[Closed] How important is Club Kit to you?

Bizarre.

How about just the jersey and then whatever black shorts you like?

Of course it makes you faster, anything that lightens the wallet makes you faster.

We've moved to Kalas recently as well, really nice kit. Just the shirt for me though, don't really think I need to sport the whole team look at the speeds I'm going. That seems to be the general approach of most people in our club at least. Everything else I tend to go for Lusso, still made in the UK, fits me really well and is good value.

See Rule 14 and rule 15

Shorts should be black.Team-issue shorts should be black, with the possible exception of side-panels, which may match the rest of the team kit.
// Black shorts should also be worn with leader’s jerseys.Black shorts, or at least standard team-kit shorts, must be worn with Championship jerseys and race leadership jerseys. Don’t over-match your kit, or accept that you will look like a douche.

Cedric Gracia is now part of a company making one off self designed kit for a reasonable price. No minimum order. See pinkbike.

Even if you're road racing the comms don't care as long as it's clear which club you're with.

If you like the shorts enough to pay the cost then fine, but otherwise I can't imagine why anyone would care if you were wearing club shorts or your own.

I do have team shorts, but they are a jersey year design behind, so don't match, and have a catchline on the bum that reads like a durex sex lube catchline.

Yeah, best to go with black.

Shorts should be <span class="skimlinks-unlinked">black</span>

Well, DHB Aeron Pro is on sale at £65 with an extra 10% code, and they are black and offer a red trim at the bottom of the leg - our kit is red/white/black writing.    So for me, I think:

How about just the jersey and then whatever black shorts you like?

... is the way to go.  I know DHB might shout "budget" but actually their kit is pretty good, especially the aeron pro stuff.

Sounds good. Go for that.

I like it, although I routinely miss the ordering dates!

I've been breaking the rules recently and going full pro-kit-****er with some counterfeit lotto soudall kit from china. Actually one of the most comfortable chamois I've ever ridden in!

I know DHB might shout “budget” but actually their kit is pretty good, especially the aeron pro stuff.

First time i've heard of any snobbery towards DHB, everyone up this way just considers it good kit

How important is Club Kit to you?

My mate coined a phrase years ago when 4 of us did a Polaris event all dressed the same. He said we looked like 'Team ****' (rhymes with cat in case of swear filter) whatever that was, but it stuck & we still say, 'look, team ****' when we see team riders.
So not important at all.

up this way

North of Watford Gap Services?  😉

Its important enough to me not to join the local club which has the most hideous club kit going, sea blue and piss yellow !

Champion Systems for our club. I like my club kit and having a second cat license (not after this season!) gives me a free pair of shorts each year. I also wear black Rapha Core, and it's pretty common to wear different shorts. The minimum BC requirements to race are a jersey. That's it. Of course if you race in a skinsuit, you are sorted, but our cheap endurance skinsuit is only as aero as my shorts and jersey, I know because I tested them both extensively. My non-CS No Pinz club skinsuit is a LOT faster and worth the extra money. We have a few racing in these instead of CS kit now.

Cedric Gracia is now part of a company making one off self designed kit for a reasonable price.

About €85 for a jersey when I looked. Clearly my ''reasonable' is at a different place 😉

I always just wore a club jersey and any old black shorts. Our club kit was really good and excellent value back in 2006 when I last bought some e.g. Jersey was about £23, gillet £30. Prices seem to have gone through the roof now, was looking at replacing some and it's all Rapha pricing now...

Most kits seem to have been designed by either a blind man or a two year old with access to crayons, so anything but, really.

In that sense, it's probably the least important thing I could ever think of. Even if I rode for a club, I wouldn't wear it.

Its important enough to me not to join the local club which has the most hideous club kit going, sea blue and piss yellow !

🤨 Where do you live @tailwagger, sounds suspiciously like our club colours.

Personally I like ours, although it's a very aquired taste. Tend to wear is all the time, although it's bloody expensive so I pick up second hand jerseys when I can and not the blue club shorts, black for me, or baggies for MTB. This is our kit, leading from the front.

I always just wore a club jersey and any old black shorts. Our club kit was really good and excellent value back in 2006 when I last bought some e.g. Jersey was about £23, gillet £30. Prices seem to have gone through the roof now, was looking at replacing some and it’s all Rapha pricing now…

Our club is Castelli kit, which whilst not cheap, wasn't that much more than some of the more usual club kit manufacturers. The discount makes it cheaper to buy club kit than last years or out of season stuff at wiggle etc.

Seems like a better compromise, 'cheaper' kit wasn't as good, and was poor value as you were paying a premium for custom made cheap kit. Whereas Castelli stuff is discounted compared to the plain/branded kit in the shops even at sale prices. There's also more choice, there's normal, racey or aero jerseys for example.

his and hers shell suits for cyclists.

Most kits seem to have been designed by either a blind man or a two year old with access to crayons, so anything but, really.

Yep. Our club kit is a hot mess and I never wear it. When I decided to get a skinsuit for racing I made my own design based on the main colours of our kit. The commissaires don't mind and I get to wear something I like.

judging by my local clubs the HSW & HCC its very important, they both get a bad name as easily recognisable and love to ride in packs that ignore other road users and consequently windup the easily woundup motorist

North of Watford Gap Services?

Just a wee bit....

Where do you live @tailwagger, sounds suspiciously like our club colours.

Herefordshire

I'd rather have a club foot than wear club kit. Indeedy.

Our lovely club kit is Endura and Jackroo - similar price to their medium range kit, I'm happy to buy it and join the swarm of orange and black on the market place on a Sunday morning. Been running 50-70 riders on Sunday social rides this summer, probably 2/3 in kit, looks fantastic when you see a group of 10-12 head off representing the club and the town.

Non club rides I have a pile of stuff from a company I've worked with the last couple of years - similar price to the club kit, to be fair.

Most kits seem to have been designed by either a blind man or a two year old with access to crayons, so anything but, really.

Apparently the reason Simon Mottram started Rapha was the almost universal awfulness of trade team and club kit. He just wanted something that looked nice in a classy, understated sort of way.

Our club rule is no one shall wear matching outfits. The other rule is ‘no ****s’.

He just wanted something that looked nice in a classy, understated sort of way.

Like the Rapha EF jersey?! 😉

I never thought I'd be a club kit rider, but having joined a local road club a year ago I'll quite happily wear the club jersey (despite it not being the most fetching kit). I don't go as far as club socks, or matching bidon though...

I find other roadies are also far more sociable when I'm on solo rides in club kit. Everyone wants to have a chat about where you're from etc.

Considering I am not in a club its not important to me at all. In the very unlikely chance I did join a club i would never wear club kit.

Apparently the reason Simon Mottram started Rapha was the almost universal awfulness of trade team and club kit. He just wanted something that looked nice in a classy, understated sort of way.

This is why I buy Rapha Classic gear. The branding is incredibly subtle, the fit and finish is excellent and the longevity is phenomenal. Pro Team gear - less so...

dont moind club kit - so long as its good club kit.

I wont buy crap kit.

Lucky our club voted with their feet a few years ago and no one wore it.

Now folk use it instead of other kit as its comfy.

We are in pactimo now.

we used to use the custom arm of endura - orders were frequently late and the kit was just junk - you wore a top on race day because you had to but no further.

oh and impsport before that - was like wearing a tatty sack....

both may have upped their game now but at the time both were specced by the club because it was cheap....

If you leave the club do you still wear the jersey?????????????

Best to buy a jersey for a club 50 miles away. So when you stop at a mid-ride caff you get serious nods from other riders giving kudos for your 120 mile Sunday ride - and you look fresh as a daisy - and on that old thing too!

Assuming you set off in the opposite direction.

If you leave the club do you still wear the jersey?????????????

Have you never seen Sons Of Anarchy?!?!

I'm not a club member but prices put me off buying club kit anyway. I just bought some bib shorts from Sundried and they were so comfortable and such good value I bought another two pairs

https://www.sundried.com/products/mens-training-bib-shorts

Using the discount code FITPIXIE (found it online, not my code) got me 50% off so £25 a pair sounded like a reasonable price for something unknown. Once I had a pair and saw how nice they were (and I've done a fair few miles on them, commuting and on the tandem) I thought 2 more pairs were very much worth it

Have you never seen Sons Of Anarchy?!?

Afraid not, please enlighten me.........

Afraid not, please enlighten me………

I think you get the option of having it removed by blowtorch or knife.

If you're squeamish.........

My friend who is a secretary for a London club says they frequently get people who join the club, spend several hundred buying the kit, but then never ride with them... So effectively joining so they can buy the kit...? And its not even Rapha :p

Like the Rapha EF jersey?! 😉

I guess they're allowed one aberration. It is quite something :-/

I think you get the option of having it removed by blowtorch or knife.

Didn't realise cycling clubs were that militant, i was just thinking of cutting the emblem off the top!

I think you get the option of having it removed by blowtorch or knife.

That's what happens when you don't have the NHS 🙁

Our club kit is a hot mess and I never wear it. When I decided to get a skinsuit for racing I made my own design based on the main colours of our kit. The commissaires don’t mind and I get to...

Is the skinsuit for road racing or TT. Rules are clear - For TT no trade advertising but otherwise anything goes. For Road, under BC rules, if you are riding for a club it must be in their BC approved kit. We have normal blue kit and nice white inverted summer kit. The white kit can't be raced as it's not BC approved. Our ladies team (TW1) race in a third red variant which is approved too.

I've seen comms pull up riders not wearing the correct kit. IF you don't win, nobody will mind but if you do ... 😉

My worst faux pas was to race in a gilet, as I'd just got off a plane, had terrible jet lag and forgotten my jersey. Took a long time to live down the triathlete comments. And it was silly hot too!

both may have upped their game now but at the time both were specced by the club because it was cheap….

Endura offer a wide range of stuff, and the better stuff is good. Can be a bit of challenge with minimum order quantities though if everyone wants a slightly different style of jersey, though.

I’ve seen comms pull up riders not wearing the correct kit.

It's for road racing and crits - I've spoken to the comms at my local races about it and they're happy enough. It's obviously my club, just a cleaner design.

This thread is a strange read and just reinforces my belief that clubs, other than the chocolate biscuit or used for hitting things variety, are not for me. Therefore club kit is not important to me.

A few of us sat around a table and came up with this. No-one needs to ask where we're from but often do as a conversation starter. I sometimes forget I'm wearing it and then I'm surprised when people know where I'm from. The shorts aren't standard club kit. On events with lots of people it's handy being able to see where your mates are from kms away.

I’m not a clubby kinda guy, so not very and I didn’t even realise it was a thing for some people.

@edukator is looking quite rugged... top top too 😉

Our club jersey is really nice, but I haven’t bought it as it’s pretty pricey and I am losing weight so £85 for 6 months doesn’t seem great value. We don’t do shorts.

I’ll probably get one next year when I get to
my target weight.

On events with lots of people it’s handy being able to see where your mates are from kms away

That's a good point actually. Our yellow and blue sunburst makes it really easy to spot rider photos in event galleries amongst a sea of red and black.

Not especially but this reminds me I must get some new road kit. Need some new stuff anyway and it's a bit of support for the local bike shop and club.

I'm not much of a 'joiner'. I manage roughly one after work club ride a year and I've never made a weekend one. But still, I'm glad they're there and am happy to pay subs (which now I think of it may be overdue).

Kit itself looks okay. Nothing wrong with a bit of local pride, and when I wear it, basically, I'm happy to walk round with the name of the small town where I live emblazoned on my arse.

Can be a conversation starter for what that's worth, soemtimes randomly - wondered why I was being asked directions to some place in town when I'm 30 miles from home - ah yes. 'Cause I've got the name of the place written all over me.

Also means you get a few unearned shouts on the very rare occasions I do events or, even rarer, races. And actually for me that really does make a difference that's worth the price of the kit.

Only downside is that when wearing it I do feel I have to behave - no sailing through red lights etc - but hey you can't have everything.

Couple of times I've had to call back fellow ride captains for trying to run red lights in club kit. 🤦

More interesting debate about going off piste on club off road rides. Solution adopted appears to be to not wear club kit on off road rides. Though I think we get 40 out on a Monday night over 2-3 groups, pretty obvious who the big group is round here.

I tend only to wear club kit when racing or when I've not done a wash and its the only thing clean... but as @MoreCashThanDash says, if I'm wearing club kit I'm careful not to ride anything too cheeky.

I like our club kit colours too, the skinsuit isnt brilliant quality but at the speed I'm ploughing round a muddy field it's not doing me any harm!

Why wear matching kit if you don't have matching bikes ??

I have (and mostly tend to wear) club jerseys. I also have a few pairs of club legs (bib shorts, bib longs), which I wear because they are supremely comfy. They're pretty discrete though (black, with white text and side stripes), so noone cares (or even notices, tbh) if you wear plain black shorts, which loads do. I would say that 95% of our club riders do wear some sort of club jersey on rides though, but this isn't out of the ordinary in road clubs.

We're currently on our 4th kit supplier in as many years and I'm a bit fed up of it, especially as the recent one screwed up sizing so I had to return my order. Full credit to our previous supplier (Tactic) though - I dropped the bike on tarmac last weekend, and while I had road rash under the shorts, there wasn't a mark on the lycra. Utterly amazed!

Fortunately, we have a pro rider as club patron and they are kind enough to donate a load of their unwanted kit to the club, so our kids are kitted out like world champions!

If you leave the club do you still wear the jersey?

I've not been a member of Cambridge CC since 2008, but still wear the club jerseys / gillets when I ride as they're pretty much the only roadie kit I have.

Daern - we may be in the same club. I hear rumours that we are considering another change of supplier... I do try to get club kit as I race, but minimum order quantities from some suppliers mean that getting skinsuits can be a bit of a hassle if not enough people want them.

I do try to wear club kit if i’m doing club related stuff - not just club rides or races but stuff like riding out to help at an event.

It's pretty obvious why there are rules on club kit for competition (particularly for road racing). If you are not competing, wear whatever you like.

Club kit is very important as it means our secretary gets to politely reply to irate drivers who were held up momentarily by a member somewhere :0)

minimum order quantities from some suppliers mean that getting skinsuits can be a bit of a hassle if not enough people want them.

IIRC, Provision, who are our club supplier have a minimum order based on cost or total number or items rather than having to buy X of the same garment. Makes it easier to manage the stock and orders, on the flip side they are pretty bloody expensive!

I might be just a mountain bike riding cretin, but why do you have to wear the same gear as someone else when you're racing?
Also, why all wear the same stuff on a Sunday bimble?
I really don't get it.

Road racing is (should be) a team sport.

why do you have to wear the same gear as someone else when you’re racing?

As above, road racing is a team sport.

Also, why all wear the same stuff on a Sunday bimble?
I really don’t get it.

It's not that complicated. Some people like to show their support for the club they belong to when they are out on a club run. It's also a good way of promoting the club to potential new members.
There are thousands of people all wearing the same shirts on a Saturday to go to the pub and watch TV...

I feel slightly uncomfortable when 2 people accidentally turn up for a group ride in matching helmets, so the notion of all turning up wearing the same clothes on purpose to show we are all bezzy mates or a bit pro couldn’t be any more cringe making.

It does all make road riding sound a bit serious, but each to their own.

...the notion of all turning up wearing the same clothes on purpose to show we are all bezzy mates or a bit pro couldn’t be any more cringe making.

Fair enough, but that's not really got anything to do with a discussion about wearing club kit.

I can see both sides of the argument. When on a road bike with the club, I want to represent the club, be easily and quickly noticed, and work as a "team" to keep the pace up etc (even when just on a Sunday club ride). I see wearing a kit as part and parcel of this.

MTB is more about escapism for me. I can't abide being out in big groups (2 or 3 is fine), its about exploring new trails, immersing myself in the surroundings and the technicality of the trail, and heading for the mountains. Its definitely not a 'club' sport for me.

Totally agree with above^

I actually love my road club kit, we all think it looks good. Plus it's good visablity colours (red with yellow band, ok maybe it sounds sh1t, but it's nice!). It's an awesome club, and proud to be part of them.

But roadie time is very different to MTB riding.

tthew - Are you in Weaver Valley then? How come we never met? (or did we??) I was in them about two years or so ago. Stopped going as i lost interest in the roadie side of things.

It does all make road riding sound a bit serious, but each to their own.

That's because it is serious 110% of the time.

It’s all very Golf Club, I’ve always said road cycling is the new golf

I've mentioned this on other threads but the flip side to "seriousness" is a bit of club ethos and £2 race entries because people turn up (usually in club kit) to marshal and do timekeeping not £50+.

Having said that the MTB club/'not a club just a forum, honest' also has jerseys and does a huge amount of work for local trails and access. So I'm happy to think that jerseys are generally correlated with good things.

Tangentially relevant bragging: rode 100 miles yesterday, on a workday by linking up my commute and joining a club run afterwards, cycling clubs rock 🙂

It’s all very Golf Club, I’ve always said road cycling is the new golf

Wearing pro team kit is the new golf. Club kit goes back decades and decades. The rules and rituals surrounding the wearing of it go back before the begining of time !!

It’s all very Golf Club, I’ve always said road cycling is the new golf

My road club has been around for nearly 100 years.

My road club has been around for nearly 100 years.

Same here, and it's full of people who simply enjoy cycling in all its varieties, casual cycling, road racing, TT, off road, touring, track, Audax, etc. There are a couple of thriving weekly kids coaching sessions doing cross and MTB skills, with plans to launch a third group.
A lot of club members wear club kit, some people don't, but it's really about enjoying messing about on bikes, not clothes. I'd run a mile from golf, as would most other club members, I suspect.

tthew – Are you in Weaver Valley then? How come we never met? (or did we??) I was in them about two years or so ago. Stopped going as i lost interest in the roadie side of things.

Yep. I'm the off road secretary, if you're still not interested in road riding. 🙂👍
You may never have met me. I rarely go on the road club runs as, frankly, I find the group discipline and lack of awareness of other road users utterly embarrassing. Probably a topic for another thread.