cycling kit rules

[Jason Musgrave]

Team Kit: Is it poor form to employ [amongst other design elements] the same horizontal bands across the chest that a nation uses? For example blue/white/red (UK), or green/white/orange (Ireland)?

What other rules do I need to know so we're not dressed like douches?

[chasea]

Team Kit: Is it poor form to employ [amongst other design elements] the same horizontal bands across the chest that a nation uses? For example blue/white/red (UK), or green/white/orange (Ireland)?

What other rules do I need to know so we're not dressed like douches?

I see no problem employing the color of a nation's flag on a team jersey as long as the team is from that nation. Probably best for amateur teams, so as to not interfere with rules regarding national champions.

Other guidelines (as I see it):
1. Enough with the black/white/red already.
2. Lycra should not appear to be any other fabric, like denim.
3. Think of the rider and the bike as a whole. Stay within a palette or you'll wind up looking like clown puke.
4. Same as other clothing, black and white go with almost everything. But a hint of color never hurts.
5. The shorts should be no lighter than the jersey. You want to draw the eye to the chest (where the big money sponsor should be).
6. Prints can be cool or they can be corny. Choose wisely. Things that are in style will eventually look dated (tribal designs). The weirder a print is, the stronger the legs should be to back it up (see: Mapei). Cammo is also a bad idea.
7. Racing stripes are iffy. I love Chris King and Edge Composites products, but their clothing looks like it belongs on hotrod enthusiasts and professional bowlers atmo.

[R.Liverman]

Team Kit: Is it poor form to employ [amongst other design elements] the same horizontal bands across the chest that a nation uses?

I don't think so. If you avoided all possible color combinations in use by the 196 nations out there right now there would'nt be much left.

What other rules do I need to know so we're not dressed like douches?

Don't mix plaids or stripes. Also be careful of the sublimated black panel over the rump. I've seen that specific piece of Lycra go transparent more times than I can count.

[caleb]

What other rules do I need to know so we're not dressed like douches?

As a general rule, pro tour team kit is off limits. The only exceptions are defunct teams that were not USPS. If at least half the riders have been busted for doping you can likely get by with it. But even then you can wear the jersey or the bibs, never both. One of my favorites for the height of summer is an old T-Mobile jersey with the sleeves cut off and a bibs from my current team kit.

[Jason Musgrave]

talking specifically about a white jersey with blue/white/red tricolour (as in UK national champ) across the chest (along with the other logos), and Fassa Bortolo blue bibs with maybe a tiny bit of red to tie in with the red on the jersey.

no prints/plaids/tribal/etc/etc will evah find their way onto my back imho!

[Nathanrtaylor]

Sorry we broke your rule 1 this year, Chase.

Maybe pink next year.

[devlin]

Personally I don't care what people wear so long as it's co-ordinated. We look like silly clowns out there without bringing the whole shooting match down with a completely mismatched outfit. Truth be told though who cares so long as you get to ride.
Generally I wear the lbs shop kit, club kit when racing or plain non team kits with maybe the odd clothing manufacturer logo on it. I don't follow any teams only individual riders, though I could be swayed to cheer for a BMC of FDJ rider.

[chasea]

Sorry we broke your rule 1 this year, Chase.

Maybe pink next year.

Hang on to it. Its gonna be a hot retro number next year when everybody is jumping on the black/blue wave.

Personally I don't care what people wear so long as it's co-ordinated. We look like silly clowns out there without bringing the whole shooting match down with a completely mismatched outfit. Truth be told though who cares so long as you get to ride.
Generally I wear the lbs shop kit, club kit when racing or plain non team kits with maybe the odd clothing manufacturer logo on it. I don't follow any teams only individual riders, though I could be swayed to cheer for a BMC of FDJ rider.

This is about team kits specifically. I think the OP was asking for guidelines about designing them. But I tend to agree with your statement in general.

[fvracer72]

don't wear world champion stripes........unless you've earned them

[Derek Raymond]

Whatever you do, don't copy Tonton Tapis.

[joosttx]

No white or yellow bids especially if it is raining. I swear I could see Conadors crack in Last year TDF as he and AS were racing up the mountain in the misty rain. No needs that.