Racing Kit for Unnattached Rider??

I have a dilemma!! What cool racing kit can one wear when one is going to race unnatched? Ive never faced this because I always raced on a team....

Lets face it-going out in a neon yellow Pearl Izumi jerseys not real racy and only a complete dork would wear a jersey from a team hes not on.....

So whats left?? Maybe thos jerseys with crazy patterns or just go with plain old blue or red?

I dont know... I have one or two of my 15 year old team jerseys that have the "look" and the retro feel but they are a bit-ohhh tight?!??!

What to do?

A dude at a Cat 5 race I went to wore a Milram jersey, so you could always wear a pro squad jersey. Of course, the announcer made fun of this guy, but that's beside the point :P.

When my husband was racing unnattached he wore a dark navy blue jersey with black side panels. He's tall and relatively thin, but wearing that jersey he looked downright anorexic. It made him look much more dangerous than he actually was. I'd skip the funky patterns or anything like that. It'll just make you look like a real newbie. Go with something quiet and form fitting that doesn't make you look like a tourist.

just wear plain kit, its not a fashion contest and you will earn a lot more respect wearing plain gear than wearing sum1 else's!

I wear plain kit even though I ride for my local club (my club jersey is too baggy) I think it looks fine!

I had a primal wear tribal jersey I rode with last year. This year I'm on a club with their kit. I actually like my primal wear jersey better - fits snug.

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Cycling Blog - Training with Power

yeah-I was thinking maybe wearing the Maillot Jaune!! JUST Kidding people!!


Plain boring kit sounds best. If I lose enough weight I might be able to fit into my college teams skin suits for time trials and crits.....They are 18 years old, but still look brand new. I just need to lose about 10 more pounds!!

Wear solid black. Black jersey, shorts, helmet, everything. I saw lance training in this on OLN and he looked very fast.

It'll be the anti-kit kit and will look very cool.

IMO... whatever you do, don't wear a pro-team kit

Aint that the truth!!

i believe the rules stae you must wear a non sleveless shirt with out logos. it soesn't matter what color it is as long as it's a plain jeersey.though i've seen alot of ppl racing with kits, but you shouldn't. igf your good, someone might assume you are attached and not approach you avout riding for their team. alot of clubs have have development programs geqared for begininers and could help you our. i knoe htere are 4 just in my state that has cat 5 or junior develop programs and for a nominal fee you can get a jersey and learn tactics with them- plus get a training schedule to help you improve. good luck

Where i live (gipps victoria) the rules seems to be where whatever you like for club races (really small clubs). Many people where pro team kits (including me) - they are generally good quality. When i travel to another club i wear club kit or blank. For a big open race club kit or blank is a requirement.

Here if its a USACycling sponsored event the rule is no team kit from a team you do not actually belong to - so unless you've actually been recruited by T-Mobile or Gerolsteiner leave it at home. That said I've never seen anyone in the 5's busted for it and they are usually the only ones who don't know better.

Well. If you feel like dropping a buck there is always Assos. They Supposedly have pretty high quality gear—I've heard the analogy, "the Sidi of cycling apparel". I've never ridden it, but It is damned sexy and will make you look like a force to be reckoned with.

I'll probably be doing this myself.

www.assos.com

What's wrong with a plain white jersey?

Nothing!! I might be on a team this summer afterall, so this might all be for nothing, but yeah, a plain white Jersey maybe with a bit of black piping on the pockets and sleeve would be hot.

Ray

I rode for a team for a short while and then got sick and tired of watching them chase down breaks with their own riders in it. It was the most unorganized fawkery I have ever witnessed. They'd bring back ANYTHING with their guys in it even if it was gonna stick. Very frustrating to be in a break and look back and see 5 of your jerseys up front just pourin' it on. I rode unattached for a few crits while I found a better organized/more ethical group of guys and then hooked up with them. Do your research and find a good group. If you don' have much experience with crits and such, try and watch some...you'll see the smooth machines and the botcheries.