Posh new jersey

A few weeks ago was the 4000 member party for SydneyCyclist. Or something like that. Anyway, I went along and spent a very pleasant evening indulging in geeky talk about bikes, endless surprise at meeting the real manifestation of various online personae (goodness, Michael O really is tall, isn’t he!?) and beer. Oh, and the Tour de France was on the big screen. All lots of fun, in a nerdy kind of way. And there were lucky door prizes.

And I got lucky, and won a jersey from Australian cycling wear manufacture Babici. Very exciting, since I never usually win anything I actually want (although I do have a knack for winning things I don’t; over the years I’ve bagged such items as a strange tapestry, a miniature slow cooker and a dozen lavender scented candles). I didn’t really know very much about Babici, but the prize was basically any jersey from their range. So I went online and had a look. Goodness! These things cost over $150! What cycling clothes I own are all own-name brands bought from discount retailers in the sale. This was to be my first experience of ‘high end’ cycling clothes. I chose the ‘Italo’ version, and fancied once wearing it I could hang out nonchalantly in coffee shops in the manner of the model in the catalogue.

After making my selection it arrived a few days later, together with a very nice hand-written note from the Babici guys, which was a lovely touch. It also came in its own special cloth bag. Wow. I don’t think I’ve ever had an item of clothing before that came in anything other than a plastic bag.

A few days later, I wore it on my ride to work, on a morning where I had time to take the long way round, in order to test it properly. It was a lovely day; quite cool but sunny. Perfect weather for a winter jersey. Although, saying that, I actually only own one other long sleeved jersey, and don’t wear it much as I inevitably end up getting too hot – even in cold weather. So normally I just use arm warmers and end up taking them off after fifteen minutes. Was I going to get to hot in my new jersey too?

Well, there obviously is something in this expensive clothing lark, as I didn’t. The weight and breatheability of the fabric was perfect, and I was very comfortable for my whole ride – not too cold at the start, and not to hot when I got going. Actually, I have to say my new jersey is very comfortable to wear. Much more comfortable than anything else in my rather daggy collection. Perhaps I have been practising false economy over the years, and rather having a bulging drawer of tatty jerseys costing $50 each, I should just invest in fewer good ones.

Anyway, it’s a lovely piece of clothing, and I shall wear it often. I took a pic of me modelling it, and thought it paired very well with a particularly shiny pair of $15 knicks from Torpedo7. (If you click on the picture you can see a larger one, so you can see the details on the jersey better. Or ogle my crotch, as you prefer.)

Hmmm. Perhaps I need up upgrade the rest of my cycling wardrobe. And get a fancy Italian bike. Maybe then I’ll be break into the exclusive world of catalogue-modelling, espresso-sipping cycling stylistas. Still, I bet he couldn’t ride up Awaba St on a fixie…