I like their kit and have a few bits all picked up in the sales. Not sure if the sales will still be around in the same way as before as I think they were going to change their model a bit having been acquired. Anyway, kit looks good, if pricey
Their waist pack looks pretty decent, I have a soft spot for them. Actually priced fairly too
Generally not a fan of MTB jerseys, I prefer roadie style jerseys that have a zip for venting. Also prefer the less flappy option up top, and pockets on the back are handy when not using a waist pack or backpack
Looks good to me, I like that they have bib liner shorts but my experience of wearing bib shorts under baggies is that the baggies waist slips down a lot. Maybe it’s just me but having a few silicon gripper dots on the waistline of either the bibs or inside the baggies would be good (I think I found some models of Oakley shorts had this and it worked great).
Erm, look at the last promo photo, it makes you mud proof, that chap is pushing his bike out of a boggy hole and his tyres are still shiny, let alone his kit.
@johnx2 I’m pretty sure the point of that is less hard, I think you’re confusing erectile and ejectile dysfunction.
Sure some of the gravelers will be interested for a bit of posing, but non of the cool kids will go anywhere near it and trail riding is all about being an individual.
I’m sure this is all top quality kit . . . but can anyone explain why so many cycling jerseys (not just Rapha) have different coloured sleeves? Is it a roadie thing?
I’ve had their stuff since trying samples in the 2000s and it was genuinely exciting but that all looks ultra conservative. Went from innovative, thru jumping the shark (man bags, leg shaving kits, espresso cups) to catering for the Audi drivers.
Wish them well though, have ridden with a couple of their guys and they’re good people.
What is the point of 3/4 length sleeves? They just look stupid.
I like Rapha kit for road riding and some of this stuff is quite nice but I don’t feel hugely inspired to actually buy any – might get some short sleeve tops to try out but they don’t appear much different from their gravel range.
Brushing off undergrowth without making too much of a mess of your arms, I suggest. That’s one feature I quite liked. Airy but protects from sun and thorns.
but can anyone explain why so many cycling jerseys (not just Rapha) have different coloured sleeves? Is it a roadie thing?
Raglan?
It’s not an American thing as such – Raglan sleeves are named after the First Baron Raglan and a coat made for him by Aquescutem after the battle of Waterloo. Raglan Is the construction of the sleeve – with the sleeve extending from the collar – useful for mtb because when you’re wearing a backpack the straps don’t sit on a seam and favoured by baseball players because it articulates well for swinging you arms around with a bat.
The contrasting sleeve colour detail often seen with raglan sleeves is a baseball uniform thing.
I might be totally missing the point, but I thought Rapha was the roadies choice of quality but expensive riding gear. As such, being solely a mountain biker, it feels like just another money making exercise rather than creating a product in a sport that they’ve evolved in. Even reading this back to myself makes not a lot of sense (I’ve had a few pints) but I’d rather wear something by a company like Fox who have roots in this type of riding gear. I guess if you ride road and mountain bikes then paying the extra for Rapha makes perfect sense.
It comes to casual/sport wear from baseball, yes. Used in North American sports. I know where the name comes from… but there where no tops that looked anything like this at Waterloo.
As such, being solely a mountain biker, it feels like just another money making exercise rather than creating a product in a sport that they’ve evolved in.
The new owners are mountain bikers. Make and sell stuff you want for yourself.
All the ones I’ve ever tried have been “wrong” in some respect.
I’d much rather have a separate liner short and a decent pair of baggies over plus it’s much more versatile in terms of using baggies as regular casual shorts.
I might be totally missing the point, but I thought Rapha was the roadies choice of quality but expensive riding gear. As such, being solely a mountain biker, it feels like just another money making exercise rather than creating a product in a sport that they’ve evolved in. Even reading this back to myself makes not a lot of sense (I’ve had a few pints) but I’d rather wear something by a company like Fox who have roots in this type of riding gear. I guess if you ride road and mountain bikes then paying the extra for Rapha makes perfect sense
Meh, you’re over-thinking things. It’s cycling, this is kit for cycling – if it suits the type of cycling you do, you like the look and you can afford it then why not? Anything about companies having history in one branch of the sport so sticking with them is just bollocks IMO – they’re all just companies trying to make money at the end of day.
TBH I thought, apart from the arm band (rather than the awful pink) which is their trademark, the tops (and shorts*) are indistinguishable from pretty much everything else. I just think it’s weird that given a year to come up with stuff (some of which they already make) it’s a bit of a poor show. They’ve clearly been watching too many 50:10 jibbing videos and I wonder if they have any idea what the rest of do?
* I get that it’s hard to do anything new or revolutionary with shorts.
It’s cycling, this is kit for cycling – if it suits the type of cycling you do, you like the look and you can afford it then why not?
I’ve been using Rapha kit for mountain biking since their first black sports wool jersey (which is still in regular use). As you say, it’s all just cycling.
I want to hate Rapha due to their **** branding but the two items of clothing I own of theirs are really nice. Nothing massively inspiring in the new stuff but I’d potentially be interested if I was buying new MTB stuff (and preferably if it was on sale 🙂 ).