Around 1972, in official
recognition of the naturally
impoverished state of American
bicycle racers, who were not
allowed to race for cash, the
Amateur Bicycle League
of America finally allowed
commercial sponsorship of
sanctioned regional clubs. Bicycle
brands were now encouraged to
throw in a little cash along with the
equipment they ordinarily gave to
various clubs.
At first, only the club name with
club colors was allowed to be on
these jerseys. Gradually bike shop
names and other sponsors (usually
bike brands) were approved
for club jerseys. It wasn’t long
before club teams in America
began being referred to by their
sponsors’ names rather than the
club name. But the jersey never
lost its intrinsic symbolic value as
something identifying its wearer as
a bike racer.
