Fit Guide

Race fit vs. club fit cycling jerseys

Which cut should your team order? An honest side-by-side from the people who make both.

The short answer

Order club fit for almost every club: it keeps the cut that matters on a bike but relaxes the chest and waist, so more riders actually wear it. Order race fit only for riders who race or ride hard in a tight position. At Customized Cycling Jerseys you can mix both on one order, from a minimum of 12 jerseys.

Side by side

	Race fit	Club fit
Cut	Close, short at the front and long at the back	Relaxed through the chest and waist
Kept in both	Dropped tail and forward-set sleeves	Dropped tail and forward-set sleeves
Riding position	Bent over the bars, racing or hard group rides	Long days, sportives, charity rides and club runs
Zip	Full-length with a camlock puller	Full or three-quarter length
Hem and pockets	Elasticated band with silicone gripper; three reinforced rear pockets	Elasticated band with silicone gripper; three reinforced rear pockets
Decoration	Sublimated into the fibre	Sublimated into the fibre
Minimum order and lead time	12 jerseys; about 2 weeks	12 jerseys; about 2 weeks
Best for	Race teams and riders who want a close fit	Clubs, sportives and mixed-ability groups

Where race fit wins

A race fit is cut short at the front and long at the back, with the sleeves set forward and the side seams shaped for someone bent over the bars. On a hanger it looks slightly wrong; on a bike it sits flat and stays put. If your riders race, or ride in a committed position on every outing, see our race-fit club jerseys.

Where club fit wins

Most riders are not racing, and a true race cut on a rider who is not racing is uncomfortable rather than fast. Club fit keeps the longer back, the forward sleeves and the gripped hem and relaxes the chest and waist, which is why we recommend it for almost every club order. A club that buys race fit for everyone ends up with a third of the order unworn. See our club-fit endurance jerseys.

How to choose the right size either way

Size on the bike, not standing up: a jersey that feels perfect on a hanger is usually a size too big for riding. We supply a sizing set on request so riders can check the fit in their riding position, and our team sizing guide explains how to collect sizes. When a rider joins later, a team kit programme keeps your design, colours and sizes on file for single-jersey reorders.

The verdict

Pick race fit for race teams and anyone who wants the closest cut for a committed riding position.

Pick club fit for clubs, sportives, charity rides and mixed-ability groups, the fit most riders will actually wear.

Not sure? Send your rider list for a free mockup within 24 hours and we will recommend a cut for how your team rides.

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