jersey fashion & age

[PamNY]

They're only going to laugh at you if they can see your butt crack through your worn out shorts.

Do you mind if I steal this sentence? I want to embroider it on a pillow.

Pam

[lph]

Do you mind if I steal this sentence? I want to embroider it on a pillow.

Pam

in beautiful flowing script, i hope. hee-hee


i have a doormat that says, in neat block letters, "GO AWAY".

[aka_kim]

I'm 48 and love my Curious George jersey, but then I've pretty much let my inner child take over anyway.

[shootingstar]

Off the bike I've been fairly conservative dresser..and for the past decade, it's probably because I've become more lazy /oblivious to current fashion trends.

And because I'm small boned and small up top, the older woman trying to show cleavage, etc. syndrome...will never apply to me.

So I will turn 50 in 2 wks. ..at this moment I am wearing a long-sleeved poly-kayak like bright blue pullover top with little high neck collar and little "BARE" floral logo festooned across my tiny covered up chest. It is not tight-fitting top on me. And a mini lycra cycling black skort.
It is 80 degrees F. I can't be bothered to tan my arms...especially after 2 hrs. of fab. whale-watching at sea this morning!

Even here in Hawaii, I won't be wearing a crop tank top nor bikini top. I know my beauty limits and what I don't look good in.

[Biciclista]

Off the bike I've been fairly conservative dresser..and for the past decade, it's probably because I've become more lazy /oblivious to current fashion trends.

And because I'm small boned and small up top, the older woman trying to show cleavage, etc. syndrome...will never apply to me.

So I will turn 50 in 2 wks. ..at this moment I am wearing a long-sleeved poly-kayak like bright blue pullover top with little high neck collar and little "BARE" floral logo festooned across my tiny covered up chest. It is not tight-fitting top on me. And a mini lycra cycling black skort.
It is 80 degrees F. I can't be bothered to tan my arms...especially after 2 hrs. of fab. whale-watching at sea this morning!

Even here in Hawaii, I won't be wearing a crop tank top nor bikini top. I know my beauty limits and what I don't look good in.

ha, look who's bragging about being in Hawaii!!

[shootingstar]

To answer on the jersey style for self only:

Tend to prefer solid coloured jerseys. If there is a design or logo, make it 1 logo or a design that is not too huge nor cluttered. On a small person, it just looks cluttered and overwhelming on me.

Though I do avoid solid pink jerseys, it is possible I could consider something on the cute side, if small design. It's a cycling jersey, not to be worn in the board room. And I'm not out there to race anyone.

Most likely I probably look more "cool" in cycling gear vs. my street clothing.

[Kalidurga]

I really hope this doesn't come across as snarky 'cause it's not intended that way, but I can't get over the number of posts in which people wonder whether it's ok to wear this or that, or ok for their bar tape to not match their saddle, or ok to have mtb pedals on their road bike, or...

If it works for you, do it. Unless it's a "square peg in a round hole" sort of situation in which doing so will cause some sort of damage to you, your bike, or to someone else, in which case seek knowledgeable advice. Otherwise, allow yourself the freedom to wear what you want to wear and have whatever gear you want to have on your bike.

[Biciclista]

I really hope this doesn't come across as snarky 'cause it's not intended that way, but I can't get over the number of posts in which people wonder whether it's ok to wear this or that, or ok for their bar tape to not match their saddle, or ok to have mtb pedals on their road bike, or...

If it works for you, do it. Unless it's a "square peg in a round hole" sort of situation in which doing so will cause some sort of damage to you, your bike, or to someone else, in which case seek knowledgeable advice. Otherwise, allow yourself the freedom to wear what you want to wear and have whatever gear you want to have on your bike.

yes, exactly. You're over 40 now, you're in charge, take control of your life and quit worrying about what others are going to think.

[lph]

I really hope this doesn't come across as snarky 'cause it's not intended that way, but I can't get over the number of posts in which people wonder whether it's ok to wear this or that, or ok for their bar tape to not match their saddle, or ok to have mtb pedals on their road bike, or...

If it works for you, do it. Unless it's a "square peg in a round hole" sort of situation in which doing so will cause some sort of damage to you, your bike, or to someone else, in which case seek knowledgeable advice. Otherwise, allow yourself the freedom to wear what you want to wear and have whatever gear you want to have on your bike.

weeell - i think what they're asking is often tongue in cheek, as in "will the style police throw rotten food at me if do x" not seriously as in "will this bar tape make them laugh at me". a lot of cyclists are fashion conscious about their bikes and clothing, but still know that it's just unimportant details.

ps. the black right eye is due to a piece of firewood that rose up and smote me when i was chopping wood two weeks ago. goes nicely with the cast but is not painful and i just fprget about it :-) dark left eye is just what i look like,

[ClockworkOrange]

Hey Miranda, wear what you feel happy in.

I seem to have spent most of my life worrying about what other people think, from parents to husband etc. Once I hit 50 and met my current partner, I suddenly felt free.

My favourite attire on my bike in the summer use to be a vest top, shorts, flip flops and no helmet.........DON'T SHOUT, I always wear a helmet thanks to you guys and trainers.

I love 'mad' shoes, my favourite boots are a pair of Dr Martens, that are black with white blobs, just like a dalmation dog!

I suppose the one thing I would not wear is anything too short, as I have gross legs.

Clock

[Biciclista]

Do you mind if I steal this sentence? I want to embroider it on a pillow.

Pam

no, not at all i just want you to know that whenever I think about this, an image comes forth which is permanently BRANDED on my brain of someone who was too cheap to buy new shorts... and I rode behind him a long long ways. (talk about Trauma!)

[DebTX]

I empathize with this question. In my teens, 20s and 30s I cared a lot about what "other people thought". The most beautiful part of turning 40 for me was watching that angst disappear.

I work in a conservative industry and have a closet full of navy/black/grey suits.

So when I'm looking for cycle clothes I gravitate to things that make me smile (dh has a Led Zep jersey). Especially as a new rider who is sometimes discouraged, I use anything as motivation to get on the bike more often (the socks pictured below are my absolute favorite).

I have a big chest, so I'm careful to avoid jersey designs that accentuate that in unpleasant ways, but other than that, if its useful, affordable and makes me smile, its a keeper (I just bought a cycling jacket on serious clearance at REI because it matches the colors of my bike - yikes!)

I have to be "serious" a lot of the time in my life. One of the things I've found I like about cycling is that I get to be a bit silly again -

And what I discovered after turning 40 is that "everybody else" is too busy worrying about themselves to give a hoot about what I'm doing...

[Aggie_Ama]

Love the socks! I wear what I want and I do not think it is indicative of my age, I have always just been a "who gives a darn" type. Since I am young, I assume this is something I will carry until old age. My 90 (91 next Monday) year old Mammaw is completely confident, I hope to be her one day. She seems to never look for approval and never has in my life. I was floored to hear straight from her mouth she really struggled to move along when her husband died, she seems so together I figured she just rolled on because life required it.

I do have days where I care what people think but more often than not I care what makes me happy.

[Crankin]

I was very conservative in my dress for a long time. Then, when I started cycling, I became a little wilder in my dress at work, at home, etc. I've moderated a bit, mostly because although I feel young, I am not, and nobody wants to see a 55 year old trying to be 25. I mean, I think that I don't look 55, but I certainly don't look 25, either. This seems to be a bit more acute right now, as I am going to school with people mostly in their 30's, with a good sprinkling of 20 somethings. The other older students look old to me...
I don't wear any "revealing" cycling clothes, but my jerseys do have some wild prints. I have the Terry hula girl jersey and the city girl one, too. Always a good conversation piece. But, I also have solid jerseys. On the other hand, I wear longer shorts because I don't think anyone would want to see me in short shorts.
And Mimi, I have been behind a "see the crack in the ***" person more than once...

[Miranda]

Wow, thx for the number of posts thus far to my question! I appreciate the feedback, and support of "just be and ride happy".

I think it has struck a cord in a couple ways for me...

In terms of my life in general, being 40, I do most certainly care less about what others think (sometimes not at all, as long as it's not purposefully hurtful). I think it comes from experience in living, and knowing how you feel in your heart alone at the end of the day is what matters. To the wind with the rest.

However, with my riding, I have definately made progress, but still feel very unsure and insecure in ways. So maybe that makes me of adolescent age in that respect? I'm breaking away from mom and dad to be independent, but still need some reassurance "is this ok" sorta thing.

As mentioned, there are definately riders who have very strong opinions about fashion and gear for the road on "looks" (regardless of age). I don't really know where that comes from originally?

I think I won't worry about it, and just ride my heart out. If I get ditched by the bike fashion police, I'll have my yellow jersey puppies to keep me company.