Jerseys for Non-Jocks!
A lot of brand name cycling clothes will make you look sleek and soulless. For more personality, go vintage.
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My cycling is not optimized. I hope to keep it that way. I love that riding my bike and doing some targeted training will extend my life. But I can only do that sustainably if the hobby stays FUN.
When I started to shop for bike-specific clothing, I was disappointed to discover how little gear there was available that actually made cycling look as fun as it feels.
I’ve been told by more seasoned cyclists that Rapha’s slick kits with just-right detailing were kind of revolutionary in the early 2010s. A CyclingNews writer even says he believes Rapha “single-handedly made road cycling cool,” though he admits the amount of energy the company devoted to making films about cyclists doing interesting things also helped.
I certainly support companies just throwing money at cool people, but that sleek Rapha look doesn’t really do much for me. Unfortunately, it’s still the most dominant aesthetic you’ll find on offer, readily available from brands like Gore and Assos and Maap and Pas Normal Studios1.
There are, of course, exceptions to the rule—Ostroy and Attaquer come to mind. But I don’t think I really started to find jerseys with real personality until I started to look for them on secondhand sites like eBay. The ones I covet tend to either come from folded cycling teams that once boasted incredible sponsors, specific events that managed to find budget for a killer illustrator, and others that seem like they shouldn’t exist at all.
Wearing a jersey like the one I have of Oscar the Grouch helps me remember to keep things light and fun. Here, seven vintage cycling jerseys that I think will help you do the same.
Prices include estimated shipping costs.
Louis Garneau Tandem Rally Of Colorado cycling jersey (19” chest) - $58 /// Tandem Cycle Works is actually still in operation as a shop that specializes in selling two-person bikes. If you find yourself in Denver, suss out the vibe for me please.
Woolistic Craigslist Merino Wool Cycling Jersey (Women’s XXL) - $204 /// Is it weird to rep the digital tool that basically gutted the entire monetization stream for a lot of independent magazines? Maybe a little. Try not to think about it too hard.
Salsa Fire Flame Racing Cycling Jersey (XL) - $65 /// Flameo, hotman!
Voler Sea Otter Classic Cycling Jersey Size (XL) - $28 /// The Sea Otter Classic is a very real annual mountain bike/gravel race. I guess at some point it was sponsored by Mountain Dew?? Tight!
Giessegi Fanini 7 Up cycling jersey (S) - $42 /// A perfect color pallatte for an underrated and under-appreciated soda.
Castelli Coca Cola Light cycling jersey (M) - $80 /// Regular Coke is actually a goated post-ride recovery bev. Diet Coke, not so much. The jersey kinda goes anyway.
Descent Tonka Truck cycling jersey (Youth L) - $53 /// Yes, this is a youth large. But As soon as I saw it, I couldn’t not include it. Imagine being at your limit as you make your way up some large climb. A literal child catches up to you, then drops you, wearing this jersey. Wouldn’t you be proud of them?
For some reason, this is the brand that turns me off the most, maybe even more than Rapha. I think it’s because the designers seem to think they’re DOING something just by spreading out the letters of the logos in weird ways. Also, why are we putting people in full beige kits! You look like a thumb!