Jerseys

[Crankin]

I alway wear jerseys, unless it's a utility ride/shopping, and then I might wear a tech t shirt or some other top that has lycra that is more fashionable. I have long sleeve, short sleeve, and sleeveless jerseys, but over the years, I have found that I wear less of the short sleeved ones and use the long sleeved ones in the beginning of the season or cold riding and that once it's hot out, I like sleeveless. I also have a few different thickness of thermal linings in the LS jerseys. Basically, I now only buy Terry and Voler jerseys, as they fit me the way I like.
I could go for 10 days (or more, if the weather changed) without having to do laundry with jerseys, but I basically keep my stuff until I notice they are pilling, etc. The last few years, I've been better about going through my collection and throwing out ones that don't have the right fit, are pilled, or damaged in some other way. The styles and way jerseys are made have changed a lot in 15 years, and while I had a couple of jerseys I liked from 2002, they were too short and had other features I didn't really like.

[OakLeaf]

Don't worry about "acceptable" or "protocol," worry about what's comfortable for you!!!

For short transportation rides around town on my hybrid, I just wear whatever I'm wearing. Over my street clothes I'll throw a high visibility jacket (with or without the removable sleeves) with my garage door opener in the pocket. That bike has saddlebags, and I'll normally want to be carrying a purse plus whatever else I need to/from my destination (yoga gear, grocery bags, binoculars, etc) so I don't need more pockets in my clothes.

For recreational road rides I wear a jersey just because I need pockets for my phone/ID and little stuff like eyedrops and spare chamois lube - and also because I sweat and cotton turns to a sodden chafe-y mess.

I always wear sleeves, partly as a holdover from my racing days (ancient history now) and partly for sun protection.

How many to buy - how often do you ride and how often do you want to wash your jerseys? (They'll last longer if you wash them on gentle cycle or by hand, no fabric softeners, and definitely air dry.)

As far as brand - if you have a LBS where you can try them on, buy the brand(s) that fit! If you order from TE, the staff knows their product line very, very well, and if there's something they don't know off the top of their head, they'll pull a product out of the package and answer any questions you have! You can call or email and they're really great about answering questions about proportions, sizing, pocket size, zippers and seams, anything you might want to know about a garment, and they're great about returns also if you order something that doesn't work for you.

[Helene2013]

I have 2 jerseys and 3 pairs of road bike shorts and 1 bib. For roadbike, I wear the "kit" but if I'm on my hybrid, it is simply short and t-shirt. Nothing expensive (except for my bib, which I hate wearing so I keep it for those super long ride). I watch the sales and that's it.

But never training without a sports bra. Gotta preserve those, even when I'm on trainer in the basement.

I would certainly buy a whole lot more kits but I prefer to spend money on something else. And our gym clothes are washed as soon as we get back home (on in motorhome when traveling - we have a combo machine in there). So no need for 20 kits. For me. In the basement, I start with the jersey but within 5 minutes, I'm alreary in bra only. So what's the point wearing a jersey. hihi

Always short sleeve and if needed, I wear a sport coat over it or arm/leg warmers. I'm always too hot anyway if I could go chest naked.... I would. haha

[ny biker]

As others have said, there is no protocol, just what you're comfortable with.

I do road rides and occasionally mountain bike rides, no cycling for transportation. When I first started I wore cotton t-shirts. Cotton is not the most comfortable fabric, and the t-shirts tended to be too loose so they would flutter or balloon up as I rode. Bike jerseys tend to be more fitted and more breathable, therefore more comfortable. And the pockets are useful.

I like to shop and I get bored wearing the same thing over and over. And I like to wear the best possible outfit for the weather. So I have lots of jerseys. Long sleeved thermal, long sleeved regular weight, short sleeved regular weight, short sleeved lightweight, sleeveless, tank tops with built-in bra. Arm warmers (thermal and lightweight), arm coolers for warm weather, DeSoto Cool Wings (wicking bolero jacket) to wear over tank tops to protect my shoulders from the sun. Wind vests, wind breaker, water-proof and windproof jacket, wind resistant thermal jacket. Long sleeved wool base layers to wear under a jersey in cooler temps.

I prefer bright colors, avoid black (too hot) and most shades of blue and green (not visible enough from a distance). I like reflective materials on the jersey for when I ride after dark or on cloudy days. I don't like elastic around the arm openings or the bottom hem.

The brand is not important to me as long as the fit and fabric are good.

[Crankin]

NY, you and I are exactly alike when it comes to bike jerseys! I can't imagine having 2, or 5, or even 7. Mine last for years, but styles and fit have changed, so I cull the herd every year. I generally buy one new short sleeved jersey a year and 1-2 sleeveless. I am happy with my heavy thermal long sleeved jerseys, but I'd like another mid weight one and maybe another regular LS one. Of course, I love to shop (on-line), so a lot of my shopping has transferred over to cycling and other athletic apparel. Plus, I never do laundry more than 2X a week, and that is only because of all of the cycling and worse, winter sports stuff, that has to be cleaned. Otherwise, it would be 1X a week. The best part is, when we go on cycling trips, when everyone else is washing their stuff in the sink, DH and I have enough pairs of shorts and clean jerseys for the whole tour.

[shootingstar]

During the lst 10 years of cycling, I swore I would not wear a jersey.

Now I prefer for last 15 years, to wear a jersey unless I'm cycling a super short distance somewhere close to home. I have quite a number of jerseys --some more frequently worn than others. But I have not thrown out a jersey yet. I still wear jerseys 15 yrs. old. I choose fabrics that aren't too thin and durable for washing machine.

I keep cycling jerseys, tights, shorts, gloves and helmet in 2 different cities where we live. That's what you can do with too much cycling clothing. I haven't bought a cycling jersey in the past 18 months. Some years, no clothing. I never have to pack such clothing when I travel between the 2 cities.

On cycling stuff annually, I spend money on repair, occasional bike parts that wear out after several years of use. So honestly, cost-wise, cycling has become cheaper for me.

I tend to wear walking shorts if I choose something non-cycling oriented.

[Sky King]

long sleeve jersey in the cooler months but once it gets hot I wear long-sleeve sun shirts. I put a wicking camisole type top on over my sports bra and then my long sleeve sun shirt. I have 3 different ones - all bright colors, love the venting and the air flow. As I don't race I have found them to be extremely comfortable for both day rides and touring. I have a front rack bag so I don't need the pockets a jersey provides.