In Europe, kids grow up putting
on local club cycling jerseys,
just like kids in America grow up
putting on Little League uniforms.
Bicycle racing is ingrained in the
European culture, and it was
expected that these youngsters
would spend time being racing
club cyclists as they passed
through life.
But for those of us Americans
growing up in the 1960s and early
’70s who had somehow discovered
this little-known sport with the
European mystique, slipping into
the wool jersey with embroidered
club name immediately conjured
up a fantasy of riding against
European professionals, the
“giants of the road” seen only in
grainy black and white photos in
Euro cycling magazines.
To us, receiving our first racing
jersey from the club patriarch was
like putting on your family’s coat
of arms. We all remember the
grins as we tried on our first wool
club jersey, secretly looking in the
mirror, posing in different bike
positions while glowing in the smell
and feel of this special garment
that set our imaginary lives in
motion.
