There are two kinds of people in this world: those who own a properly-fitting, lightweight gilet and those who don’t. Those who own one know this is an indispensable piece of kit.
The gilet is typically one of the last items that enters into a Cyclist’s wardrobe, long after arm warmers, knee warmers, and long sleeve jerseys have found their way into the kit bag. It’s just a vest, after all, and can’t possibly serve much purpose beyond Looking Pro, can it? It can, in fact.
A vest is an incredibly versatile unit that serves to stave off all kinds of Fuckness – be it from wind, rain, or cold. Furthermore, the sleeveless design makes it easy don or doff, and packs away nicely; a lightweight gilet can be folded flat (first in half, then in thirds) and slipped between the jersey and bibs, keeping the rear pockets clear and accessible for tools and food.
In short, the gilet is a Four-Season Fuckness Stopper that accompanies me year-round, one which I personally hold in higher regard than the long sleeve jersey:
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@harminator
Beat me to it. Queenslanders like things big, so she'd likely ask for a mug of chino.
@ChrisO
Queensland is a pretty conservative (read - redneck) state, so it may be likely that the French terms that are the default for much of the cycling world are not used as much there ("Bidon? Talk Australian mate! It's a bottle!"). Note that I'm not calling her a redneck, just looking for a reason her cycling community don't use the term.
It's weird she hasn't heard the term, though. I learned my cycling terminology from Phil and Paul and from reading up a storm, magazines then the web and gilet is used so widely it's almost as if it's the correct word.
@Blah
And you beat me to the Redneck / rooinek comment. QLD = bogan central.
Sometimes a gilet is referred to as a windstopper vest. And yes bidon is not really that common, bottle seems to suffice.
And a question for Chris O, are you not an Australian asking the Australians re the term gilet?
@anotherdowunder Yes I am but I have lived elsewhere since 1993, and wasn't into cycling when I was there (as opposed to riding a bike) so I was just wondering what term the roadies there might use.
I thought it might be a Queensland thing (her very fat cat is called Flo) but yes you'd think you'd just pick it up from watching races or reading, websites etc. And she's done a bit of racing and competitive riding too.
Funny, I can just imagine her saying "Bidon.... it's a bottle". When I see her next week I'll tell her you all said she was a bogan redneck banana-bender for not saying gilet.
@scaler911
Wet Jig this week.
@frank
Nice!
First road ride with my wife today, a 75 km jaunt up the Hudson. The V-gilet doesn't really make up for the outstanding style demerits (socks, bib knicks, 3-point system, etc)
However, I post the photo mainly to answer the question: where do children of average height come from?
@xyxax
Your left shifter looks way higher than the right. Does that bug you? It bugs me if mine are even a cm off kilter.
@G'rilla
It sure looks that way in the photo. I just measured and it is about 1.5 cm higher. Thanks fot the catch.
@G'rilla
It's all relative: judging by that photo a centimetre to Xyxax is the equivalent of a millimetre to most folk.
@xyxax
Jesus, are you a giant or is she about four feet tall or are both statements correct?!?!?