off if more people bought the jersey and the team members would be happier as result.

Esroh

Basster.
Your local club needs you and they have a jersey to fit you

Captain Havoc

I couldn't agree more with esroh

c0rk3r

One of the best/funniest things ive ever read on cycling forum is a description of a guys first club cycle. He wore either a yellow jersey or polkadot jersey unaware of the disgust generated by this decision. Whilst they were about to climb or sprint one of the guys breaks away. A number of people are left in the pack and one turned to the jersey guy with the most ruthlessly stinging jibe ive heard "you gonna let him away with that champ". A lesson was learned that day. lol

Stick with defunct/disbanded team jerseys. Unfortunately theres a snobby view within the cycling fraternity to look down on someone wearing the latest jersey as a tour de France bandwagon jumping try hard.

IM0

Username-in-use wrote: »

One of the best/funniest things ive ever read on cycling forum is a description of a guys first club cycle. He wore either a yellow jersey or polkadot jersey unaware of the disgust generated by this decision. Whilst they were about to climb or sprint one of the guys breaks away. A number of people are left in the pack and one turned to the jersey guy with the most ruthlessly stinging jibe ive heard "you gonna let him away with that champ". A lesson was learned that day. lol

of course theres a whole other set of guys that will say club cycle and break away dont belong in the same sentance. Break aways are for races only

DirkVoodoo

There is no real comparison with cycling gear and other sporting gear. You can wear a Chelsea jersey down the pub (or when with your mate's girlfriend), you can wear a Leinster jersey out around town (pop that collar and flash those dubes Ross), but cycling gear can only really be worn on the bike unless you are heading out to a Spring Break concert.

Furthermore, since teams change, disband and reorganize pretty much every season, it is hard to "support" a team unless like the guys say it is your local club. There are few choices, with retro kit being the only really accepted one.

Then there is the case of the "tour" jerseys. If they handed out a "top goalscorer" or "hardet tackler" jersey in other sports then this might apply. After all, I can imagine that the looks of disgust would be even more severe if you went out to play 18 holes in the local golf club wearing a green blazer. You are not supporting anything, you are not even saying anything, but damn you better be able to back it up. Wear a green jersey, you better be able to kick ass in a sprint. Wear the polka dot and you should be able to glide up any hill in the big ring like a feather on the breeze. Unless of course you are making an ironic statement.

As for Livestrong kit, I really don't know where this stands, frankly I don't want to know.

The only analogue I can think of is the guy who walks out onto the pitch wearing 200 euro nike mercurial vapors - he better have the skills to back it up or people will go out of their way to show him up.

IM0

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Then there is the case of the "tour" jerseys. After al Unless of course you are making an ironic statement.

the irony is they are making an ironic statement but dont know it :eek:
so is that a double negative which makes a positive so..its not ironic then
hmmm..[rubs chin]

Captain Havoc

Username-in-use wrote: »

One of the best/funniest things ive ever read on cycling forum is a description of a guys first club cycle. He wore either a yellow jersey or polkadot jersey unaware of the disgust generated by this decision. Whilst they were about to climb or sprint one of the guys breaks away. A number of people are left in the pack and one turned to the jersey guy with the most ruthlessly stinging jibe ive heard "you gonna let him away with that champ". A lesson was learned that day. lol

Stick with defunct/disbanded team jerseys. Unfortunately theres a snobby view within the cycling fraternity to look down on someone wearing the latest jersey as a tour de France bandwagon jumping try hard.

I wore a yellow jersey on my first day out

Lumen

poolboy wrote: »

Op. I have to admit starting out i was a bit worried about what to wear not wanting to draw attention to the total newbie on the road i lurked on boards reading all the rubbish posted about euro rules, dont wear this or that dont be caught dead in anything connected to lance etc.

It is perhaps worth re-stating (for any other lurkers who might get the wrong impression) that boards cyclists are, in general, the biggest bunch of Freds going, and that the Euro rules are largely an ironic joke.

DirkVoodoo

Lumen wrote: »

It is perhaps worth re-stating (for any other lurkers who might get the wrong impression) that boards cyclists are, in general, the biggest bunch of Freds going, and that the Euro rules are largely an ironic joke.

The REAL irony of course is that, no, this is not a joke. It is very, very serious. There are days I get out of bed and cry that my teeth are not nearly white enough, my tan not deep enough and my veins not varicose enough.

lamai

Beasty wrote: »

I'll donate €100 to your charity if you wear that yellow jersey in this year's Tour de Kilkenny

:D

good man

lescol

please refer here for all your cycling apparel:- http://www.tweed.cc/style.html

dave2pvd

Lumen wrote: »

It is perhaps worth re-stating ............ that the Euro rules are largely an ironic joke.

How could you say such a thing?? I worship at that church!

hynesie

Where does the boards jersey fit into the euro rules?

(Not trying to troll here, I have some boards gear.)

Bikerbhoy

poolboy wrote: »

Op. wear a polka dot jersey with yellow shorts and a radioshack gillet if thats what you want! "Its not about the clothes";)

Ah it is .....

poolboy

As for Livestrong kit, I really don't know where this stands, frankly I don't want to know.

The only analogue I can think of is the guy who walks out onto the pitch wearing 200 euro nike mercurial vapors - he better have the skills to back it up or people will go out of their way to show him up.
I dont see the point of your analogy maybe the guy in the livestrong kit would just rather see the profits from the purchase of his gear go to a worthy charity than to some faceless multinational corporation said charity being led by a man whose recovery from cancer proved an inspiration to a loved one when they were at their lowest.

Beasty

Anyone fancy parading in this one?

pmg001

poolboy wrote: »

As for Livestrong kit, I really don't know where this stands, frankly I don't want to know.

The only analogue I can think of is the guy who walks out onto the pitch wearing 200 euro nike mercurial vapors - he better have the skills to back it up or people will go out of their way to show him up.

I dont see the point of your analogy maybe the guy in the livestrong kit would just rather see the profits from the purchase of his gear go to a worthy charity than to some faceless multinational corporation said charity being led by a man whose recovery from cancer proved an inspiration to a loved one when they were at their lowest.

I agree. This is a ridiculous statement when you consider that a lot of people here are dropping a couple of €k on bikes, wheels etc.

Lumen

poolboy wrote: »

I dont see the point of your analogy maybe the guy in the livestrong kit would just rather see the profits from the purchase of his gear go to a worthy charity than to some faceless multinational corporation said charity being led by a man whose recovery from cancer proved an inspiration to a loved one when they were at their lowest.

Indeed, Live Strong, or love cancer.

doozerie

As regards what kit to wear/not wear, it really doesn't matter. Regardless of what kit you choose some people will find some reason to sneer at it. If you buy "unbranded"/cheap kit, such as Aldi or Lidl, some cyclists will look down on you as being a rubbish/cheap cyclist and therefore beneath them. If you buy expensive kit, some cyclists (maybe even the same ones) will interpret that as you thinking you are a better cyclist than them and will look down on you for it. The truth is, cycling is often just a fashion show but with more sweat, and when it comes to kit suddenly every other person is Gok Wan (but with poor taste and a bad dose of PMT).

And even if you do find kit which doesn't elicit sneers from the road riders around you, remember that every "real" mountain biker will still look down on you. They get by on wearing nothing more than bermuda shorts and string vests themselves, all year round. They have a homophobe gene that prevents them from wearing anything tight or with lycra in it. They'll even look down on those mountain bikers that do sink so low as to wearing cycling-specific clothing (or carry a pump, wear a helmet, etc.). Take comfort from the fact though that they cry themselves to sleep 'cos the knobbly tyres on their bikes makes it too painful for them to hug it as it lies in bed beside them each night.

And the sneering doesn't stop with your kit either. Other targets are your bike frame, your wheels, whether you fit mudguards in the winter (you'll be made fun of, but you'll become the most popular rider in the group on wet days when everyone wants to be behind your wheel), whether you have a rear light on the bike, what cassette ratio you use, etc. Instead of expending energy trying to avoid derision, just use the derision as motivation to push yourself harder and make the whingers suffer during a ride.

The first consideration is whether the kit you are thinking of buying is comfortable, and effective. How it looks is further down the list of priorities. At the end of the day, you'll still look ridiculous (tight-fitting lycra plus the nappy effect of a chamois does little to flatter anyone's body), so you may as well be comfortable as some compensation.

Jawgap

Lumen wrote: »

It is perhaps worth re-stating (for any other lurkers who might get the wrong impression) that boards cyclists are, in general, the biggest bunch of Freds going, and that the Euro rules are largely an ironic joke.

What!!! Anyone know how to get a moderator fired??:)

I go for the retro stuff now - mostly because I'm of a vintage that when people see me with it on they think it's an original, rather than recently purchased!

I've a LiveStrong jersey - which has more to do with a mate who go testicular cancer rather than a Lance fetish!!

poolboy

[QUOTE=Jawgap;

I've a LiveStrong jersey - which has more to do with a mate who go testicular cancer rather than a Lance fetish!![/QUOTE]

careful such admissions are frowned upon around here by some

Tackleberry

On a slightly related topic, I came across a very quirky new take on bike helmets from Denmark, wonder would it go well on the streets of our cities?

http://www.yakkay.com/

shaungil

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

The REAL irony of course is that, no, this is not a joke. It is very, very serious. There are days I get out of bed and cry that my teeth are not nearly white enough, my tan not deep enough and my veins not varicose enough.

Hmmm interesting regarding varicose veins. Dirk what is the protocol here, looks like mine are starting to develop. This is good right? Will I need to shave my legs though?

poolboy

Lumen wrote: »

Indeed, Live Strong, or love cancer.

???

DirkVoodoo

shaungil wrote: »

Hmmm interesting regarding varicose veins. Dirk what is the protocol here, looks like mine are starting to develop. This is good right? Will I need to shave my legs though?

Oh God yes, essential step, show those veins off with pride..."blood pumps" as tom is so fond of saying.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Then there is the case of the "tour" jerseys. If they handed out a "top goalscorer" or "hardet tackler" jersey in other sports then this might apply. After all, I can imagine that the looks of disgust would be even more severe if you went out to play 18 holes in the local golf club wearing a green blazer. You are not supporting anything, you are not even saying anything, but damn you better be able to back it up. Wear a green jersey, you better be able to kick ass in a sprint. Wear the polka dot and you should be able to glide up any hill in the big ring like a feather on the breeze. Unless of course you are making an ironic statement.

As for Livestrong kit, I really don't know where this stands, frankly I don't want to know.

The only analogue I can think of is the guy who walks out onto the pitch wearing 200 euro nike mercurial vapors - he better have the skills to back it up or people will go out of their way to show him up.

The last paragraph was referring to the tour jerseys again, which is why there is the odd repetition and poor spelling, I was throwing thoughts out. Next time I'll structure it better.

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

Then there is the case of the "tour" jerseys. If they handed out a "top goalscorer" or "hardet tackler" jersey in other sports then this might apply. After all, I can imagine that the looks of disgust would be even more severe if you went out to play 18 holes in the local golf club wearing a green blazer. You are not supporting anything, you are not even saying anything, but damn you better be able to back it up. Wear a green jersey, you better be able to kick ass in a sprint. Wear the polka dot and you should be able to glide up any hill in the big ring like a feather on the breeze. Unless of course you are making an ironic statement.

The only analoguey I can think of is the guy who walks out onto the pitch wearing 200 euro nike mercurial vapors - he better have the skills to back it up or people will go out of their way to show him up.

As for Livestrong kit, I really don't know where this stands, frankly I don't want to know.

It should look like that. I don't know too many riders who would be expected to have skills because they wear livestrong kit. Go, get your livestrong kit, I honestly couldn't have a care in the world about what you wear, I just would never ever buy it. I have fashion sense, it overrides my charitable one. After all, I could just donate money to cancer research without shouting about it to everyone through my kit.

EDIT: You do realise that Nike make the Livestrong kit, as well as the 10/2 (as important a milestone in history of the gregorian calendar as "A.D.") cycling range? It's good to see that Nike are so charitable though, I have no issue with that, I mean it's nice to see a "faceless multinational" with a track record of human rights violations trying to do some good and not carve out a profit at the same time.

Lumen

poolboy wrote: »

As for Livestrong kit, I really don't know where this stands, frankly I don't want to know....maybe the guy in the livestrong kit would just rather see the profits from the purchase of his gear go to a worthy charity than to some faceless multinational corporation said charity being led by a man whose recovery from cancer proved an inspiration to a loved one when they were at their lowest.

Lumen wrote: »

Indeed, Live Strong, or love cancer.

poolboy wrote: »

???

It's a reference to (I think) this quite famous satirical cartoon.

Lance is known for portraying any criticism of himself as criticism of his cancer-fighting crusade and therefore an attack on cancer suffers everywhere. See here, for instance, where Kimmage is attempting to draw Lance on doping issues.

Hence when someone in this thread criticizes the wearing of Lance gear for whatever reason, and you respond with arguments about faceless multinationals vs cancer victims, I see ironic parallels.

Now I'm am utterly unfussed what you wear, honestly, but some people see Lance as a sanctimonious egotistical bellend, and you must therefore expect that a subset of those people would judge you negatively for wearing his gear.

As I say, I'm well past caring what I* or anyone looks like on the bike, but since this thread is about perceptions I thought it worth saying.

* ok, this may be a small fib

gimmeaminute

Lumen wrote: »

Now I'm am utterly unfussed what you wear, honestly, but some people see Lance as a sanctimonious egotistical bellend, and you must therefore expect that a subset of those people would judge you negatively for wearing his gear.

Sanctimonious egotistical bellend doper who uses the suffering of others for his own financial gain. Some people, just some people.

But on the original question I got this for Christmas and I'm still not entirely sure what it says about me:



but it may also include the words 'sanctimonious bellend'. Or possibly just 'what was he thinking?'

Lumen

gimmeaminute wrote: »

Sanctimonious egotistical bellend doper

Yeah, well I didn't want to drag this any more off-topic.

edit:

A timely pisstake from BikeSnob, which mentions the Rapha Rules of the Road, which itself refers to the Euro rules. Gaaah, vicious circle of irony! In the immortal words of the Simpsons, "Are you being sarcastic, dude?....I don't even know anymore".

Chips Lovell

You're all just a bunch of sneering elitists.

Lumen

el tonto wrote: »

You're all just a bunch of sneering elitists.

How we see ourselves:





How other people see us: