Day 335 - Should amateur riders wear pro kit?

An article in the Cycling Weekly caught my eye this week with the headline, "should amateur riders wear pro kit?", a question which seems to trigger quite some debate. For me, one who has as his current profile picture with yours truly daubed in British Cycling Team GB kit, the answer is a simple 'yes'.

My current British Cycling profile picture 

The reason for me is easy to explain; I am both a team player - I like to support my team and wear the team colours - and I see a need to support pro cycling's sponsors. Just as many enjoy following their football team, I'm enjoying following the pro cycling tours. This year we've seen a number of sponsors drop out and teams disband. Pro cycling needs sponsors who are going to stick around and this means they need a reason to stay involved, they need exposure and a fan based income stream. What better exposure and income than a slow moving advertising hoarding in the form of a supporter proudly wearing their pro cycling replica kit!

My pro Team Sky race cape curtsey of Luke Rowe

Those in opposing camp see such supporters as wannabes looking stupid wearing pro kit and believe that the only thing a self respecting cyclist should be seen wearing is a clean, matching set of club clothing. To some extent, I also agree with this view, well the bit about the clean, matching set of club clothing anyway. However, not all cyclists belong to a club and not all clubs have a full set of clothing. When I am on a club ride, I would choose 100% to wear the club / team colours and where possible do. When out on a training ride, on my own or with a fellow cyclist, club member or not, I like to show my support to my pro teams .. our British Cycling Team and Team Sky and I see no issue with this, I am after all a paid up member of the British Cycling as well ;) OK, so British Cycling / Team GB is like wearing the country's national colours - but it's same difference in my opinion.

With the successes of Wiggo, Froome, Pendleton and Trott on the international and Olympic cycling stage and the injection of multi millions from corporate sponsors such as Sky (whether you like them or not), pro cycling is on the cusp of a new era; one which motor racing saw in the 1970s when Bernie Ecclestone rearranged the management of Formula One's commercial rights and football saw with the formation of the FA Premier League in 1992. How major a transformation pro cycling will now go through is yet to be seen, but from where I'm sitting, it's getting up a strong head of steam and I'm all for it. My British Cycling and Team Sky kit will remain part of my cycling wardrobe!

What's your view?

Pro Cycling Teams Announce New Kit

The Pro Cycling Teams have announced their new kits for 2014.

Many will by now have seen or read about Chris Froome's tweet on 31st December .. "Trying out my new 2014 @TeamSky @rapharacing kit. This skin suit takes #marginalgains to the next level pic.twitter.com/UlnSTDgVtv" which has caused quite a stir in the cycling press.

Froome trying out his new 2014 Team Sky Kit

I'm hoping this will not be on general release for the Mamil brigade .. if it does, many will be pleased to hear that it will certainly not be added to my collection!

I've also seen that Team Sky, as well as renaming themselves this year from Sky Pro Cycling, are also to use blue, rather than the green water bottles this year. It is just like a new football season, cycling has very much now entered world of big business and mass marketing. I am trying - so far not very successfully - to avoid being sucked in!

Luke, proud to be rocking the Welsh flag on his kit for 2014 ! 

Meanwhile, may be due to this being the year of the Commonwealth Games, Luke Rowe has been showing off his Welsh Dragon motif which this year replaces the Union Jack on the Sky Team's jerseys. May be something we'll need to get used to if Scotland exits the Union later this year. I am waiting to see if Wiggo and Foome will, likewise, be wearing the St George's Cross.