Lost tdf peleton riders

I got a retro OPQS jersey as a present from my wife at Xmas. It was a lovely present, and how cool of Omega to apply their Etixx brand this season and thus make my jersey immediately redundant “retro” and save me from looking like a FKW! 🙂

Back in the day when Cipollini was king of the sprinters, all through July a guy used to turn up at our local 4th cats races in full Saeco team kit and matching Cannondale. Once the Tour was over he reverted to his Reading Road club kit.

Completely against the rules, but the judges all turned a blind eye and it raised a few laughs. Which was the intention.

My inner kid loves team kit. I don’t actually have any, but back in the days of the Trek-VW mountain bike team – a time during which I drove a VW T4 and happened to ride a Trek – I was quite enamoured with the look. The combination of the two brands was kind of attractive, both aesthetically and in terms of what I perceived them to represent (durability/adventure).

I could never have afforded it at the time, but had someone given me one of the jerseys, I almost certainly would have worn it.

Passed Froome this morning on the way out of Stafford and then again in W’ton. He’s really fast

I tend to bear in mind that if no-one buys this kit, we don’t get any ‘cool’ retro jerseys in 20 years time. Live and let live – but I do have to be physically retrained from hoofing people up the anus for wearing world champion bands unless they won them at the worlds.

I never wear any replica kit from a current team though. What priceless bellends the clueless numpties look! Ha Ha!

There’s no difference between the roadie in matching Sky kit sat outside the local café after his 30 min ride (possible uploading to strava / moaning about lack of wifi), and the overweight IT consultant with his matching team DH jersey and all singing all dancing enduro gnarpoon sat on the uplift bus at BPW.
They’re all out having fun, todays FKW will be tomorrows bargain retro kit on ebay, and in 2 years time there will be a glut of cheap 2nd hand carbone specialized for sale.
As an occasional FKW myself defo live and let live. However don’t mix… Collar and cuffs should match so to speak!

Well happy to be open and admit this…

I’ve got…

A 2004 Euskatel Euskadi orange short sleeve Jersey (signed by Sami Sanchez) , a 2005 Ilas Balearas short sleeve jersey (signed by Valverde) a long sleeve winter Euskatel jersey (singed by Nieve) and a 2009 winter Movistar jersey (singed by Valverde), I’ve also got a Vattenfall Classics 2011 winter jersey too but I did take part in that, all get used, all I wear, I wear them on the CX’er when it’s proper muddy and filthy.. filthy bouy.

Jerseys are for wearing.

Trek-VW mountain bike team

Love that jersey 😀 I still have 2 of these, one bought recently from the STW classifieds. It doesn’t look too great in the pic of Roland Green above but looks classy with black shorts IMO. Won my first race in that top so it must be good 😀

There’s no difference between the roadie in matching Sky kit sat outside the local café after his 30 min ride (possible uploading to strava / moaning about lack of wifi), and the overweight IT consultant with his matching team DH jersey and all singing all dancing enduro gnarpoon sat on the uplift bus at BPW.

Thing is they generally don’t sell the Team DH Jerseys with all the sponsor names on etc. Some may look similar but there are very few replica kits

Right so it’s cool to wear the kit so long as you can pretend you’re not trying to copy the pro look 😆

Well I kinda think if it’s old retro then wear it, if it’s new or within the current year then… erm, nah.
Well, nah for me anyhoo’s.

You?

Youdowhatyalykesonnyjim 😀

I used to care about this, but now I don’t. Live and let live eh?

Well I kinda think if it’s old retro then wear it, if it’s new or within the current year then… erm, nah.

That’s just inverted snobbery IMO – I find it funny seeing roadies in retro/old jerseys, sneering at those in current pro kit. It’s just being a bike hipster basically.

But then it’s really not that big a deal is it? I’ll do a bit of gentle teasing of people who turn up dressed as Lance or Froome or whoever but no more than I’d do the same if a mate turned up in a funny outfit – just a joke amongst mates.

FWIW, when I started out cycling I was doing a different sport so didn’t have any awareness of the ‘rules’ on pro kit and had Kona, Lotto and Once team kit which I got because they looked good (IMO 😉 and were cheap at the time.

I was fairly quick though in those days which clearly annoyed some of the stereotypically grumpy roadies I met on club runs I tried out. Never did join any of those clubs though. Luckily nowadays, lots of those clubs deservedly died out and most clubs are more welcoming of noobs, even if they are dressed in full Sky regalia.

I’m pretty ambivalent about trade team jersey’s, I own a couple that I don’t wear very much but if people want to then that is fine. I do have a Belkin one from the sale that I sometimes commute in and a retro La Vie Clare that I no longer wear (going on eBay soon BTW, anyone interested?!) but won’t be buying any more.

However, I do not like race or world champ jersey’s, I do think those should ne earned. I’d never berate someone for wearing one but they’re not for me at all. My On-One socks with world champs stripes on I will only wear under tights when you can see them, OTT maybe but that’s my view.

I think it is just seeing SKY kit that gets a reaction at the moment. Anything else and you think “there’s a proper fan” or “there’s someone who can spot a bargain”… but full on SKY kit… I don’t know…. it just isn’t right. Even worse if it’s a dentist on a Pina 😆 Actually it doesn’t bother me. People who insist on wearing white shorts on a rainy day is another story all together 😯

Alternatively it’s a great sign that people are enthusiastic about cycling even if it’s just the new golf syndrome. Some of them will end up getting hooked onto our great sport and will carry on when as will inevitably happen, Sky, etc go into decline.

But then there are plenty who I think don’t like ‘their’ sport being taken over by newcomers who don’t show them proper respect, etc or who like to feel that they’re a little different by doing a minority sport…

I’m digging out my US Postal top now, that should cause a bit of conflicted frothing. Going to ride the mountain bike too 🙂

I always liked the USPS kit from an aesthetic POV – I had some of their shorts too. Don’t suppose the roadies I raced liked it though…

My favourite one (2001?) Spot the doper 🙂

That’s the vintage. Now you’ve got me scouring EBay for matching bibs….

nemesis – Member

That’s just inverted snobbery IMO – I find it funny seeing roadies in retro/old jerseys, sneering at those in current pro kit. It’s just being a bike hipster basically.

I’m not inverted, I am a snob 😛

Some pretty strange attitudes here. regarding not having earned a shirt or “it’s disrespectful”, if that’s the case WhyTF are the shirts put on the market? The industry want you to buy and presumably wear the shirts so chill out.

And then some slightly over weight, IT Manager comes along; squeezes into his Team Sky lycra and hits the road. Now my sport looks shit.

You don’t like other people taking up cycling? That’s a bit strange/elitist.
All the fat biffers in footie shirts doesn’t appear to have harmed the public’s desire for football.
Continuing the comparison with football, lots of people wear the shirts, only kids and some enthusiasts seem to go for the full kits so yeah that is a little incongruous that so many cyclists go for the full kit look. Mind you as most footie shirt wearers are going to be limiting their athletic feats to raising a pint glass or two it’s makes more sense to match the shirt up to jeans and trainers rather than shorts, socks, shin pads and boots.

I watched a race a few weeks ago and a guy there was covered in Wiggins tattoos, full team Wiggins clothing, the lot… even had a team Wiggins styled Rapha man bag. This was only shortly after the Hour ride and he already had the distance tattooed on his leg. Anything less than that is just half arsed fan boi-dom 😆

I’m digging out my US Postal top now, that should cause a bit of conflicted frothing. Going to ride the mountain bike too

You aren’t me…are you????

One of my favourite tops….I have the discovery one too (Still think it’s a smart looking jersey)….yes I thought Lance “WAS” the nutts 😳

I always catch the odd cyclist taking a double look….still, same as the rest of my other kit…it’s only getting binned when it’s no longer usable!!

TBH the only person entitled to whinge about people not being entitled to wear the rainbow jersey is Micha? Kwiatkowski and since he hasn’t popped up on this thread as yet I take it he isn’t particularly bothered.

TBH the only person entitled to whinge about people not being entitled to wear the rainbow jersey is Micha? Kwiatkowski and since he hasn’t popped up on this thread as yet I take it he isn’t particularly bothered.

there was a fella over at the bike radar forum who chipped in on a very similar thread over there, He was a paralympic world champ and said it was disrespectful to see others wear the rainbow stripes without earning them…

that said on many other threads he came across as a bit of a nobber…so other World champs may not agree…

Was at the f1 the other week. Lots and lots of people wearing the team they support tshirts, hats, coats etc… Some guy in head to toe Ferrari kit. One chap in the src clubhouse looked a little odd, full merc race overalls, gloves, shoes, balaclava and helmet, (the helmet was on) watching the earlier race. No idea if he was an actual driver or not, but did seem to be a bit odd wearing the helmet indoors….I assumed he was a slightly unhinged fan with lots of money.

tbh most of the folk having a moan that others have got a negative attitude to trade kit wearing are taking comments out of context or reading more into them than was written. Yes, there are those that are openly negative (fine by me, it’s their opinion) but most are along the lines of:-

‘I wouldn’t wear it because I think it would make me look a tit’ or ‘I wouldn’t wear rainbow stripes as I haven’t earned them’.

Now if you want to read into that that they think you look a tit that’s your prerogative but that’s not what they are saying. If I said I choose not to wear beige as a rule it doesn’t mean I think all beige wearers are tossers; it means it’s not for me. Don’t be so thinned skinned. Personally I wouldn’t want to be seen covered in another man’s sponsors (I’ve been covered in my own in the past – maybe that makes a difference); I’m not the sort of cycling fan who has favourites to the extent that I’d want to look just like them in order to support them; and I’m fortunate enough these days not to have to shop out of the bargain bin (they were in there for a reason you know) but that’s just me.

Used to see a bloke who was built for comfort not speed in full Cervelo kit from helmet to socks, riding a cervelo. He seemed like he was having a great time, and looked pretty cool (it was nice kit)

I’ve got a tee with rainbow stripes on it (bought as a pressie) which I wear occasionally, is that OK?

it was nice kit

It was. Tbh at the time I was riding a pair of Cervelos on the road and almost buckled into buying some as it was just a single sponsor (before or after the CSC tie in, I forget) from a bike firm so it almost felt like own brand kit rather than trade team kit.

I am now having serious doubts about my Planet-X merino socks with the champ stripes.

Are some of you sniffing at the >1cm of unearned stripes? I had previously thought them acceptable but wouldn’t go as far as them on a jersey.

This is a 100% serious question – I’m only 6 months in being a roadie

Planet-X merino socks with the champ stripes.

Never quite know why PX did these – I don’t think they have ever had a world champ on their books.

I’d say they were fine though. Not that my opinion should effect yours.

Some pretty strange attitudes here. regarding not having earned a shirt or “it’s disrespectful”, if that’s the case WhyTF are the shirts put on the market? The industry want you to buy and presumably wear the shirts so chill out.

Just because some idiot companies wish to make a quick buck by exploiting other people’s achievements, doesn’t mean you have to buy it. I get the argument that you can pick up cheap kit sold off in sales, but I personally wouldn’t wear it if you gave it away free.

I think if the marketing wonks asked Micha? Kwiatkowski or any of the previous world champs for their opinion, and they were able to answer truthfully, they would say it is disrespectful. These guys sweat blood to earn this stuff. I never made it beyond a cat 2 roadie, but why bother when I can just go buy a worlds jersey?

I would not, for example, wander round with a replica Olympic gold medal to demonstrate my ‘support’ for the Olympics.

It isn’t remotely important, but as it was asked about, yes I do laugh inwardly at these people, before grinding my asthmatic 25kg overweight frame up the next mild incline.

MrSmith – Member
Trade kit = the bloke who wears camo down the pub who has never seen the countryside.

POSTED 2 DAYS AGO # REPORT-POST
You can spot them a mile off though.

I would not, for example, wander round with a replica Olympic gold medal to demonstrate my ‘support’ for the Olympics.

Neither would most people. But we aren’t talking about a medal. We are discussing an item of clothing.

Was out today and saw a discarded Rapha bidon by the side of the road.
A bit unsure whether to report it, since there was no Sky logo, but I’m sure the rider would have been appropriately attired, just taking emulation to the next level.

By the way, there’s an ex-team Leopard Trek in the classifieds….

To be honest, I watched every second of the 2011 World Championships, I was fraught with nerves in those last 10kms as GB just drive the peloton from the front shedding riders after each one had put in 100%, then as Cav was boxed in with 250m to go, I made childish girly yelps, I then went nuts shouting at the telly as he held off Matt Goss in those final metres so if anyone says I dont “deserve” to wear a WC jersey they can **** the **** off….. not that I own a WC jersey but still….

I love how precious roadies get over trade team and national jerseys, its just a jersey that you are applying an overstated emotional context to, it does not happen in any other sport. If you were cold and wet on a long ride and someone handed you a WC jersey to wear to warm you up, if you didnt take it because you didnt believe you had earned the right to wear it by winning a race that 0.001% of competitive cyclists would ever have the chance of even riding in, you’d be a spectacular moron.

I love how precious roadies get over trade team and national jerseys

Not really, I see it as a bit of the old age “all the gear and no idea” type view some people take. It isn’t any different to turning up to an uplift day in full TLD pyjamas. Both equally amuse some people

Was looking for the Hinault quote about pot-belled yellow jersey wearers and stumbled across this, might be of interest. 🙂
The Grauniad on wearing replica WC/Tour jerseys

The comments have some class 😀 –

AlanEvans –
If I see somebody wearing a mountain classification jersey, I will try to beat them up the hill. I don’t have a problem with them wearing it, but they should be aware that it’s an unspoken challenge to other cyclists.

cyanidebunny –
anyone who is ahead of me on the hill is fair game, Man/woman, Child/OAP. Heck if they are passed out drunk by the side of the road, as long as they are pointing in the roughly the right direction, I count it as a victory.[/quote]

I have a couple of Reading CC jersey’s and I’m not a member anymore, can I still wear them?

It seems that the respect that the various jerseys hold within the ranks of professional riders is being
taken up by club riders. I think it was Wiggins who refused to even touch the yellow jerseys of a previous winner because he hadn’t earned the right to do so.

The amateur non club rider just looks at jersey X and thinks that looks OK in the same way that a Liverpool fan would pick up a shirt with Gerrard emblazoned on the back. It’s just replica team kit, if someone wants to be an advertising board then so what?

The national and world champion jerseys are perhaps closer to the Olympic medals mentioned by anotherdeadhero as they have a very specific meaning.