pittcanna may know the most accurate answer. :yesnod:

 

Because it gets them noticed?

A plus when riding, to be sure.

 

Tradition

 

or, maybe, that's what's hip.

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I ride in my race team kit almost all the time. It's not overly loud, but even if it was I would still wear it. To be honest though, the main reason is because its all I have really. When I'm spending $100+ on kit every year it doesn't leave a whole lot of room in the budget to justify spending more money on clothes, especially when after a few years I gathered enough kit to last a week without wearing one twice. I know a lot of the guys I ride with are in the same boat.

 

mm9, was it this flashy?

 

hahaha! he would have fit in perfectly with our club's halloween ride.

 

Because they can and want to?

 

If I like something and it fits my safety criteria, i.e., it's not going to make me the proverbial invisible bicyclist, I'll get it whether it's subtle, garish or in-between. If there happens to be a smattering of logos, so be it. Why be so serious?

I grew up in a family and town that liked to be fashionable. I was a hair more conservative than the people I hung around with, but not by much. I gotta say, though, that the kits I've been seeing during this year's Spring Classics are pretty ugly.

 

my jersey has no less than 18 separate logos on it. and two big fat stripes down the back.

I'll never be fastest, but I'm still in the running for best-dressed.

 

It's not my thing personally, but to each their own.

you answered your own question.

 

It's loud so you can see if the rider up the road is a team mate or not. Garish kits often mean cars should see us a little better, too.

 

My take on "flashy" kit; I like simple well constructed cycling kits. I have a few fun kits for week night riding when it comes time for it.

Iron Man
Captain America
Tron skinsuit
Yowapedal Sohoku Cyclng kit

The fit isn't that great in the kits above, which is why i keep rides to about 25 miles in them. For long rides a well fitted castelli kit is what i like.

 

I wanted to ask the question to seek understanding from cyclists point of view on the loud kits. The visibility thing and the "I wear my race kits, and don't want to spend a lot more money on kits thing" seem to make a lot of sense to me. The other thing is just good ole freedom of choice - I get that.

But, it's also interesting talking to members of the non-cycling public. Our kits seem to help create an "us and them" mentality. A few of the folks in my cycling club have been dressing down for their solo rides. Plain kits or even "commuting wear" A few are commuters and go between spandex cycling gear and more baggie type touring gear, with possibly a backpack. Anecdotally, we've all felt that when we "dress down" we are getting more courtesy from drivers, even more friendliness from walkers, joggers and folks out in neighborhoods. One guy has almost done a study on the issue. He feels strongly we can effect a communities view by what we wear.

I tried the slim fit baggie cycling shorts for a while, but the comfort vs. lycra is noticeably inferior, so I'm back to lycra full time.

I'm not really so concerned about what others think from a fashion choice perspective. My interest is really about what is going to make us a little safer out there (and comfortable).

 

I wanted to ask the question to seek understanding from cyclists point of view on the loud kits. The visibility thing and the "I wear my race kits, and don't want to spend a lot more money on kits thing" seem to make a lot of sense to me. The other thing is just good ole freedom of choice - I get that.

If you get it then why are you asking?

 

I've found that regardless of how subdued or garish my kit is, motorist will treat me with respect if I do the same with them...i.e. move out of their way.

 

I receive adequate positive feedback from many non-cyclists when dressed in standard race kit.

it's more about how you conduct yourself on the bike, not how you look.

 

it's more about how you conduct yourself on the bike, not how you look.

This, I yield or take the right of way just as I would when driving. And a goodly number of drivers will thank me when I yield them the right of way that is theirs.

It seems that many drivers don't expect the cyclist to give them their due, and are pleasantly surprised when they get it. Probably goes a long way in the public relations dept.

 

I don't think I have any "kits"

I have some jerseys, some with designs and some solid colors, but all my shorts are black. So that's not really a "kit," is it? "Kit" is just British for "uniform" or "outfit", isn't it? I never use the term -- it just sounds silly and pretentious for me. I'm just a guy riding a bike. (But I'm not criticizing anyone who chooses to use it in reference to their own clothes).

 

I have some jerseys, some with designs and some solid colors, but all my shorts are black. So that's not really a "kit," is it? "Kit" is just British for "uniform" or "outfit", isn't it? I never use the term -- it just sounds silly and pretentious for me. I'm just a guy riding a bike. (But I'm not criticizing anyone who chooses to use it in reference to their own clothes).

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't "kit" a relatively new term or newly used term? Back in my college "club" days (1989 plus), I don't remember using the term at all. We had team jerseys and skin suits, but no team shorts or bibs. Whatever we used, we didn't call them "kits."

I really don't think using "kit" or not has any impact on safety, perception, riding ability, etc. Some people like it and some don't. I try not to judge. For example, some people look down on "weight weenies" that can't "put their money where their mouth is" and ride fast. To me, being a "weight weenie" is a stand alone hobby. Some people just like it because they like it in a way completely unconnected to riding skills. I don't disparage this and I don't disparage "kits."

 

When I put on a tight solid-colored bike jersey, my man shoulders are diminished to nothing, while all my less desirable curves become highlighted. My pecs turn into man-boobs, and my stomach takes on the appearance of a bundt cake draped in saran wrap - Skin-tight spandex/polyester exaggerates every bulge and roll of my torso.

The wild colors, stripes, and logos of a flashy jersey do a really good job of camoflauging the unsavory contours of the male body.

On a related note, the main reason why I finally made the jump to bib shorts was because the straps completely conceal my otherwise protruding nipples.

 

When I put on a tight solid-colored bike jersey, my man shoulders are diminished to nothing, while all my less desirable curves become highlighted. My pecs turn into man-boobs, and my stomach takes on the appearance of a bundt cake draped in saran wrap - Skin-tight spandex/polyester exaggerates every bulge and roll of my torso.

The wild colors, stripes, and logos of a flashy jersey do a really good job of camoflauging the otherwise unsavory contours of the male body.

On a related note, the main reason why I finally made the jump to bib shorts was because the straps completely conceal my otherwise protruding nipples.

Haha! Brilliant humor.

 

Matching bibs didn't start appearing until the 90's. In the early 90's, logo's or names were "silk screened" onto Bibs. The silk screened logo's started to peel off after a year.

 

I don't buy pro team kits but I have several kits including some RBR ones. Some of my favorite kits are made by Giordana and have excellent shorts and full zip jerseys. I think I have around 6 kits and 6-7 pair of black shorts and a bunch of assorted jerseys to wear with the black shorts. I also have 3 hiviz yellow Voler commuter jerseys that also have reflective strips. I like to be seen, not much in the way of shoulders around here. I'm also in rural NE Texas where cyclists are few and far between, but I haven't had any real issues with the local ******* population. In fact, the times I have flatted out in the countryside, it's usually a guy in a pickup and John Deere hat that stops to see if I'm ok.

 

I have a Sufferfest Darkside kit but really just have black shorts or bibs otherwise and various jerseys that have motivating designs like my Marine Corps jerseys get me to push myself a little harder. I wear them for me and since it's my ride I will do it my way. I get the not wanting to be flashy and all that, but I am getting to old to care what others think and enjoy seeing others enjoy there thing as well.

 

Mapei team kit head to toe . If this is not flashy I don't know what is .

 

Flashy as heck but oh so beautiful. Too bad my Mapei jersey bit the dust a few years back. But I still got my Mapei Colnago.

 

In Australia at least there seems to be a move way from the logo'ed team kits and more into designs with a lean towards "fashion".
Designs more based around patterns and geometrics such as those from http://www.attaquer.com.au, Pedal Mafia - We Ride Your Streets, http://http://blacksheepcycling.cc/ and ourselves.

 

It's not just the Aussies, there are many many others. One simply needs to look on IG to see:

https://www.instagram.com/wtfkits/

Examples:

 

If we are showing off designs:

https://www.instagram.com/lapinbike/

 

This was from an article in our local newspaper I dug up. It was a comment from a reader who lives in town. There is a battle between drivers and cyclists there. I thought the outfit comment was funny and related to this discussion.

“The majority cruise down the middle nowadays, oblivious to (or not giving a damn) about blocking traffic. Plus, why grown men see a need to wear outfits that seem more appropriate for 10-year-old ballet dancers is one of life’s great mysteries.”

 

I only ride naked now everyone sees me.



At least I'm naked under my stylish multicolored fashionable cycling kit. I buy what looks good I like to match my bike and gear. I actually don't much care what folks in the cars think. I'm pretty sure few of them notice how good I look.