One of the things that stands out in any Tour de France – or indeed any of the three Grand Tours – is the clothing that the riders wear. As the tournaments progress, you get to know the teams that you like by the racing colors of the cycle shirts they wear, and many people are fond of the idea of getting their hands on a shirt representing their favorite team. Like with other sports, colors do change slightly from year to year, and of course the sponsors are changing all the time, as last year’s ones drop out and new support appears from elsewhere. So it is usually a great decision to buy a Pro Team Cycling Jersey for a year when your team did well.

There are a lot of established teams on the Tours these days, but often a completely new team will show up, with a brand new set of riders. This always makes the race very interesting in the early Stages as you try to figure out which team is wearing which colors this year. Mainly, though it is the big well-known ones that take most of the honors in the racing, with fantastic strategies and set ups. For 2010, the Tour de France saw the light blue and yellow cycling shirts of the Astana Team grab the limelight, with powerful front riders such as Vinokourov and Navarro, who did magnificent jobs pace setting the eventual Yellow Jersey Winner, Contador, especially in the mountains.

But for most people who watch the Tour de France, the uniform of the American rider Lance Armstrong who won the Tour an amazing seven consecutive times, and who rode his last one in 2010 in the Team RadioShack colors. Here is some kit you can get your hands on yourself!

	Team RadioShack Wind Cycling Vest – Mens The Team RadioShack Wind Cycling Vest is an absolute essential for every season. This is the piece you’ll grab for those countless days when the weather is unpredictable or when your route will take you through varied terrains or climates.
	Team RadioShack Cycling Cap The Team RadioShack Cycling Cap is a classic cotton cap – ready for on or off the bike. It features the RadioShack logo and brand name, and the Nike Swoosh on the back. It is adjustable so one size fits most people. Made of 100% cotton. Made in Italy.
	Orbea World Champion Cycling Jersey – Short-Sleeve – Men’s Orbea Team White/Blue, 3XL Cadel Evans might be wearing the current World Champion stripes, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t look just as good standing atop a podium in your Orbea World Champion Short-Sleeve Jersey. Designed and built in Italy by Keido Sportswear, the moisture-wicking, 100%-polyester World Champion Jersey also has a three-quarter-length hidden zipper to regulate airflowso at least you’re not a sweaty mess when receiving podium girl kisses.

So those are some of the main cycling shirts you’ll have already seen in this year’s Tour, and no doubt recognise. Check back here often, as styles change from season to season and often these pro team jerseys have variable availability. For more choices of Pro Team Cycling Jerseys check out my other site Triathonline.

Giordana apparel is not just beautifully designed and manufactured; it is also among the most highly advanced technical wear around, with features such as elasticated sleeve cuffs and waistbands to reduce drag by preventing the jerseys from ballooning by filling with air. The clothing is made to benefit all cyclists and allow them to perform better, using advanced moisture removing fabrics, a result of such a long-standing relationship with generations of top race cyclists.

Having become such a well-known and well-respected manufacturer of cycling shirts and all manner of other gear – including cycling shorts and bib shorts, jackets, head wear, cycling gloves and socks, and other accessories – Giordana has been able to provide top quality attire to serious racers as well as to the budding amateur cyclist. Some of the racing teams that have sported such apparel are the CSF Pro Team, the Colavita/Sutter Home Pro Team and the Toyota-United Pro Team.

But Giordana cycling jerseys are not just for the serious professionals and those teams with sponsorship from huge international corporations. They also provide excellent and affordable technical clothing for the small up-and-coming teams and for individuals who ride for fun and keeping fit. They even have a great range of so-called “Lifestyle” clothing designed for people to wear both on and off their bikes. Their catalog separates the various levels of jerseys (and other gear) into several categories. Gone for 2010 is the Easy Rider category from 2009 which was designed for mountain bikers and for cycling for fun and relaxation.

The categories for 2010 are:

• Body Clone – this range is designed to fit like a second skin, the aim being to fit the anatomy of a rider in the riding position. After all, what’s the point of having a snug and perfect fit when you are standing upright next to your bike, if as soon as you start racing the jersey slides up your back and the shorts prevent your legs from pedalling freely!
• Ultimate – designed for the ultimate in performance during aggressive racing at the top level.
• Pro Level – this collection includes authentic Giordana designs, offering an identical feel, fit and performance as that experienced by the Pro Team riders.
• Performance – this is the range for all-rounders. Great performance and value to offer amateur cyclists everything they need whatever their level of ability.
• Sport – relaxed fit is good for general sports training on the bike. One for the recreational rider.
• Lifestyle – a wonderful collection of cycling clothing originally for women, but extended in the 2010 season to men. This clothing offers a mix of practical everyday casual fashion combined with high performance technical cycling features to enable you to look good on and off the bike.

So performance-wise, there is definitely a category that will easily fulfil your needs. The Giordana cycling jerseys also have the usual options of long sleeved or short sleeved, long front zippers (in many cases a full length zipper), and pockets at the back. For quality and for an Italian cycling shirt that is still actually made in Italy, Giordana is possibly the best on the market today.

The simple answer is that you can’t just walk into any clothes store and grab yourself a cycling shirt, but they are widely available. Most towns have at least one specialist cycling store, and they’ll sell all manner of bike-related products, including the bicycles themselves, but also protective equipment such as helmets; security locks to secure your bike if you have to leave it anywhere; and various spare parts such as tires, break cables etc. Many will also sell the specialist cycling shirts.

I have found that many of the products sold in the cycling stores tend to be rather expensive, so it is always advised to shop around (as with buying anything these days!)

The internet is a great place to find cycling jerseys and you’ll be pretty spoilt for choice. You can check out the manufacturers themselves, for example Giordana, Bellwether, Castelli or Polaris. Or dig around the online sports stores. Many have a cycling section where you can get all the gear you need for casual or more intense cycling.

Amazon seems to sell pretty much everything these days, and cycling shirts are there on the goods list also. They have a decent selection so a quick perusal of their site might give you some ideas, even if you decide to simply note down the ones you are interested in and then go down town to see if you can find them in the stores – always a good ploy as you can try them on there and then.

There is also the option of checking out the specialist running and jogging stores in your town, especially if you are a casual rider looking for a tee-shirt to go riding in. It’s probably still best to opt for a tee-shirt with moisture wicking ability for your comfort. And that’s why I suggest running shops, as they’ll stock a variety. Go for something ‘loud’ and garish so you’ll be seen on the road by others.

If you can’t find a local cycling specialist store or one that sells wicking shirts for runners, how about looking for an outdoors or hiking supplies store. They’ll often have wicking tops that should keep you dry and comfortable when out riding.

Hopefully you’ll find some decent cycling shirts nearby and start to benefit from what they have to offer, rather than relying on standard cotton tee-shirts, which will get waterlogged on hard rides and cause all sorts of havoc with your body’s thermostat!