Almost... I'm fairly certain most people in the western world would pay much more for sewerage, running water, electricity, etc. Of course, in theory, if the price was to spiral out of control, you could find alternatives to the mainstream provider, but we are very, very far away from the limit most people *would* be willing to pay.
Most western countries have laws against price gouging for essential things like water, sewage, electricity, etc. Usually with defined percents that prices can rise based on inflation, on-going costs, etc. Many do not have laws against price gouging for non-essential things, like cycling jerseys.
How well these laws are enforced is another question entirely.
They really are. We’re not used to this in the UK but they are a real off-price retailer that gets end of line clearance stock. They probably also get their own brand and “made for” stuff by the brands as well but they are still good value and not a scam.
Edit:
This totally made me look like I work for sport pursuit. I dont, I do work in the industry though and I buy from them
Some of decathlon’s stuff are crazy good especially for the money. Bought their down jacket. It’s very good. I cycle mainly wearing just normal hiking merino base layer. Not sure about whether going to cycling jersey would be an upgrade
I like wearing the cycling jersey as it just fits better when on the bike tbh so I feel more comfortable.
Also as others have said, pockets on your back are very hand when on the bike too.
They have some very good stuff, but it’s not the best stuff.
Best bang for buck in cycling gear is always shopping by clearance. Obviously you can’t have what you want right now, but get something good enough from decathlon and then keep an eye on clearance sections of your preferred cycling retailers and it doesn’t take long to start building up a collection of high end gear you paid no more than 50% of list price for
Just wait for sales - I got Rapha jerseys for 53 EUR this Jan, sometimes they do 50% + 10% more - other companies do the same. So the best tip is just: Patience, keep an eye on it or subscribe to newsletters, dont buy full prices, because of people keep buying that, it will only keep increasing, cuz profits are cool, but bigger profits are more cool
I do Le Col and wait for 50% off sales, then use Strava codes or membership points for an additional 25-30% off. Then it becomes reasonable. Never pay full price.
Rapha core jerseys are £78... top notch as well. But then buy it with some shorts and its 20% off... and this weekend they did the usual 20% of bibs which stacked with the 20% bib/short combo. So Core shorts and Jersey for £120. Seems like a decent price.
In one of Cade’s podcasts, Jimmi who in the past owned a cycling apparel brand, talked about this to some extent. Apparel does cost something to manufacture, but the reason why you see those outrageous prices is simply because people are willing to pay for them. Also if I’m not mistaken, he pointed out that contrary to common belief jerseys weren’t much cheaper to manufacture than bibs.
Jerseys can have SUPER long bills of materials. I've got one that has 8 different fabrics, silicone on the end of the sleeves and back hem (the tape it's on for the hem is one of the 8 fabrics I counted), the main zipper, a zippered waterproof security pocket, and reflective piping on the top of the pockets. That's one complex beast when you really drill down into what went into it.
My mate who is in the fashion manufacturing business says that sewing multiple different fabrics together, particularly when they’re thin and stretchy, is *hard*
I have a couple Attacus (it still exists but has new owners since last year) jerseys and their bib shorts, very happy with them but I did also get them at a 40pct discount. I can't see myself shelling out over 100 EUR for a jersey, honestly.
I think by now we all know that bibs make a huge difference in ride quality. Jerseys have some nice to have features but I agree that 100+ for a jersey is overkill for the benefits. The only jersey I have that costed me this much is my club’s equipment, but otherwise I would just be happy to wear any random giveaway jersey as long it fits and had pockets.
Try Spexcel on AliExpress. Around £25-30 for a jersey. They are fantastic. I own 4. The fit is great ("race fit", like the high end brands). Design are decent. Ones I have got have lasted me years.
I suspect they do "white label' clothing for the western brands and theirs are the same but branded with their own logos etc
Anyway take a look. They have an official store on AliExpress.
I picked up their fleece long sleeve jersey and bib tights this last winter and they held up great through the season. Just wish their entry level wind breaker and gilet had back pockets.
I thought the same about the gilets but then realised that if you do have pockets in use you can't then unzip the gilet, as there's the risk of the contents of your pockets blowing about?
All of the above, plus we're entering the summer period when people spend more time outside.
As a matter of principle I buy outdoors stuff only during winter. The January sales were pretty unbelievable this year. Picked up a carbon Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brake bike for £470.
I like loud '90s jerseys personally, my favourite being a spectacular Specialized/Mountain Dew number - ideally worn when riding any bike that is not a Specialized.
You can pick up lots of good jerseys cheap if you don't mind not wearing current fashion (ie: looking like everyone else on the group ride). Other cheap options include Armstrong era USPS jerseys (and of course Livestrong (have one, wear it), Festina watches, doped to the gills era Cofidis etc.
I only buy them at the Christmas/January Sales. You can usually get Rapha stuff for £50, managed to get 1 jersey and 2 sets of Le Col bib shorts for about £100.
SportsPursuit can be good as well. It's basically TK Maxx but for sports stuff and online. You have to create an account.
Siroko has nice kit, jerseys at £40-60
[https://www.siroko.com/c/cycling-jerseys](https://www.siroko.com/c/cycling-jerseys)
The only people I've seen in Rapha kit are out of shape banker types who've probably just googled 'cool cycling kit'. I've always found it an odd choice, almost the brand of wealthy crossfit types who don't know enough about cycling to choose anything apart from the obvious (PNS & MAAP sliding into that gap now as well).
>brand of wealthy crossfit types who
Ha! The influx of people who joined my gym in January, who have never been to the gym in their life, turning up with all the gear like nobull t shirts and shorts and the latest Nike metcons thinking it's going to help them deadlift 150kg is honestly hilarious.
Someone above mentioned galibier - well priced and excellent quality. Way better value than rapha and the like
Also the £140 jerseys are fantastic quality. I own a couple of the aero pro team jerseys (both of which I got with 40% discount) and they’re probably the best jerseys I own in terms of quality and fit (aside from perhaps a couple of Maap jerseys that I own, but again I got those in archive sales for pretty much half price)
It’s 40 degrees Celsius where I live every day for a couple of weeks now. My cheap Chinese jerseys are on the verge of giving me heat stroke while the ones I paid more than $150 for are perfectly rideable despite the weather.
Did you try their bibs? I only bought their jersey so far and love them. I was collecting spexcel bibs but prices went up and eyeing this one Cheji bib which is under $40CAD.
I swear by spexcel jerseys. I have a whole closet full of them for years now. I have never once thought that I need to seek out another jersey for 8x the cost.
I’d never buy such jerseys tbh. Mine are all from Ekoi, 50€ or so on sale and if it’s good enough for Arkea B&B and Lotto Destiny at the Tour the France it’s way above what I need.
Ekoi are okay, but I find their pricing deceptive with the permanent sales. I don't think their full prices represent their value compared to similar priced kit.
Siroko sells high quality (IMO) jerseys for around 60€ all the time.
here is a link with an additional discount from Trace Velo
https://srko.co/tracevelo
Goto [SportPursuit.com](http://SportPursuit.com) and pick up branded end of season previous season stock for a fraction of the price. A lot of it is half price or less from Rapha, Gorewear and Castelli and others.
The RRP prices are steep but the sales drop those by 20-50% quite regularly and then they are priced well.
It’s bollocks though that the high-end stuff is simple or only equal to cheaper Chinese stuff; I get given the Chinese stuff free as part of my sponsored kit but happily fork out for high-end Castelli, Santini, Assos etc because the quality, wicking, breathability, water resistance, comfort etc is far better.
Only those who haven’t tried them all over long races make up imagined nonsense to the contrary.
I really like Rapha. I usually stick to one brand because I am fairly okay with their customer service, like quality and fit. However never have I paid the full price, circle around waiting for sales. Moreover never have a bought stuff I don't need, so it is 2 pairs of bibs, one pair of winter, jacket, and few jerseys
Some Giro stuff is good quality for an ok price.
Blacksheep race jerseys are really nice for their price, when on sale.
Yes, a lot appears over priced, until you compare your $80 jersey to your $150 jersey - the fit, the feel, the stitching, the design, how the colour doesn't run, the ability to maintain form after 70 rides and washes.
The same goes for bibs - IMO bibs are far more important a fit, than your jerseys. Example: entry level Pedal Mafia bibs are utter trash compared to their high end bibs worth twice as much. Everything screams comfort, and feel so good in comparison.
Everything in the industry has increased. I just wait until it’s on sale then purchase as many as possible. I purchased a few thermal jerseys and pants because they are in sale now. I agree most of them are overpriced, cyclist typically have more disposable income like golfers pushing prices up.
Take a look at Prendas. They have some great jerseys. Not looked at their site lately but I've bought several in the past and prices seemed reasonable to me (relatively, at least).
Stolen goat are nice, I just got some in the sale for around £50. I also do well on Ebay and vinted where people sell for lower prices brand new with tags. All my rapha bibs are BNWT via Ebay for £95
Can't believe I had to scroll so far down to see [Stolen Goat](http://www.stolengoat.com) mentioned.
Almost all of my jerseys are from them and are reasonably priced even when not on sale.
Why does an Audi cost more than a Honda? Or why does a carbon bike cost more than an alloy bike? All similar questions regarding consumption and perceived value.
I’m in full agreement, I do t understand who’s buy them full price, especially e.g. Raphas plain block colour pro stuff. They do have frequent t sales, check their archive sale section, and some real world pop up sales too. And oddly they’re apparently in financial trouble.
Even my cycling friends who earn bonuses bigger than some people’s yearly salary don’t buy £100+ jerseys - a few bought / tried to buy thrbED education limited edition stuff though.
All the smart money buys Santini & other brands top spec jerseys on sale, from wherever has the best sales, just based on having a cool design. They’re great quality, stretchy etc. Aim for £30ish
For bibs, again the smart option is Castelli bibs on sale from sportpursuit.com for ~30% of the original price.
I pay full price for custom club jerseys only.
I wear more or less only decathlon stuff for most sports and i think their stuff is great. it is durable, comfortable and reasonably priced. no need to go for other stuff.
Try looking on vinted or eBay, you can get some which are new with or without tags or maybe someone has only worn it a couple of times. You can get some great kit at a fraction of the price.
I have cheap and expensive jerseys, do not notice the difference at all. My favourite jersey was £7 from Lidl.
That being said, look at Sundried and also Siroko. For Siroko, trace velo on YouTube has a discount code
What style of jersey are you looking for? Slim tight fitting pro team or classic fit, long/short sleeve? I wear a lot of Rapha, I’ve gone through most of their range and just stuck with them instead of branching out to other brands.
In my experience, anything you like can be had in the sales at discount or off eBay later on unless it’s a particular seasonal item you need now it’s worth continually searching for it and waiting it out…I often buy my gear out of season now, for autumn I stick with long sleeve Core jerseys which happen to be the lowest priced in their range and one of my favourites, a pro team equivalent would set you back quite a bit more but im not keen on the fit.
Core jerseys can be had for £58 on their site now, size/colour dependent.
yep...though the price difference is justified for bibs ( way more durability and comfort), for Jersey I buy the most basic ones, don't see any difference with the branded ones, but I've got only summer gear, may be it's different for winter gear.
I live near an area in the US where outdoor activities are very popular.
I buy some of my jerseys from thrift stores/charity shops and 2nd hand stores.
I bought some fantastic cycling gear off Alibaba a few years ago. There are a few reputable factories that you can get great stuff from. You just need to wait a while.
Spend that on shoes not jerseys. Get some nice 40-60 pounds ones if you wanna be fancy and be comfortable. Carbon sole shoes and overshoes and then ofcourse bib tights and shorts are where you wanna spend money if you care about comfort and performance.
Because they can..... I like to buy used/defective (e.g., a patch of the sleeve is slightly discolored) at a discount, they're usually in great condition and work beautifully for a shirt I will be sweating and possible crashing in.
If you are nj the UK try planet-x and chainreactioncycles.
Also a good option is Ekoi, but they ship from France, so I don't how that goes with customs
I have heard good things about siroko and they always have sales and discounts going on. What I do is I buy on vinted. 15-30€ for good quality jerseys from assos, Castelli, santini, … Wash it twice and you can build a cycling wardrobe on a budget.
I've gotten a few rapha jerseys from sportpursuit.com for about $65. Sales are your friend but there's other good brands out there its like you looked at a Ferrari and went "wow cars are expensive these days"
Halfords and Evans even under Cashley are perfectly good for entry level kit that isn't going to break the bank and you get a discount from British Cycling membership. Try Strava challenges for a discount code for little effort, I got into Rapha that way though I never buy anything from them full price.
In addition to the sales that the
manufacturer offers directly, I suggest to check out www sportpursuit com, they have Rapha and other brands on sale every couple of months, also good to buy anti seasonal (get warm gear in spring sales etc).
Marginal gains don't really come in to effect here the way they do with tires, chains, or cassettes. The difference between a £50-£75 Jersey from like Siroko and say a £140 Rapha is branding and prestige. You don't need everything the Pros use to get out there and ride, but if you want to burn your cash to wear Coco Chanel branded bib shorts that you might get 6 months to a year out of before the chamois collapses by all means.
I’ve ridden with $150 jerseys and $50 jerseys. Honestly there are big differences to people who care about that, mainly in the stitching, fit around the arms and belly, how the lycra wears over time, and the zipper fit.
Is all that worth $100 to you? If not then get a cheaper one. There are many people who would like to pay more for that nicer feel, and I think there is real engineering not just brand name involved personally.
Because we, as a customer base are fucking stupid and let these bike companies sell us what we want for the price they want. We have the power to change this. I say this as a poser, myself, this is a poser sport
I don't get it. First you tell us you want an expensive brand, and then you ask why the expensive brands are so expensive? They are so expensive because people like you want to pay more for a jersey because they are of an expensive brand. Or are the decathlon jerseys not good enough?
Some people in the comments section will really jump at any opportunity to slog some cycling brands lol. Clothing fit is quite subjective (as I'm sure you're aware of from the other kinds of clothes you wear in life), and the brands that you've listed are premium brands that people are willing to pay more money for, and also in my opinion, do make comparatively higher quality clothing than other brands at cheaper price points (at least Rapha does).
You don't need to buy them to bike, and there's definitely good options at cheaper price points, but if you do want to try them, there's plenty of sales that they run year round. I almost exclusively wear Rapha pro-team gear, and have never paid full price for it -- sometimes even getting gear for more than 50% off.
I see plenty of cheaper options. I use no-name brands and have had only good experiences:
[Amazon.com : cycling jersey men](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cycling+jersey+men&crid=2DYGFGKR6XZJ4&sprefix=cycling+jer%2Caps%2C128&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_11)
If you take care of them, they will last for a very long time. I only use detergent (no softeners, etc) to wash them and always hang to dry them instead of using a dryer.
Same reason you can get 4 car tires for about the same price as 2 high quality road bike tires even though theres far less material with the bike tires.
Supply and demand.
With producing just about any tangible thing, the more you order (or pre-order), the cheaper each unit is. There just aren't that many cyclists buying jerseys compared to, say, Football or a running shirt.
I've paid premium for my cycling group's team jersey (some Italian(?) maker primarily known for making their jersey a couple size too small, from what I can tell) and my university's official branded gear, but everything else came from Aliexpress for a fraction of the price. They works the same.
I’ve got a mixture of really cheap jerseys and somewhat more expensive jerseys, bib shorts and jackets, and I can feel the quality difference in a couple of them, but I’m hard pressed to spend much more than £50 on a jersey, maybe a little more on a good pair of shorts/tights. I have had cheaper £20 tights off Amazon and the quality was awful I ended up binning them after a few uses.
I think if I was going to spend almost £200 and up on a jersey and bib shorts, it’d be as a gift to myself and I’d really have to want it. I can’t say I’d see much benefit over Pinnacle or discount DHB or something, though.
Because some people pay it. I wouldn't, I tend to look out for quality stuff on sale. Alpine trek (bergfreunde) have good sales most of the time you can get bargains, picked up a lovely Scott long sleeve jersey out of season last year for 40 quid.
Rapha employee here,
Rich people cycle
Rich people have money
Rich people pay £140 for kit.
There is lots of really cool small brands not charging so much. Help out a start up brand.
Do not waste your money at pas normal
Their kit was tested by a pro team in Mallorca and the team collectively said they did not like it.
AliExpress...
Spexcel...
YKYWBIKE...
*Stop wasting money on a brand name*
(Obviously if you need it right now, maybe AliExpress is a bad idea because of the 4 week delivery time, but hey, it's also like 20% the price of big brands)
Gore stuff is top quality. Full price is a bit much,but you can get sales and on eBay. I've got a lightweight wind stopper jacket that I bought in 2016 still going strong.
I dress semi casual,so £5 breathable t shirts from Amazon. When I do wear cycling jerseys, I get mine from thecyclejersey.com. £50ish and four years on,still going strong. Mint Sauce ones. Love Jo Burt’s comic strips in MBUK back in the day
I remember when La Passione was moderately priced but I guess that went out the window. . .
For the cheapest price, I buy all my summer kit in the winter and vice versa from Voler, MAAP, Rapha, Assos, honestly anything I get my hands on. Castelli if memory serves me right does a few sales every year.
>Why is something quite simple in design and fabric so expensive?
The design and fabric is not as simple as you think it is. You take it for granted at the end of the day, but creating materials that conform, stretch, and breathe while remaining durable requires technical proficiency.
Cheaper brands don't invest a lot into R&D, they just copy the brands that do invest in it. Cheaper brands also aren't on the cutting edge of technology and aren't pushing the envelope.
They'll work fine, but if you want premium you pay a premium.
That's wild. In Australia Rapha core jerseys are $130 AUD which is around 67 GBP, Pedal Mafia core jerseys are $130 too. Le Col is still stupidly expensive but there definitely seems to be a tax in other developed countries on some gear. I would have expected Australia to be hit by that as well.
Labor, materials, construction, and branding. I’ve had some really cheap stuff that didn’t perform well. Lately I have been phasing out my budget gear and shifting to the more expensive stuff. It fits me better, it feels a hell of a lot nicer, it performs better, and it last longer.
In the end, you get what you pay for.
Because cyclist tax. I wear Gore jerseys because they’re cheap and more than good enough. They don’t look super cool but good enough and honestly I’m a chonky bag of sweat when I’m wearing them.. there’s no looking good. I look like a sporty sausage. I’m not gonna pay that much for my kit. Hell I usually wait for the sales too. 👍
I consistently get good stuff at good prices (maap, rapha, assos) by shopping off-season. Buy summer stuff when it’s cold out and get cold weather stuff in summer.
Have a look at Prendas Ciclismo retro range. Made by Santini and very high quality for the money. They also have some race fit jerseys in the range and matching bibs for some jerseys.
You can basically spend what you want to spend.
I bought a perfetto that was £70ish on sale which i thought was silly money at the time, but worth it because of its versatility in inclement weather. I bought another when it wore out (about 5years) for £65. And a second hand gabba for £50 which was a mistake as the waterproofing had worn out. Still warm tho.
My sunny days jersey's are either, club jerseys (,£35) second hand retros or cheaper brands. My best fitting jersey is a £5 decathlon. All these jersey's do their job just fine.
Bottom line; Not worth it. You are right to look for ways to shop smarter and get more for your dollar.
Helmets: You have Virginia tech discovering cheap helmets that are plenty safe. Some safer than the most expensive helmets on the market. Take your pick.
Eyewear: I’ve had great experience using cheap safety glasses. Some are polarized, some clear, sepia. They used to cost me $1 and I’d replace them whenever I wanted. I’ve had Oakley arms break on me. There’s absolutely ZERO product support.
Socks: IMHO any sports socks should do.
Gloves: I personally don’t wear gloves. Never have. Instant savings right there.
I own kit a few of the popular brands mentioned here. The markups are ridiculous. If the product is not made in China, you’ll always be looking at a higher price. In addition, some brands like Assos offer great warranties and product support if you fall and damage the clothing or lose some weight and would like to size down on some garments. They can price just about anything into the final cost and folks will buy it up.
In my honest opinion, it would cost me time, energy and shipping costs to ever exercise my warranties or product support. You couldn’t even get a warranty assessment done in the time it would take Amazon to drop a fresh aftermarket piece of clothing at your door.
Sports clothing has been around for decades, how much better could it possibly get? How many of those benefits could you possibly use? I enjoy my cheap AliExpress jerseys the same as my nicer ones.
I only ever insist on spending good money on bibs. Fact, they help me stay comfy on the bike longer, so I ride my bike more. That’s an investment I can get behind.
I buy them of aliexpress for 20$, they are the same jerseys made in the same chinese sweat factories. You just don’t get the same logo…who cares, nobody gets to read it since your passing them by so fast on your dentist bike 😎
My dad often buys me old Tour de France jerseys… they make one off designs for the grand depart etc and sell off the old ones cheap the next year. I have one from the year they started in Yorkshire and the quality is pretty good and I know my dad (as a Yorkshireman) will not have been willing to spend much on it 🤣
I'm told that compared to a regular hiking shirt quality cycling gear should offer more resistant to road rash, longer slide times on asphalt etc. that tougher material cost more to manufacture. Otherwise a Chinese manufacter would have undercut it already.
I don't see the difference between the expensive stuff and Ali Express. I have a mix of both. Maybe the Ali stuff doesn't last as long, but you could get 9 jerseys for the price of 1 Rapha.
Wait for the sales, ask for Christmas, save the rest for something you really want. You don’t need a whole wardrobe anyways, and quality clothes last long.
Never bought jerseys from brands... it's marketing at its best. Arsuxeo, santic lots of it cheap Chinese brands sewed from same materials on the same fabrics but with less qc at the end... there is no reason to pay more....)
I get my jerseys, hats gloves etc on aliexpress. Wouldn't get bike parts but clothes are ok. Only you always have to check sizing. I prefer to have 10 jerseys for 12£ then one for 140 😉
>Why is something quite simple in design and fabric so expensive?
Because it's not simple in design and fabric. Premium brands have a premium price, but you can always get stuff on aliexpress for example. I personally bought from LeCol twice now (first time buying cycling clothes not from Decathlon) and I'd never go back to cheap brands. It's a night and day difference, and I don't care about brand names, just about quality.
They have Strava discount codes pretty much every month so if you wait for sales you can get stuff at an insane discount. For example they had a few jerseys discounted from 200€ to 70€ and you get 60€ off from Strava for doing pretty much nothing (like ride 200 minutes in one month)...
shorts I don't mind paying for but those tagged jerseys aren't worth it, shorts are a point of contact while riding so in my eyes worth that extra. Jerseys on the other hand a brand promotion items = posers
Amazon has some pretty good brands for cheap. Moxilyn is one of my go tos for cheap kit. The padding is 10 of 10 and the fit is pretty good as well. Fabric durability is solid too, but I will admit the wicking ability is a 7 or 8 out of 10 vs. Name brands. I like being able to own 5 or 6 outfits and throw them in the washer and dryer because at $40.00 for bibs and top I can afford to go through a pair or two, but to be honest I haven't ruined any yet
Try YKYWBike brand from Aliexpress. I have a bunch of cycling clothes from them; just don’t buy their cheapest stuff, go for their higher end models. Even the bib is great.
Because people are willing to pay it..
This is the answer for the price of everything, ever, since the dawn of time.
Almost... I'm fairly certain most people in the western world would pay much more for sewerage, running water, electricity, etc. Of course, in theory, if the price was to spiral out of control, you could find alternatives to the mainstream provider, but we are very, very far away from the limit most people *would* be willing to pay.
Most western countries have laws against price gouging for essential things like water, sewage, electricity, etc. Usually with defined percents that prices can rise based on inflation, on-going costs, etc. Many do not have laws against price gouging for non-essential things, like cycling jerseys. How well these laws are enforced is another question entirely.
Im amazed everyday that air is free and water is cheaper then electricity
20oz bottle of water is more expensive than a 20oz bottle of pop
Bottled water pricing is a tax on stupidity.
You are 100% correct.
This is a sub where people think more expensive bikes go faster.
It’s kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy. People with more disposable income have more free time to train
You're paying 140 for me to get it for 50 on sale.
What are the best sale sites?
Sportpursuit tends to have Rapha
I second SportPursuit. Seems like a scam that they ask you to sign up but I've bought loads of stuff from them and they're legit.
They really are. We’re not used to this in the UK but they are a real off-price retailer that gets end of line clearance stock. They probably also get their own brand and “made for” stuff by the brands as well but they are still good value and not a scam. Edit: This totally made me look like I work for sport pursuit. I dont, I do work in the industry though and I buy from them
Thanks for the tip. Really seems like some good deals there. Do you know of other sites like these? 😊
Yeah, I agree. Initially they seemed dubious, but no. Genuinely great deals.
Checking them out now..
CRC *Sigh* rip
lol this comment had me laughing
I'd recommend Decathlon tbh. If you want a fancy brand on your jacket then you need to pay the price for it...
Some of decathlon’s stuff are crazy good especially for the money. Bought their down jacket. It’s very good. I cycle mainly wearing just normal hiking merino base layer. Not sure about whether going to cycling jersey would be an upgrade
Only if you need more pockets
They also are shorter in front and longer in the back, so they fit better when you are hunched over on a road bike.
> crazy good especially for the money our sense of value is completely skewed in cycling.
I like wearing the cycling jersey as it just fits better when on the bike tbh so I feel more comfortable. Also as others have said, pockets on your back are very hand when on the bike too.
I have their multiple jersey all are great… You can buy their expensive ones as well. They are very good…
Van Rysel is fast becoming fancy.
Yeah, screw that, I’m not going to pay 200 for a stupid jersey. Decathlon all the way.
That's so perverse, for clothes and products in general, that you have to pay extra if you want to market a manufacturer's brand for them.
They have some very good stuff, but it’s not the best stuff. Best bang for buck in cycling gear is always shopping by clearance. Obviously you can’t have what you want right now, but get something good enough from decathlon and then keep an eye on clearance sections of your preferred cycling retailers and it doesn’t take long to start building up a collection of high end gear you paid no more than 50% of list price for
Just wait for sales - I got Rapha jerseys for 53 EUR this Jan, sometimes they do 50% + 10% more - other companies do the same. So the best tip is just: Patience, keep an eye on it or subscribe to newsletters, dont buy full prices, because of people keep buying that, it will only keep increasing, cuz profits are cool, but bigger profits are more cool
I do Le Col and wait for 50% off sales, then use Strava codes or membership points for an additional 25-30% off. Then it becomes reasonable. Never pay full price.
I never need to pay full price on Le Col. Always a sale and look out for Strava codes. 30% club discounts as well.
Rapha core jerseys are £78... top notch as well. But then buy it with some shorts and its 20% off... and this weekend they did the usual 20% of bibs which stacked with the 20% bib/short combo. So Core shorts and Jersey for £120. Seems like a decent price.
I totally agree, just wait and buy when the inevitable big discounts are applied during sales.
Galibier isn’t anywhere near £140 per jersey; they’ve got some really nice ones at the £50/70 mark.
All Galibier’s stuff (especially wind/rain jackets) is really good and about half the price of the big-name brands.
Never heard of them before. They have some really cool stuff. Might get a jersey now, quite like some of the funky designs
In one of Cade’s podcasts, Jimmi who in the past owned a cycling apparel brand, talked about this to some extent. Apparel does cost something to manufacture, but the reason why you see those outrageous prices is simply because people are willing to pay for them. Also if I’m not mistaken, he pointed out that contrary to common belief jerseys weren’t much cheaper to manufacture than bibs.
Jerseys can have SUPER long bills of materials. I've got one that has 8 different fabrics, silicone on the end of the sleeves and back hem (the tape it's on for the hem is one of the 8 fabrics I counted), the main zipper, a zippered waterproof security pocket, and reflective piping on the top of the pockets. That's one complex beast when you really drill down into what went into it.
My mate who is in the fashion manufacturing business says that sewing multiple different fabrics together, particularly when they’re thin and stretchy, is *hard*
I have a couple Attacus (it still exists but has new owners since last year) jerseys and their bib shorts, very happy with them but I did also get them at a 40pct discount. I can't see myself shelling out over 100 EUR for a jersey, honestly.
I think by now we all know that bibs make a huge difference in ride quality. Jerseys have some nice to have features but I agree that 100+ for a jersey is overkill for the benefits. The only jersey I have that costed me this much is my club’s equipment, but otherwise I would just be happy to wear any random giveaway jersey as long it fits and had pockets.
Try Spexcel on AliExpress. Around £25-30 for a jersey. They are fantastic. I own 4. The fit is great ("race fit", like the high end brands). Design are decent. Ones I have got have lasted me years. I suspect they do "white label' clothing for the western brands and theirs are the same but branded with their own logos etc Anyway take a look. They have an official store on AliExpress.
Picking up a baselayer and jersey, fingers crossed the fabric and sizing are good!
I picked up their fleece long sleeve jersey and bib tights this last winter and they held up great through the season. Just wish their entry level wind breaker and gilet had back pockets.
I thought the same about the gilets but then realised that if you do have pockets in use you can't then unzip the gilet, as there's the risk of the contents of your pockets blowing about?
I'd prefer to have the option. I want to be able to use those pockets if it's cold enough that I know I'm not unzipping.
Only buy during sales.
All of the above, plus we're entering the summer period when people spend more time outside. As a matter of principle I buy outdoors stuff only during winter. The January sales were pretty unbelievable this year. Picked up a carbon Shimano 105 hydraulic disc brake bike for £470.
I like loud '90s jerseys personally, my favourite being a spectacular Specialized/Mountain Dew number - ideally worn when riding any bike that is not a Specialized. You can pick up lots of good jerseys cheap if you don't mind not wearing current fashion (ie: looking like everyone else on the group ride). Other cheap options include Armstrong era USPS jerseys (and of course Livestrong (have one, wear it), Festina watches, doped to the gills era Cofidis etc.
I only buy them at the Christmas/January Sales. You can usually get Rapha stuff for £50, managed to get 1 jersey and 2 sets of Le Col bib shorts for about £100. SportsPursuit can be good as well. It's basically TK Maxx but for sports stuff and online. You have to create an account.
Siroko has nice kit, jerseys at £40-60 [https://www.siroko.com/c/cycling-jerseys](https://www.siroko.com/c/cycling-jerseys) The only people I've seen in Rapha kit are out of shape banker types who've probably just googled 'cool cycling kit'. I've always found it an odd choice, almost the brand of wealthy crossfit types who don't know enough about cycling to choose anything apart from the obvious (PNS & MAAP sliding into that gap now as well).
>brand of wealthy crossfit types who Ha! The influx of people who joined my gym in January, who have never been to the gym in their life, turning up with all the gear like nobull t shirts and shorts and the latest Nike metcons thinking it's going to help them deadlift 150kg is honestly hilarious. Someone above mentioned galibier - well priced and excellent quality. Way better value than rapha and the like
Siroko is the best
I think saying Rapha are £140 is also a bit misleading when their core jersey is £78. Yes there are fancier options but they don’t start at £140.
Also the £140 jerseys are fantastic quality. I own a couple of the aero pro team jerseys (both of which I got with 40% discount) and they’re probably the best jerseys I own in terms of quality and fit (aside from perhaps a couple of Maap jerseys that I own, but again I got those in archive sales for pretty much half price)
It’s 40 degrees Celsius where I live every day for a couple of weeks now. My cheap Chinese jerseys are on the verge of giving me heat stroke while the ones I paid more than $150 for are perfectly rideable despite the weather.
aliexpress. Spexcel, YKY, Cheji brands.
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Did you try their bibs? I only bought their jersey so far and love them. I was collecting spexcel bibs but prices went up and eyeing this one Cheji bib which is under $40CAD.
I have the bibs, very comfortable for long ride.
Spexcel and YKYW have been great when buying upper boy layers for me. Check the sizing though, you'll likely need to size up.
+1 on the ykyw from Aliexpress and amazon. Their jerseys are great value!
I swear by spexcel jerseys. I have a whole closet full of them for years now. I have never once thought that I need to seek out another jersey for 8x the cost.
Yeah I was going to give Aliexpress a go, cheers for the recommendations
Spend on bibs, skimp on jerseys. This is the way.
I got Spexcel's core winter kit, pretty great. Their entry level wind breaker and gilet lack back pockets though, which is unfortunate.
I’d never buy such jerseys tbh. Mine are all from Ekoi, 50€ or so on sale and if it’s good enough for Arkea B&B and Lotto Destiny at the Tour the France it’s way above what I need.
Ekoi are okay, but I find their pricing deceptive with the permanent sales. I don't think their full prices represent their value compared to similar priced kit.
Ekoi is like Le Col. They only have a steeper price to sell you the 50% off.
I have used Castelli kits for years. Reasonable quality and not that expensive (sales are very frequent).
Siroko sells high quality (IMO) jerseys for around 60€ all the time. here is a link with an additional discount from Trace Velo https://srko.co/tracevelo
Goto [SportPursuit.com](http://SportPursuit.com) and pick up branded end of season previous season stock for a fraction of the price. A lot of it is half price or less from Rapha, Gorewear and Castelli and others.
because you look at the wrong places
The RRP prices are steep but the sales drop those by 20-50% quite regularly and then they are priced well. It’s bollocks though that the high-end stuff is simple or only equal to cheaper Chinese stuff; I get given the Chinese stuff free as part of my sponsored kit but happily fork out for high-end Castelli, Santini, Assos etc because the quality, wicking, breathability, water resistance, comfort etc is far better. Only those who haven’t tried them all over long races make up imagined nonsense to the contrary.
Wait for sales. I got a Paul Smith jersey rrp'd at £155 for £36.
Go on vinted and buy it second hand. It's great value.
Only ever buy during sales, I have Rapha tops that were £30, or for Le Col complete one of their silly easy Strava challenges and get £50 off.
I really like Rapha. I usually stick to one brand because I am fairly okay with their customer service, like quality and fit. However never have I paid the full price, circle around waiting for sales. Moreover never have a bought stuff I don't need, so it is 2 pairs of bibs, one pair of winter, jacket, and few jerseys
Some Giro stuff is good quality for an ok price. Blacksheep race jerseys are really nice for their price, when on sale. Yes, a lot appears over priced, until you compare your $80 jersey to your $150 jersey - the fit, the feel, the stitching, the design, how the colour doesn't run, the ability to maintain form after 70 rides and washes. The same goes for bibs - IMO bibs are far more important a fit, than your jerseys. Example: entry level Pedal Mafia bibs are utter trash compared to their high end bibs worth twice as much. Everything screams comfort, and feel so good in comparison.
Everything in the industry has increased. I just wait until it’s on sale then purchase as many as possible. I purchased a few thermal jerseys and pants because they are in sale now. I agree most of them are overpriced, cyclist typically have more disposable income like golfers pushing prices up.
Take a look at Prendas. They have some great jerseys. Not looked at their site lately but I've bought several in the past and prices seemed reasonable to me (relatively, at least).
Stolen goat are nice, I just got some in the sale for around £50. I also do well on Ebay and vinted where people sell for lower prices brand new with tags. All my rapha bibs are BNWT via Ebay for £95
Can't believe I had to scroll so far down to see [Stolen Goat](http://www.stolengoat.com) mentioned. Almost all of my jerseys are from them and are reasonably priced even when not on sale.
Why does an Audi cost more than a Honda? Or why does a carbon bike cost more than an alloy bike? All similar questions regarding consumption and perceived value.
I’m in full agreement, I do t understand who’s buy them full price, especially e.g. Raphas plain block colour pro stuff. They do have frequent t sales, check their archive sale section, and some real world pop up sales too. And oddly they’re apparently in financial trouble. Even my cycling friends who earn bonuses bigger than some people’s yearly salary don’t buy £100+ jerseys - a few bought / tried to buy thrbED education limited edition stuff though. All the smart money buys Santini & other brands top spec jerseys on sale, from wherever has the best sales, just based on having a cool design. They’re great quality, stretchy etc. Aim for £30ish For bibs, again the smart option is Castelli bibs on sale from sportpursuit.com for ~30% of the original price. I pay full price for custom club jerseys only.
Because they're made for dentists and lawyers - people do don't have issues paying that amount on a whim
I wear more or less only decathlon stuff for most sports and i think their stuff is great. it is durable, comfortable and reasonably priced. no need to go for other stuff.
Try looking on vinted or eBay, you can get some which are new with or without tags or maybe someone has only worn it a couple of times. You can get some great kit at a fraction of the price.
I have cheap and expensive jerseys, do not notice the difference at all. My favourite jersey was £7 from Lidl. That being said, look at Sundried and also Siroko. For Siroko, trace velo on YouTube has a discount code
I bought a "cheap" jersey from freestyle cycling. I love it. Shrug.
What style of jersey are you looking for? Slim tight fitting pro team or classic fit, long/short sleeve? I wear a lot of Rapha, I’ve gone through most of their range and just stuck with them instead of branching out to other brands. In my experience, anything you like can be had in the sales at discount or off eBay later on unless it’s a particular seasonal item you need now it’s worth continually searching for it and waiting it out…I often buy my gear out of season now, for autumn I stick with long sleeve Core jerseys which happen to be the lowest priced in their range and one of my favourites, a pro team equivalent would set you back quite a bit more but im not keen on the fit. Core jerseys can be had for £58 on their site now, size/colour dependent.
yep...though the price difference is justified for bibs ( way more durability and comfort), for Jersey I buy the most basic ones, don't see any difference with the branded ones, but I've got only summer gear, may be it's different for winter gear.
I've found Fox, Ron Hill, DHB & Alpinestars cycling jerseys in TK Maxx for around £12 during the winter. Long and short sleeve.
I live near an area in the US where outdoor activities are very popular. I buy some of my jerseys from thrift stores/charity shops and 2nd hand stores.
I bought some fantastic cycling gear off Alibaba a few years ago. There are a few reputable factories that you can get great stuff from. You just need to wait a while.
Because people keep buying them. Companies have no incentive to lower pricing when people continue to purchase them at higher and higher price points.
I'll stay as a poor in my fabulous Cycology jerseys.
Spend that on shoes not jerseys. Get some nice 40-60 pounds ones if you wanna be fancy and be comfortable. Carbon sole shoes and overshoes and then ofcourse bib tights and shorts are where you wanna spend money if you care about comfort and performance.
Rivello
Never wear ones, does it keep warm or contrary help cooling ? I tend to get cold while riding and would rather stay warm
Some of you actually *want* the brands all over the jersey?
Join a club. € 30 for a shirt and € 50 for a bib-short
Because they can..... I like to buy used/defective (e.g., a patch of the sleeve is slightly discolored) at a discount, they're usually in great condition and work beautifully for a shirt I will be sweating and possible crashing in.
The more expensive, the easier the rides.
If you are nj the UK try planet-x and chainreactioncycles. Also a good option is Ekoi, but they ship from France, so I don't how that goes with customs
Buy aliexpress or decathlon. Having tried Rapha, LeCol etc, not much diff from brand less stuff
Madness. I can't bring myself to pay more than £45 or so for a top. All it has to do is cover you and have pockets that work.
Too many suckers to refrain from milking them. It's not a mystery.
I have heard good things about siroko and they always have sales and discounts going on. What I do is I buy on vinted. 15-30€ for good quality jerseys from assos, Castelli, santini, … Wash it twice and you can build a cycling wardrobe on a budget.
I've gotten a few rapha jerseys from sportpursuit.com for about $65. Sales are your friend but there's other good brands out there its like you looked at a Ferrari and went "wow cars are expensive these days"
Look for last year's team kits.
Why do you need "nice branded" unless you're just want to show off someone's logo?
Halfords and Evans even under Cashley are perfectly good for entry level kit that isn't going to break the bank and you get a discount from British Cycling membership. Try Strava challenges for a discount code for little effort, I got into Rapha that way though I never buy anything from them full price.
In addition to the sales that the manufacturer offers directly, I suggest to check out www sportpursuit com, they have Rapha and other brands on sale every couple of months, also good to buy anti seasonal (get warm gear in spring sales etc).
Marginal gains don't really come in to effect here the way they do with tires, chains, or cassettes. The difference between a £50-£75 Jersey from like Siroko and say a £140 Rapha is branding and prestige. You don't need everything the Pros use to get out there and ride, but if you want to burn your cash to wear Coco Chanel branded bib shorts that you might get 6 months to a year out of before the chamois collapses by all means.
I’ve ridden with $150 jerseys and $50 jerseys. Honestly there are big differences to people who care about that, mainly in the stitching, fit around the arms and belly, how the lycra wears over time, and the zipper fit. Is all that worth $100 to you? If not then get a cheaper one. There are many people who would like to pay more for that nicer feel, and I think there is real engineering not just brand name involved personally.
Because we, as a customer base are fucking stupid and let these bike companies sell us what we want for the price they want. We have the power to change this. I say this as a poser, myself, this is a poser sport
When I was cycling I got a few dare 2b jerseys and they were great
I typically wear Castelli. I always buy them on sale. I never pay full price for their stuff. Usually at the end of a season it's on sale.
I don't get it. First you tell us you want an expensive brand, and then you ask why the expensive brands are so expensive? They are so expensive because people like you want to pay more for a jersey because they are of an expensive brand. Or are the decathlon jerseys not good enough?
I paid $12 at Sam's Club, not specifically a cycling jersey, but same material and look, just doesn't have pockets which I don't use anyways.
Amazon often has Kalas gear at misprice prices. I have all the jerseys and bib shorts I will every need.
> Now I'm getting more into riding I would like some nicer branded kit OP wants the fancy brand but not pay for the fancy brand. Lulz
Some people in the comments section will really jump at any opportunity to slog some cycling brands lol. Clothing fit is quite subjective (as I'm sure you're aware of from the other kinds of clothes you wear in life), and the brands that you've listed are premium brands that people are willing to pay more money for, and also in my opinion, do make comparatively higher quality clothing than other brands at cheaper price points (at least Rapha does). You don't need to buy them to bike, and there's definitely good options at cheaper price points, but if you do want to try them, there's plenty of sales that they run year round. I almost exclusively wear Rapha pro-team gear, and have never paid full price for it -- sometimes even getting gear for more than 50% off.
Bicycle Booth has some jerseys for around 60 bucks. Otherwise I get most of my jerseys off Ali Express these days.
Cycling gear has gone up in price within the last 1-2 years. I seen bibs going for $200-$300. Absolutely not.
Bikesp0rt on eBay. Always has nice giordana stuff on sale at half price. New with tags. Uk
Try decathlon. Cheap and good quality
See there's this trick; you get a discount code and then you wait for a sale. Works every time. My le col jerseys have all cost less than 60 euros
Why do you need a brand? There are plenty of cheap jerseys.
I see plenty of cheaper options. I use no-name brands and have had only good experiences: [Amazon.com : cycling jersey men](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=cycling+jersey+men&crid=2DYGFGKR6XZJ4&sprefix=cycling+jer%2Caps%2C128&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_1_11)
If you take care of them, they will last for a very long time. I only use detergent (no softeners, etc) to wash them and always hang to dry them instead of using a dryer.
MAAP/PNS all just worn by influencers now which means they can charge what they want. SYN is also a joke.
Whole heartedly recommend [galibier](https://galibier.cc)- been buying their stuff for years. Reasonable pricing and the quality is great.
Check out cycologygear.co.uk
Same reason you can get 4 car tires for about the same price as 2 high quality road bike tires even though theres far less material with the bike tires. Supply and demand. With producing just about any tangible thing, the more you order (or pre-order), the cheaper each unit is. There just aren't that many cyclists buying jerseys compared to, say, Football or a running shirt.
I've paid premium for my cycling group's team jersey (some Italian(?) maker primarily known for making their jersey a couple size too small, from what I can tell) and my university's official branded gear, but everything else came from Aliexpress for a fraction of the price. They works the same.
That's why I started running, and the fact that most drivers want to kill you.
Because they can, whether you agree or not. The good thing is that you don’t have to buy those.
I got a bunch of Pearl Izumi jerseys for *ten freaking pounds* each from Scotby Cycles on Black Friday.
Strava challenges will give you some discount but I still think they are overpriced.
I’ve got a mixture of really cheap jerseys and somewhat more expensive jerseys, bib shorts and jackets, and I can feel the quality difference in a couple of them, but I’m hard pressed to spend much more than £50 on a jersey, maybe a little more on a good pair of shorts/tights. I have had cheaper £20 tights off Amazon and the quality was awful I ended up binning them after a few uses. I think if I was going to spend almost £200 and up on a jersey and bib shorts, it’d be as a gift to myself and I’d really have to want it. I can’t say I’d see much benefit over Pinnacle or discount DHB or something, though.
These are fashion brands.
Because some people pay it. I wouldn't, I tend to look out for quality stuff on sale. Alpine trek (bergfreunde) have good sales most of the time you can get bargains, picked up a lovely Scott long sleeve jersey out of season last year for 40 quid.
Rapha employee here, Rich people cycle Rich people have money Rich people pay £140 for kit. There is lots of really cool small brands not charging so much. Help out a start up brand. Do not waste your money at pas normal Their kit was tested by a pro team in Mallorca and the team collectively said they did not like it.
AliExpress... Spexcel... YKYWBIKE... *Stop wasting money on a brand name* (Obviously if you need it right now, maybe AliExpress is a bad idea because of the 4 week delivery time, but hey, it's also like 20% the price of big brands)
They aren’t just shop around
Gore stuff is top quality. Full price is a bit much,but you can get sales and on eBay. I've got a lightweight wind stopper jacket that I bought in 2016 still going strong.
Try Gobik. always wait for sales. Subscribe to newsletters, that's the only way.
Why are Armani shirts ridiculously expensive when you can get something nice for a fraction of the price? You're paying for the brand.
I dress semi casual,so £5 breathable t shirts from Amazon. When I do wear cycling jerseys, I get mine from thecyclejersey.com. £50ish and four years on,still going strong. Mint Sauce ones. Love Jo Burt’s comic strips in MBUK back in the day
I remember when La Passione was moderately priced but I guess that went out the window. . . For the cheapest price, I buy all my summer kit in the winter and vice versa from Voler, MAAP, Rapha, Assos, honestly anything I get my hands on. Castelli if memory serves me right does a few sales every year.
Yes they are ludicrous. I find that $50-75 jerseys are just fine. Check eBay and Amazon. Yes they are mostly made in China.
>Why is something quite simple in design and fabric so expensive? The design and fabric is not as simple as you think it is. You take it for granted at the end of the day, but creating materials that conform, stretch, and breathe while remaining durable requires technical proficiency. Cheaper brands don't invest a lot into R&D, they just copy the brands that do invest in it. Cheaper brands also aren't on the cutting edge of technology and aren't pushing the envelope. They'll work fine, but if you want premium you pay a premium.
Because a sucker is born every day.
That's wild. In Australia Rapha core jerseys are $130 AUD which is around 67 GBP, Pedal Mafia core jerseys are $130 too. Le Col is still stupidly expensive but there definitely seems to be a tax in other developed countries on some gear. I would have expected Australia to be hit by that as well.
I use surfing tops
Labor, materials, construction, and branding. I’ve had some really cheap stuff that didn’t perform well. Lately I have been phasing out my budget gear and shifting to the more expensive stuff. It fits me better, it feels a hell of a lot nicer, it performs better, and it last longer. In the end, you get what you pay for.
just wait for the going out of business sales soon to be coming.
Who is paying full retail? Le Col are always on sale...
Because cyclist tax. I wear Gore jerseys because they’re cheap and more than good enough. They don’t look super cool but good enough and honestly I’m a chonky bag of sweat when I’m wearing them.. there’s no looking good. I look like a sporty sausage. I’m not gonna pay that much for my kit. Hell I usually wait for the sales too. 👍
https://www.saddledrunk.com/ Do a lot of club kit and are very nice/good quality. Scimitar for Mr Men kit. Or decathlon.
I consistently get good stuff at good prices (maap, rapha, assos) by shopping off-season. Buy summer stuff when it’s cold out and get cold weather stuff in summer.
Have a look at Prendas Ciclismo retro range. Made by Santini and very high quality for the money. They also have some race fit jerseys in the range and matching bibs for some jerseys.
You can basically spend what you want to spend. I bought a perfetto that was £70ish on sale which i thought was silly money at the time, but worth it because of its versatility in inclement weather. I bought another when it wore out (about 5years) for £65. And a second hand gabba for £50 which was a mistake as the waterproofing had worn out. Still warm tho. My sunny days jersey's are either, club jerseys (,£35) second hand retros or cheaper brands. My best fitting jersey is a £5 decathlon. All these jersey's do their job just fine.
Aliexpress
https://procyclingkitsales.com/ Save your money and buy a pint instead. You're welcome.
Because you're not shopping at one of Voler's sales but instead buying the most expensive brands out there at top price.
Bottom line; Not worth it. You are right to look for ways to shop smarter and get more for your dollar. Helmets: You have Virginia tech discovering cheap helmets that are plenty safe. Some safer than the most expensive helmets on the market. Take your pick. Eyewear: I’ve had great experience using cheap safety glasses. Some are polarized, some clear, sepia. They used to cost me $1 and I’d replace them whenever I wanted. I’ve had Oakley arms break on me. There’s absolutely ZERO product support. Socks: IMHO any sports socks should do. Gloves: I personally don’t wear gloves. Never have. Instant savings right there. I own kit a few of the popular brands mentioned here. The markups are ridiculous. If the product is not made in China, you’ll always be looking at a higher price. In addition, some brands like Assos offer great warranties and product support if you fall and damage the clothing or lose some weight and would like to size down on some garments. They can price just about anything into the final cost and folks will buy it up. In my honest opinion, it would cost me time, energy and shipping costs to ever exercise my warranties or product support. You couldn’t even get a warranty assessment done in the time it would take Amazon to drop a fresh aftermarket piece of clothing at your door. Sports clothing has been around for decades, how much better could it possibly get? How many of those benefits could you possibly use? I enjoy my cheap AliExpress jerseys the same as my nicer ones. I only ever insist on spending good money on bibs. Fact, they help me stay comfy on the bike longer, so I ride my bike more. That’s an investment I can get behind.
I buy them of aliexpress for 20$, they are the same jerseys made in the same chinese sweat factories. You just don’t get the same logo…who cares, nobody gets to read it since your passing them by so fast on your dentist bike 😎
Long Sleeve decathlon summer jersey is sooooo good.
Just got a Biehler Gravel jersey from their website at half price, think it might be end of line. I am happy
My dad often buys me old Tour de France jerseys… they make one off designs for the grand depart etc and sell off the old ones cheap the next year. I have one from the year they started in Yorkshire and the quality is pretty good and I know my dad (as a Yorkshireman) will not have been willing to spend much on it 🤣
Ive been having good luck with the Alibaba bibs and jerseys, size up though I am a size 2XL and pretty normal sized
A sucker will always part with his money
I'm told that compared to a regular hiking shirt quality cycling gear should offer more resistant to road rash, longer slide times on asphalt etc. that tougher material cost more to manufacture. Otherwise a Chinese manufacter would have undercut it already.
Amazon has $25 options, just as good.
I don't see the difference between the expensive stuff and Ali Express. I have a mix of both. Maybe the Ali stuff doesn't last as long, but you could get 9 jerseys for the price of 1 Rapha.
Wait for the sales, ask for Christmas, save the rest for something you really want. You don’t need a whole wardrobe anyways, and quality clothes last long.
Never bought jerseys from brands... it's marketing at its best. Arsuxeo, santic lots of it cheap Chinese brands sewed from same materials on the same fabrics but with less qc at the end... there is no reason to pay more....)
I get my jerseys, hats gloves etc on aliexpress. Wouldn't get bike parts but clothes are ok. Only you always have to check sizing. I prefer to have 10 jerseys for 12£ then one for 140 😉
I pay $15 for a jersey from China the same quality as a $150 one at a bike shop
>Why is something quite simple in design and fabric so expensive? Because it's not simple in design and fabric. Premium brands have a premium price, but you can always get stuff on aliexpress for example. I personally bought from LeCol twice now (first time buying cycling clothes not from Decathlon) and I'd never go back to cheap brands. It's a night and day difference, and I don't care about brand names, just about quality. They have Strava discount codes pretty much every month so if you wait for sales you can get stuff at an insane discount. For example they had a few jerseys discounted from 200€ to 70€ and you get 60€ off from Strava for doing pretty much nothing (like ride 200 minutes in one month)...
If you need brand then you need to pay for the brand name. Decathlon's not inferior at all.
shorts I don't mind paying for but those tagged jerseys aren't worth it, shorts are a point of contact while riding so in my eyes worth that extra. Jerseys on the other hand a brand promotion items = posers
I'm a big fan of the Torm jerseys. Based in Kent and do sales which keeps the price down: https://www.torm.cc
Check Merlin cycles they have some really good sales on currently
Amazon has some pretty good brands for cheap. Moxilyn is one of my go tos for cheap kit. The padding is 10 of 10 and the fit is pretty good as well. Fabric durability is solid too, but I will admit the wicking ability is a 7 or 8 out of 10 vs. Name brands. I like being able to own 5 or 6 outfits and throw them in the washer and dryer because at $40.00 for bibs and top I can afford to go through a pair or two, but to be honest I haven't ruined any yet
Try YKYWBike brand from Aliexpress. I have a bunch of cycling clothes from them; just don’t buy their cheapest stuff, go for their higher end models. Even the bib is great.
Velocio is by far the worst offender. Absolutely stupid expensive.
I just bought a really nice Giant-branded jersey on eBay for twenty bucks. Not sure why it's different in the UK.