"The Shirt Riders Every event has a few - riders who show up year after year, not for the challenge, but for the tradition stitched across the front. They're not pretending to be racers; they're preserving memories one shirt at a time. For them, that shirt is a souvenir of belonging. I've met a few like that. One guy at the Hotter'N Hell registration line told me, straight-faced, "I'm just here for the t-shirt.""
"Maybe he meant it. Maybe he didn't. Either way, I got it. The shirt is part of the experience - it says, "I showed up." My Drawer of Memories I've got dozens of those shirts myself - single-day rides, fundraisers, long tours. Each one brings back a route, a climb, a face, a story. I ride for the road, not the cotton, but I wear those shirts proudly. They're a reminder of all the places the bike has taken me."
Some riders attend events primarily to collect event shirts and medals. These participants prioritize tradition and belonging over competition. Event shirts serve as souvenirs that recall routes, climbs, faces, and stories. One rider explicitly said he came just for the t-shirt. Many cyclists accumulate dozens of shirts from single-day rides, fundraisers, and long tours. Shirts are worn with pride and keep memories alive. Some medals become keepsakes, hung as quiet reminders of earned days. Collecting shirts and medals reflects a culture of community, memory, and lighthearted participation. Cyclists may wear the shirts until they fade or tuck them away as tactile records of past rides.
Read at Theoldguybicycleblog
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