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TECH NEWS

Rapha launch new Training & Racing range

Tweaks to the lineup and lots of new colour choices for both men and women

Rapha have launched their new Spring/Summer 2014 clothing range featuring more colours than we’ve become used to, an extended women’s range, and new trade team jerseys. Here are some of the highlights…

There are three trade team jersey designs in the range, all of which are intended to celebrate the 1974 Giro d’Italia, the year when Eddy Merckx won for the fifth time. The jerseys aren’t replicas of those from the race, but they’re inspired by the style.

The jerseys are made from a Sportwool fabric (61% polyester, 39% merino wool), the same one used for Rapha’s Classic Jersey, with embroidered graphics and three-quarter length zips.

The pick of the bunch, in our view, is the Phoenix jersey in light blue (main pic, and above) with an embroidered number 11 on the middle pocket. Number 11 in the 1974 race was Felice Gimondi, riding for Bianchi-Campagnolo.

This is the GiBi one, which looks a lot like the jersey worn by Gianbattista Baronchelli’s SciC team. It has Baronchelli’s race number on the back – 132.

And this is the Vleeseter one, in the same colours as Merckx’s Molteni team. They’re priced at £140 each.

The Classic Jersey is also £140 and it’s available in pink again this year. Rapha are bringing back this colour from the past to mark their 10th anniversary year. The Classic Jersey comes with a set of arm warmers included in the package, and it’s also available in black, blue and red.

Rapha are re-using other colours from the past across the range. The Classic Wind Jacket (£180), for example, is now available again in this grey version with pink stripes on the sleeves.

Other items come in entirely new colour options. The windproof and water resistant Rapha Gilet (£125), for instance, now comes in chartreuse (a vivid yellow) as well as black.

The Super-Lightweight Jersey (£100, available soon) now comes in chartreuse too, with brown trim. As the name suggests, this jersey is designed for hot conditions. It’s made from three different synthetic fabrics with mesh panels down the sides. The pockets have been redesigned for this year, the idea being to provide more stability when you have them fully loaded up.

Lightweight Socks (£12) are available in the same colours as the Super-Lightweight Jersey – chartreuse, light blue and white – so you can match them up.

The Brevet Jersey (£195) is available in purple and blue options. It’s made from a Sportwool fabric with hi-vis stripes around the chest and cuffs. Rapha’s signature band around the left arm is hi-vis too. Each jersey comes with a vest/gilet to wear over the top when required. In the case of the blue jersey, the vest is pink; with the purple jersey, the vest is chartreuse.

The Club Jersey (£110) is a merino/polyester blend and it now comes in three different colour options, each with a vivid stripe around the chest.

Rapha have redesigned their Arm Warmers (£40) so that they’re now less bulky than previously with a thinner gripper fabric at the top. 

This is one area where Rapha haven’t added colour: they still come in just black and white. The Merino Arm Warmers (£45) now come in a new navy option.

Finally on the men’s side of things, Classic Mitts are on the way, priced at £70. They’re made with padded leather palms and Lycra backs with laser-cut knuckle holes to help keep your hands cool. The nose wipe on the back of the thumb is really soft.


Rapha have been expanding their women’s clothing lineup for a while now and turned it into an extensive range. The Women’s Classic Bib Shorts (£160) come in a new black/high-vis pink option. Some women found the leg seam too tight previously so Rapha have let it out a touch this time around.

Rapha have tweaked the design of the close-fitting Women’s Souplesse Jersey (£140) too. The arms are a touch longer than before and the front is a bit longer too so it doesn’t come up short around the middle.

Women’s 3/4 Tights (£150) will be available next month. They’ll come in both standard black and slate grey.

Rapha now have a large base layer collection with a women’s sleeveless version (£50) now being available for the first time. Like the existing short sleeve and long sleeve versions, it’s 100% merino (18.9 micron) with flatlock seams.

For details on the entire Rapha range head over to www.rapha.cc.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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43 comments

Avatar
Miles253 | 10 years ago
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It's the kind of stuff you ogle at, but never lay down the notes for, I could never justify why I needed to spend 140 quid on a jersey, even if I saved my ass off for it. I do sometimes cave to a hat in the sales!

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paulfrank | 10 years ago
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I've got to ask the question, is Rapha kit really worth the money? I love my funkier bib shorts and long sleeve jersey and Altura rain jacket and can't imagine what extra performance I would ever need or gain from such expensive gear.

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Beefy | 10 years ago
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Don't care how expensive or not it is I prefer Castelli. I don't really know why but Rapha just seems to have an image of a BMW. Nothing wrong with that just not the badge I want

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timb27 | 10 years ago
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"Ride your bike and stop whining like a tired toddler"

This. Whatever type of product you can buy, there is expensive stuff and cheap stuff. Vintage wine and cheap plonk. Skoda and Porsche. Timex and Rolex. I own no Rapha, because I can't justify the expense at the moment. If next year I can justify it, I'm there, because it looks great, is well made and I'd enjoy wearing it.

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minnellium | 10 years ago
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These are way too cheap. People who buy Rapha would pay easily twice this. Such bad business sense.

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ajmarshal1 | 10 years ago
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Going to have to get the navy blue and pink short sleeve brevet jersey now as an alternative to my grey and yellow long sleeve one. Options for all weather and all that.

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Gweeds | 10 years ago
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I love the idea that being faster than someone wearing Rapha makes you 'special'.

Who cares what anyone else wears. Why does that give the the right to some sort of weird mindset where you're now better than them.

Or would you like to go back to the frankly shite kit we used
20 years ago?

FFS. Buy what you like and can afford and stop making pathetic judgements about stuff you don't like. Ride your bike and stop whining like a tired toddler. It's pathetic.

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notfastenough | 10 years ago
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Weird isn't it? Tell you what, next time a new poster asks a forum question about what bike they should buy for less than £800, how about all the Rapha wearers (why not the Assoss/Castelli/Vulpine/Road Rags wearers? That stuff isn't cheap either) wade in with "Don't buy that cheapo stuff, if you can't afford at least £3000 then don't bother, take up running!"

Would sound fairly bizarre, no? Not to mention obscene.

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brackley88 replied to notfastenough | 10 years ago
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notfastenough wrote:

Weird isn't it? Tell you what, next time a new poster asks a forum question about what bike they should buy for less than £800, how about all the Rapha wearers (why not the Assoss/Castelli/Vulpine/Road Rags wearers? That stuff isn't cheap either) wade in with "Don't buy that cheapo stuff, if you can't afford at least £3000 then don't bother, take up running!"

Would sound fairly bizarre, no? Not to mention obscene.

In my humble opinion I did not see that as the tone of most the the 'Rapha wearers'....but may be misjudging if this is irony (sorry if so).

I think the point is, some people can afford a £12000 bike, some a £50 bike. I like them all. I don't think the woman on the £12000 is a tool because she has an expensive bike. I think "hey, another cyclist...great, we have something big in common...and wow....that is a nice bike". I don't look at the person on the £50 bike and think "pity them the poor desperate struggler"...I think "hey.. another cyclist...great, we have something big in common".....I have a £300 winter bike, a £1500 Ti planet x and a £5k Wilier....it's just me riding a bike, having fun on all of them.....surely my fundamental status as a cyclist stays constant whichever I am on. I wave at all other cyclists (even those in team kit...I dont care, they are riding), I say hello to Granny's on on basket bikes..kids with stabilisers....if someone wants to draft me on an A road then so be it, if someone flies past me as I daydream of the pave I think yeah...looking good.....it's all good...love everybody.

Same goes for kit...I have a good range of Rapha stuff and some great cheaper stuff...it's all good...I dont become worthy of the laughs or mocking of others based on my kit choice. It's just me, riding a bicycle, wearing stuff....it's all good, love everybody

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notfastenough replied to brackley88 | 10 years ago
0 likes
brackley88 wrote:
notfastenough wrote:

Weird isn't it? Tell you what, next time a new poster asks a forum question about what bike they should buy for less than £800, how about all the Rapha wearers (why not the Assoss/Castelli/Vulpine/Road Rags wearers? That stuff isn't cheap either) wade in with "Don't buy that cheapo stuff, if you can't afford at least £3000 then don't bother, take up running!"

Would sound fairly bizarre, no? Not to mention obscene.

In my humble opinion I did not see that as the tone of most the the 'Rapha wearers'....but may be misjudging if this is irony (sorry if so).

I think the point is, some people can afford a £12000 bike, some a £50 bike. I like them all. I don't think the woman on the £12000 is a tool because she has an expensive bike. I think "hey, another cyclist...great, we have something big in common...and wow....that is a nice bike". I don't look at the person on the £50 bike and think "pity them the poor desperate struggler"...I think "hey.. another cyclist...great, we have something big in common".....I have a £300 winter bike, a £1500 Ti planet x and a £5k Wilier....it's just me riding a bike, having fun on all of them.....surely my fundamental status as a cyclist stays constant whichever I am on. I wave at all other cyclists (even those in team kit...I dont care, they are riding), I say hello to Granny's on on basket bikes..kids with stabilisers....if someone wants to draft me on an A road then so be it, if someone flies past me as I daydream of the pave I think yeah...looking good.....it's all good...love everybody.

Same goes for kit...I have a good range of Rapha stuff and some great cheaper stuff...it's all good...I dont become worthy of the laughs or mocking of others based on my kit choice. It's just me, riding a bicycle, wearing stuff....it's all good, love everybody

You're right, that wasn't the tone of the Rapha wearers- my point was to turn all the reverse snobbery on its head, because it's just ridiculouus.

Part of the biggest irony, IMO, is that cycling is a relatively expensive sport anyway. Why be surprised when a few participants have cash to splash on luxuries?

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Leviathan replied to brackley88 | 10 years ago
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This week I have been mostly wearing Rapha.

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MattCartwright | 10 years ago
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I think Rapha make great products, the new range looks great as always, the pro team range is fantastic. Hating on them because they are expensive is absurd. Chameleon78 makes a great point. I guess its a sign of the times, you see someone in a nice car or on a nice bike and instead of thinking 'he must have worked hard for that I'm going to do the same' a lot of people go right to 'spoiled git, he doesn't deserve that, he must be a tool'. The sneaky price rise is a little disappointing, but then they did this a while back on some of the pro team kit and then changed them back when people were not buying them. Love the typical Rapha inspired comments that you always get, especially that 'you laugh at guys in Rapha kit as you pass them'.... Really, do you, I would love to see that.

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brackley88 | 10 years ago
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Hey, everyone complaining about price...it's not too expensive for loads of people. You don't have to buy it. Cheaper alternatives are available. Torm is good. Altura is good. I can afford Rapha, and am not 50, not fat, and not slow. I am the grandson of coal miners from South Wales so not from a priveleged background. I am not a banker.

The implicit message in many of the comments is that Rapha must be mad to think they can sell at these prices, and/or people must be mad to buy it. But enough people do have the money and love of what they make for Rapha to be the riotous success story we see today (and I celebrate that a UK company is doing this!!). A £140 jersey would be the same % of my annual income as a £40 jersey for someone else. It's not a big decision. And there are a lot of people for whom this is true. I promise I am not saying this to show off, but to make the point that there is no fixed absolute of affordability or value for money. Clearly there are a lot of people who can afford Rapha and like it. So those for whom it seems too much should not judge how it may feel as a purchasing decision to others. I would certainly not do the reverse for someone wearing a £40 jersey.

One other thought. I sell a load of Rapha stuff on Ebay, where it often sells for 60-70% of the original price. So actually, you misjudge the price. The cost to me is often just 30% of the price, as I recoop a large share later. In fact I have a one in one out rule for Rapha jerseys, so look out for what I am about to sell to make space for the new pink Classic, and the short sleeve Brevet. So they cost me about 30% of the RRP, and you get to buy them at 30% less than the original price, though admittedly not new. This means I have, in effect, leased a Rapha jersey for perhaps 2 years, at a very affordable cost.

It's all good. Everything is as it should be. Love everybody.

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Metjas | 10 years ago
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Rapha is the only cycling retailer I'm aware of where you pay £6 standard slow postage unless you spend more than £200. That doesn't sit well with their usual customer service imo.

Lovely stuff, have bought until quite recently, but I'm out.

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Chameleon78 | 10 years ago
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Well said yiman.

Love the reverse snobbery, how many Rapha wearers post copious amounts of unfounded opinionated shyte about cheap garments?

"Man I hate those cheap shorts and their cheap ass style"

Says something about the Rapha wearers, they like to ride their bike rather than bitch at peoples choice in clothing.

For me I like function and fit and also to look smart. I don't buy into all the garish euro kit but then nor to I prattle on to those that do. Each to their own.

We all have one thing in common and that is to enjoy riding our bikes, be that a 15k bike a £100 bike we all seek the same pleasures, the same goes for our clothing.
seriously guys as I've said before, if you don't like rapha or anything for that matter, don't look at it, don't buy it but more importantly stop griping about it, you're getting very tedious.

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brackley88 replied to Chameleon78 | 10 years ago
0 likes
Chameleon78 wrote:

Well said yiman.

Love the reverse snobbery, how many Rapha wearers post copious amounts of unfounded opinionated shyte about cheap garments?

"Man I hate those cheap shorts and their cheap ass style"

Says something about the Rapha wearers, they like to ride their bike rather than bitch at peoples choice in clothing.

For me I like function and fit and also to look smart. I don't buy into all the garish euro kit but then nor to I prattle on to those that do. Each to their own.

We all have one thing in common and that is to enjoy riding our bikes, be that a 15k bike a £100 bike we all seek the same pleasures, the same goes for our clothing.
seriously guys as I've said before, if you don't like rapha or anything for that matter, don't look at it, don't buy it but more importantly stop griping about it, you're getting very tedious.

Amerckx!!

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arfa | 10 years ago
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Just curious, for all those who can't stand it because of the price and have an aversion to those that wear it, do you have the same aversion to someone who say rides a top of the range Cervelo ?
For the sake of disclosure, I have neither Rapha or top of the range kit but I admire the success of a British business and the Mottrams' success all the while whilst caring for their autistic child, which believe me breaks the majority of affected families.
Perhaps time to put away the green eyed monster and celebrate achievement ?

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yiman | 10 years ago
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The blue and white one is nice!

While they are way beyond what I would pay for a jersey, if fat 50 year old businessmen or even skinny 18 year old bin men want to buy them, why would anyone care?

This says far more about the people passing judgement than the people spending their own money on something.

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colin267 | 10 years ago
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Buy it if you like it but I fail to see where there's any value for money in Rapha kit. Try a jersey from Torm - also made from Sportwool and IMHO really well put together and more importantly, looks equally as good but is less than half the price - a bit of a 'no brainer' in my book.  1

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svenrokk | 10 years ago
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Well, this looks decidedly like the current Morvelo range.

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chadders | 10 years ago
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No one has mentioned the fact that now Rapha have got in bed with Team Sky some one has to pay for the kit, oh yes the punter. Love their stuff but couldn't justify £100+ for a jersey or shorts. They had some good offers on their website as long as you were a small or extra small so next to no one got a bargain!!

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brackley88 replied to chadders | 10 years ago
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 16

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Mashedmallow | 10 years ago
0 likes

Also postage for items over £100 is now no longer free, it's £6 for standard delivery. That's £6!!!

Classic jersey is £10 more expensive and doesn't come with armwarmers anymore  2

I do like their kit, but it's been strictly sale only stuff for me for a couple of years, which is a shame as it's a British company I would like to support.

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wwfcb replied to Mashedmallow | 10 years ago
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Mashedmallow wrote:

....

Classic jersey is £10 more expensive and doesn't come with armwarmers anymore :(.....

It still does come with armwarmers, check the features & care section on the Rapha website for the classic jersey.

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Mat Brett replied to wwfcb | 10 years ago
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wwfcb wrote:
Mashedmallow wrote:

....

Classic jersey is £10 more expensive and doesn't come with armwarmers anymore :(.....

It still does come with armwarmers, check the features & care section on the Rapha website for the classic jersey.

Or just read the article above: "The Classic Jersey comes with a set of arm warmers..."

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hardgrit | 10 years ago
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non taken  20

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fennesz | 10 years ago
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They've put £20 on almost everything over £100 & £10 under £100. e.g. jeans now £170. I'm wearing nearly all Rapha at the moment, but now I'm priced out. Oh well, was nice while it lasted.

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othello replied to fennesz | 10 years ago
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fennesz wrote:

They've put £20 on almost everything over £100 & £10 under £100. e.g. jeans now £170. I'm wearing nearly all Rapha at the moment, but now I'm priced out. Oh well, was nice while it lasted.

One of the chaps in the Condor store warned me this was happening a few weeks ago. Apparently, its a combination of increased shipping costs, materials costs etc.

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hardgrit | 10 years ago
0 likes

I'm not 50, fat or a businessman but Ill have to concede on the slow bit  1

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dughs replied to hardgrit | 10 years ago
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hardgrit wrote:

I'm not 50, fat or a businessman but Ill have to concede on the slow bit  1

I did say mostly  4 apologies if offence is caused

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