Author Topic: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)  (Read 5466 times)

Graeme

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Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« on: 22 January, 2021, 04:01:40 pm »
Just reading the article and twitter teacup storm about the UCI/Santaninni/Decaflon 'smile and ride' clothing range:

Link: https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/product-news/uci-and-santini-launch-official-world-championship-rainbow-bands-collection-available-exclusively-at-decathlon-488550

Teacup storm: https://twitter.com/cyclingweekly/status/1352575683504054272?s=19

Twitter will have its back and forth about who should or shouldn't wear rainbow stripes - like the full kit enthusiast arguments. What got me though, was the UCI rationale for the thing:

Quote
According to the UCI, the launch of the new collection and its sale in the Decathlon omnichannel will help make cycling more accessible to all, not only to experienced cyclists but also to the wider public, recreational cyclists and beginners

What? Seriously? How did the author keep a straight face?

Letting go the reins of my occasionally sarcastic self... Brilliant! Why did nobody think of this before? Adding rainbow stripes to the collars and cuffs of some Lycra... Why haven't CTC et al realised this before? Hey, Chris Boardman, stuff cycling infrastructure, we need more little bits of 🌈 everywhere. It's the universal symbol for cycling donchakno.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup
« Reply #1 on: 22 January, 2021, 04:31:02 pm »
The obvious comparison must be with football shirts. I think it was in the 1980s that the trend for replica football shirts started (and why are they shirts in football and rugby but jerseys in cycling?). I don't think that started more people playing grassroots football but it did lead to a boom for the top clubs and a geographical spread of football watching, with people now wearing the shirts of top English, Spanish, etc, teams in countries with no general football tradition. I can't see cycling teams benefitting in the same way as they don't have any real identity beyond their leading riders, but I can see it being good for global TV rights.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup
« Reply #2 on: 22 January, 2021, 04:34:47 pm »
By the way, did anyone else see the thread title bereft of context and think of the other sort of rainbow? At least the UCI's design being out of order avoids that confusion, unlike the NHS!
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup
« Reply #3 on: 22 January, 2021, 04:56:25 pm »
Rainbow wrists & ankles are hardly new.  They were/are featured on Tudor longs & tops, and on cycling clothing before that.  It's not the same thing as wearing a champion's rainbow jersey.

Graeme

  • @fatherhilarious.blog 🦋
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Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #4 on: 22 January, 2021, 05:34:06 pm »
It was really the marketing nonsense about how this would make cycling accessible to those who don't normally ride that made me stop and say... Um... What?!?

Graeme

  • @fatherhilarious.blog 🦋
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Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup
« Reply #5 on: 22 January, 2021, 05:35:45 pm »
By the way, did anyone else see the thread title bereft of context and think of the other sort of rainbow? At least the UCI's design being out of order avoids that confusion, unlike the NHS!

Modified... This isn't a topic I was intending to muddle up. Sorry.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup
« Reply #6 on: 22 January, 2021, 05:38:59 pm »
By the way, did anyone else see the thread title bereft of context and think of the other sort of rainbow? At least the UCI's design being out of order avoids that confusion, unlike the NHS!

Modified... This isn't a topic I was intending to muddle up. Sorry.
It was clear when I saw it was in Freewheeling, it was only before I noticed what board it was in that it occurred to me. Not really confusing.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

quixoticgeek

  • Mostly Harmless
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #7 on: 22 January, 2021, 06:45:27 pm »

I'm looking forward to being able to buy Olympic medals as a way of making Athletics more accessible to us mortals...

I'll wear it everytime I run. I'm so excited...

FFS.

J
--
Beer, bikes, and backpacking
http://b.42q.eu/

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup
« Reply #8 on: 22 January, 2021, 07:12:05 pm »
The obvious comparison must be with football shirts. I think it was in the 1980s that the trend for replica football shirts started (and why are they shirts in football and rugby but jerseys in cycling?). I don't think that started more people playing grassroots football but it did lead to a boom for the top clubs and a geographical spread of football watching, with people now wearing the shirts of top English, Spanish, etc, teams in countries with no general football tradition. I can't see cycling teams benefitting in the same way as they don't have any real identity beyond their leading riders, but I can see it being good for global TV rights.

Football and rugby were called jerseys for years but shirt has become lazy nomenclature.  I had an "almost " replica football jersey in the seventies.  These is a picture somewhere of me as a small boy proudly wearing the full replica kit in fact.

Salvatore

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Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #9 on: 22 January, 2021, 07:23:04 pm »
Footballers traditionally wear shirts. That's why they are called football shirts.

Quote
et avec John, excellent lecteur de road-book, on s'en est sortis sans erreur

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #10 on: 22 January, 2021, 07:25:05 pm »
Jerseys, shorts and stockings is the traditional football outfit description.

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #11 on: 22 January, 2021, 07:28:35 pm »

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #12 on: 22 January, 2021, 07:47:54 pm »
Adidas seem to be hedging their bets, and not just on the jersey/shirt issue!
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #13 on: 22 January, 2021, 07:52:15 pm »

I'm looking forward to being able to buy Olympic medals as a way of making Athletics more accessible to us mortals...

I'll wear it everytime I run. I'm so excited...

FFS.

J
Cheaper than a jersey/shirt/top, whether for cycling or football. Perhaps that makes the Olympics more accessible?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MemorabiliaOutlet-Olympic-2012-London-Medal/dp/B073V1QC61
https://www.etsy.com/market/olympic_medals

You can even get an Olympic medal that hasn't yet been awarded: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-FRIDAY-SALE-TOKYO-2020-TOKIO-Olympic-Replica-GOLD-MEDAL-/143550941230
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.

Graeme

  • @fatherhilarious.blog 🦋
    • Graeme's Blog
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #14 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:15:02 pm »

I'm looking forward to being able to buy Olympic medals as a way of making Athletics more accessible to us mortals...

I'll wear it everytime I run. I'm so excited...

FFS.

J
Cheaper than a jersey/shirt/top, whether for cycling or football. Perhaps that makes the Olympics more accessible?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MemorabiliaOutlet-Olympic-2012-London-Medal/dp/B073V1QC61
https://www.etsy.com/market/olympic_medals

You can even get an Olympic medal that hasn't yet been awarded: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-FRIDAY-SALE-TOKYO-2020-TOKIO-Olympic-Replica-GOLD-MEDAL-/143550941230

I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of a rabbit hole

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #15 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:19:44 pm »
Holdsworth, Ron Cooper and Eddy Merckx bikes all had rainbow stripes and no-one cared.

I think, in this moneyed age of MAMILs, dentists on Pinarellos, Rapha and Castelli, people have forgotten how Sunday club runs in the 80s and 90s were half trade tops (often a decade out of date).  They were usually cheaper than club kit and made from nicer materials.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #16 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:22:29 pm »
Terry towelling weirdness.  I've still got a System U jersey soemwhere

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #17 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:27:56 pm »
Merckx earned his stripes.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #18 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:33:32 pm »
Is anyone likely to confuse some fat mamil stuffed into a bit of rainbowed lycra for a World Champion?

No?

Next...

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #19 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:40:50 pm »
Have you seen Lemond lately?
https://tcbmag.com/greg-lemonds-next-ride/
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #20 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:44:37 pm »
Terry towelling weirdness.  I've still got a System U jersey soemwhere
The Beacon RCC Tudor Sports kit was made from a thick material (jersey and shorts) which was far too warm in summer.  Added to that, the jersey had no stretch and stuck to sweaty skin, so you needed someone else to pull it off for you after a TT.  Fnarr.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #21 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:45:38 pm »
 
Have you seen Lemond lately?
https://tcbmag.com/greg-lemonds-next-ride/

;D  Just as I hit return on that post I realised it would come back to haunt me.


Weird how so many top cyclists seem totally lose it, once they retire (apart from LA).

LittleWheelsandBig

  • Whimsy Rider
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #22 on: 22 January, 2021, 08:51:12 pm »
Lemond can still outride most people we know.
Wheel meet again, don't know where, don't know when...

Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #23 on: 22 January, 2021, 09:09:32 pm »
I was referring to the weight situation.

Cudzoziemiec

  • Ride adventurously and stop for a brew.
Re: Storm in a rainbow teacup (UCI Jersey)
« Reply #24 on: 22 January, 2021, 09:18:03 pm »

I'm looking forward to being able to buy Olympic medals as a way of making Athletics more accessible to us mortals...

I'll wear it everytime I run. I'm so excited...

FFS.

J
Cheaper than a jersey/shirt/top, whether for cycling or football. Perhaps that makes the Olympics more accessible?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MemorabiliaOutlet-Olympic-2012-London-Medal/dp/B073V1QC61
https://www.etsy.com/market/olympic_medals

You can even get an Olympic medal that hasn't yet been awarded: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-FRIDAY-SALE-TOKYO-2020-TOKIO-Olympic-Replica-GOLD-MEDAL-/143550941230

I feel like I'm teetering on the edge of a rabbit hole
There is no end of it:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143909317373
look at the "related items": "Manchester United medals" (doesn't say exactly what for), Mexico 1986 plates, etc

If you want to play at military heroes, you can do that too. Either expensively: https://www.hancocks-london.com/product/victoria-cross-replica/
or cheaply: https://www.coincraft.com/victoria-cross-replica
I can't tell the difference between the two from the photos, though I dare say it's evident in real life.

I don't think buying either of those would make anyone an actual military hero. Could it be considered part of "encouraging militarism"? Perhaps. But I doubt it's an effective recruitment mechanism.
Riding a concrete path through the nebulous and chaotic future.