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I rode with a guy who had the jersey and shorts on Monday. Up close looks really nice kit. Could tell the top was made of several pieces of fabric with attention to cut. Much better than the usual front / back panel and sleeves sewn together design. Some of the kit sold for not much less £ these days is utter rubbish (a lot of the 'rider owned' company gear just seems to be cheap catalogue stuff with a logo chucked on it to sell to the cool kids), and the Rapha stuff is pretty on par price wise with the more premium brands.
The way I see it there tends to be 2 camps, one that has not owned Rapha gear but bleats on about it being expensive and poor value (I don't think the Team Sky / full kit mamil did them any favours here). The other camp actually owns some Rapha kit and generally loves it, gets a lot of wear from it, and realises that the cost is very much in line (and often better value) than much of the other premium road kit out there.
I had my first ride out today in the Rapha kit and my thoughts on it are as follows...
Opening the bags, the kit looks and feels better quality than my current Endura and Morvelo stuff, nice fabric and looks like it's been put together well to my non-expert eyes. The fit for me was pretty much spot on, the bib shorts were very comfortable off the bike and so were the baggy shorts. The short sleeved top seemed a bit baggy but I think that's more to do with me being used to more roadie cut kit.
I did a 50 mile ride today in the kit and the best thing I can say about it is that I never noticed it. The bib shorts were comfortable to the point of forgetting that we'd been out for 5 hours or so, the baggies fit well and the cut allowed plenty of movement on the bike without them feeling like MC Hammer's trousers. same goes for the t-shirt, not too hot, fitted well and was comfortable.
Overall I'm impressed with it. It wasn't cheap but to be honest it's not a huge amount more than bibs and baggies from the likes of Morvelo but more comfortable.
I was impressed enough with it that I might go for another set when payday arrives. The other bits like the windproof jacket look pretty good as well. I also quite like the look of the Smith/Rapha helmet they're doing but I don't relaly need a new lid as my current Endura one is fine.
The other camp actually owns some Rapha kit and generally loves it, gets a lot of wear from it, and realises that the cost is very much in line (and often better value) than much of the other premium road kit out there.
That is me and I only buy the cheaper stuff. Just bought a core summer jersey in VERY BRIGHT pink and it is great.
Rapha is very mainstream now for road riding in the UK, always see people wearing it every time I'm out on the bike. I probably own more Rapha kit than any other brand.
Virtually all my MTB kit is Endura. Today I received Rapha Bibshorts and baggies and tech T. Out the bag and on trying on I’d say the kit looks and feels better quality and is very nicely finished off. Sizing spot on too.
Will try on the bike at the weekend hopefully.
My 2p for what its worth... i like rapha stuff and thinking about now it have a lot of rapha stuff some i've even paid full price for. Theres always i think enough nicely designed stuff to suit most tastes its well made lasts well and i don't care if folk slag it as they tend to fall into the 2 camps as described by someone somewhere above and probably not people who i would take any kind of 'fashion' related advice from as thats really what it is.
I'm a middle aged average trail rider, ride on the road at times, ride gravel/cross and i commute mostly by bike but I do consider myself a cyclist as most folk on here probably do so not interested in the tribal divisions rapha seems to dredge up, in fact that is really annoying and such a waste of energy. most of the people who work at rapha are cyclists and probably ride in multiple disciplines so know their stuff and I personally would rather wear nice well designed technical clothing that looks good than be a fat chuff wearing pseudo moto gear shouting 'dropping in' on the local bridleway or a grumpy roadie not saying hello because you aren't in a shockingly badly designed club jersey any day of the week! but those guys probably dress badly in civilian life too so there's really nothing to be done for them!
I'm glad they've bought out some mtb gear, its nice. i personally don't like the jerseys but thats just the colourways so I didn't buy one as i have the power to make that choice (prefer their tech T's for riding) but the other stuffs cool and i went for a proper first ride in the shorts today at lunchtime and they are really good, nice fit, nice materials, work well with pads, pockets well thought out.
well done rapha i say and the more choice of decent gear the better and I'm sure there will be more stuff coming that will suit those disappointed in this first drop.
a mate recently bought a short sleeve top and the shorts and they look well made, as expected.
I tried them on just to get a sense of the sizing and fit and the top was a bit off for me - according to the chart I'm also a medium but the shoulders/back were a tad tight for my liking. I've had this before with the Rapha roadie kit.
Shorts were fine though. Not as nice as my new Endura GV500s but okay.
If you like Endura
https://uk.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=6649fc19319c48fa&from=serp
do you have the glidepath, shorts? if so, how does the sizing of the shorts compare to 7mesh? i take a medium in 7 mesh, waist is spot on, how do bum and thigh room compare?
so many questions! how does the weight of the fabric compare? thanks.
@ Lat
I do have the glidepath although they’re a good four years old now (testament to the quality) so they may have altered the fit. Assuming not then I’m an XL in both. The fabric is slightly heavier than the 7mesh but not hugely so. For me the cut through the leg is slightly more shaped and better for it. The bum is the same, possibly fractionally less flap in the thigh. Given the option right now I’d buy another pair of rapha shorts in front of another pair of glidepath. Hth
So I’ve been wanting to change from Lycra to baggy shorts for a while, so I took the plunge, and picked up the shorts, they work well enough that I don’t notice that they’re there. The side pockets work well for a phone, phone stays in place and I don’t notice it either. Never tried baggies, so have nothing to compare it too. I also picked up the bumbag, which seems ok, a little shy on storage feature inside, I’d say, but sits well and seems stable.
I’m also a medium but the shoulders/back were a tad tight for my liking.
The traditional cyclist has an emaciated upper body!
Yep, I am by no means overweight (72KG at 178cm) yet I wear size Large which fits perfectly.
Have to admit, that hip pack looks ok for £60
Yep, I am by no means overweight (72KG at 178cm) yet I wear size Large which fits perfectly.
I ordered some PoC tops in Large once, couldn't even get my arm into the sleeve and I'm by no means well built. They really were for emaciated people.....
That's where I think you should have different fits as well as different sizes like you get with jeans and shirts.
BANG!! More interesting colours incoming...
Hmmm 'more interesting' indeed 🤨
Hmmm ‘more interesting’ indeed
Yes, doesn't do much for me....
Or me! Disappointed.
I am digging the new colours very much - two tops promptly ordered!
Not the stupid 3/4 sleeves ones though - that's not a good look on anyone.
Hopefully we’ll keep getting regular drops of new looks based on the same garments.
[ nothing has grabbed me enough to persuade me to buy yet ]
I got a blue 3/4 top and really like it. Cut is good and comfortable
I got one of the trail tops for a significant burthday yesterday . Have to say for £75 Its definately good quality . Comes with two peices of spare material in case you come off and wreck It. Seems like it will wick pretty well .
I've got quite a few decent mtb tops and shorts , my mate always buys Fox but I think Endura is now the best quality and also Nukeproof very good. I dont grudge buying Rapha as my old cx jersey is still looking good after 5 years despite never being washed on its own or at the right temperature. I'm not loaded but would rather have 4 or 5 good items than 10 Aliexpress specials.