Jersey & Bib Shorts - Matching or not?!?

I get the feeling the cycling community is, sadly, as judgemental as any other sport or pasttime. Wear what you like and everyone else can go fuck themselves.

Retro jersey will plain shorts looks great. It's what I wear.

It is each to their own, wear what you want, but expect to get funny looks, a bit of chat and dropped off the back if you are wearing full pro gear.

I know a few clubs where people have showed up as a FKW and been told to go away, even if they have been a member for years.

Up to you, of course, but if you really want to wear team kit, why not check out the retro ones at places like Prendas (but match a team jersey with plain shorts).

Or you could join a club and wear matching club kit (which is usually subsidised by a sponsor - e.g. we get Sportful jerseys for about £40, and that sort of saving adds up).

Just don't wear head to toe Rapha, with or without a Sky logo on it, or people will avoid you, assuming that you're going to play leapfrog all day / fall off in front of them ( ... lights fuse; runs away).

It certainly didn't start with Team Sky, it was a long used phrase in football that has made it over to cycling.

It is the fat overweight football fan, who went down the park for a kick about with his son wearing a team jersey with his name on the back, matching shorts and socks. THAT was a full kit wanker.

Now things have jumped over to cycling, it holds the same meaning, don't go wearing FULL team kit (Jersey, Bibs, Cap, Gloves, Socks and Bike) if you are not with that team, go get a local clubs kit and join them

The Full Kit Wa*kers always make me smile as invariably it's full Sky rig & bike, or is around here.

If you're going to dress the part then expect some knowing smiles as others tap past you effortlessly on the hills, which again, appears the norm around here.

If you're riding a bike that's great, I couldn't care less what you're wearing. Personally if I wear bibs they are always black, because they go with anything and that's what I have.

Where wtf you want. If you think that the opinions of people who care what you wear (anywhere, not just on the bike) matter, then dress to conform to those opinions. If you don't think other people's opinions matter, then wear what you want. Essentially, wear what makes *you* comfortable.

If I see you in full team kit, I will have an opinion - but, crucially, I'll keep it to myself, so you'll never need to worry about it. If I see you wearing a pair of white shorts that are worn to transparency in the builder's cleavage area you may spot the momentary grimace as I avert my eyes, but you still won't hear an opinion on them from me.

If you want to ride around in a full clown outfit, or a wetsuit and fins, or a little pink tutu; then, more power to you.

One of the reasons I love my Howies shorts so much is that they are the very blackest of black shorts, with a small dark grey logo. They're not even shiny...

There is only one rule as far as I'm concerned, and that is that the crackular region of bib shorts should be black. Always and without exception. No excuses.

Now, if you choose to wear team kit, that's up to you. I personally think team kit is OK, but I wouldn't wear national/world champion jersey. Don't mix it up though: Sky top with Mapei bibs would make my OCD itch.

Rule #17 Team kit is for members of the team.
Wearing Pro team kit is also questionable if you’re not paid to wear it. If you must fly the colours of Pro teams, all garments should match perfectly, i.e. no Mapei jersey with Kelme shorts and Telekom socks.

There are way too many cyclists who think these are real cycling rules. Wear what ever you want and "The Rules" be dammed.

In certain circles it is deemed uncool to wear full professional team kits when you are not a professional in that team.

This started by mocking those extremists that, for instance, would buy Team Sky shorts, jersey, socks, a Team Sky Kask helmet, with a team Sky Pinarello.... i.e. that did everything to dress like their favourite pros...

Now as is the way in this new virtual world, this idea of mocking these extremists has expanded to mocking anyone that wears any replica team clothes in any form, and indeed is expanding to anyone that makes any real effort to wear team kit etc.

Personally speaking, people can wear what they want.

However, I tend to match my shorts and jerseys... can't help myself.

I was out training with my team mate the other day and we were in matching team kit, on matching bikes etc... and on one part I thought we looked proper boss... then I realised that to members of the general public we'll simply look like a pair of chumps wearing matching kit... hell people probably thought we were a pair of kitch, gay lovers or something.

Then I realised that you can't please everyone/anyone, so you might as well please yourself.