Rapha Classic Polo

The 1940s and 50s are often thought of as a golden era of cycling. Names like Coppi, Bobet and Anquetil spring to mind as icons of those years. Cycling and all its peripheries have come a long way since those hazy days, but in recent times the fashion and equipment of the era have had a renaissance, with cyclists clambering for classic frames and clothing brands introducing traditionally styled kit. One of these latest offerings is the Rapha Classic Polo, a slim-fitting design that harks back to the classic jerseys of this golden age.

The smart-casual polo is from Rapha's City range of clothing that is designed to look good both on and off the bike, with a sprinkling of cycling benefits.

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The fit is slim while being loose enough to be comfortable on the bike; it's not an obviously 'cycling' cut but the back is dropped ever so slightly lower. The short sleeves are also elegantly slim and the wide, pronounced cuffs fit snugly around the upper arm. For Rapha aficionados familiar with its previous products, the cut is reminiscent of its (now archived) Merino Shirt.

The jerseys of the 1940s and 50s were most commonly made from trusty and dependable wool. The Classic Polo draws on this influence, but with a modern twist. It is constructed of a merino/polyester blend, with the proportions being 68/32 in favour of the wool. It's really comfortable against the skin and looks good too. The wool brings with it its usual cache of characteristics among which are breathability, durability, and anti-microbial properties, though the blend of materials mean these features are slightly muted in comparison to a 100 per cent wool shirt.

The Classic Polo is fairly minimal when it comes to details; its beauty is in its simplicity. There is a simple buttonless collar made from the same material as the main shirt, and a narrow, short open placket which is also devoid of any fastening. The absence of buttons gives a casual look and is welcome in warmer weather, allowing air to circulate, but it forfeits the option of buttoning up against a chilly breeze.

The front of the jersey features two chest pockets designed in the size and shape of the trademark Rapha horizontal stripe. They are simple flat panels with a small overlapping flap at the top, but with no secure fastening. The pockets look good, and have a romantic notion behind them harking back to the jerseys worn by Tour heroes of the post-war era, but in a practical sense they are pretty useless. Whether you're on or off the bike they don't serve a lot of purpose.

On the bike, anything in them pulls the front of the jersey down and it sags and swings about in front of you, and being unfastened the pockets don't offer much peace of mind either. Off the bike, anything bulkier than a ten pound note just looks strange. The only time it could be argued they'd be genuinely useful is when riding a recumbent, but quite frankly that's clutching at straws. The pockets definitely seem to be a case of form over function.

The Classic Polo is really comfortable to ride in; the simple design combined with the merino blend makes it lightweight and pleasant against the skin. It's breathable in warmer weather, wicks away moisture well, and stays fresh for a few rides.

Off the bike the polo looks great. It falls slightly nearer the casual end of the polo shirt scale but doesn't look out of place in the office, pub, or in the back garden with barbecue tongs in hand. There's nothing that says 'cyclist' about it, unless of course you happen to be hanging out with fans of 1950s cycling couture.

>> Check out our guide to the best casual cycling commuter wear here

The Classic Polo comes in three different colour options: the light blue colour we tested, cream, and black. And the sizes range from X-Small to XX-Large, or chest sizes 33-45+ inches. There's nothing unusual about Rapha products and weighty price tags, so the slightly salty sum of £95 probably falls about where you might expect it to within the Rapha range. But when you start to look around at similar offerings from other brands, the price seems too high for what the shirt has to offer. Vulpine's similarly pitched polo shirt is £16 cheaper, is pure merino and comes with a few neat features, and Howies sells its merino blend polo shirt at less than half the price. That £95 just seems a stretch too far.

Verdict

Stylish polo shirt that performs well on and off the bike, let down by the unusable front pockets and hefty price tag