Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Black shoes + plastic bags between sock and shoe has always been my go-to winter clobber.

I have somehow managed to get gack on my new City Rainjacket, which as it is orange means the gack is rather obvious.

I imagine the white will be quite obvious. Use your best nostril and go hard, that should tidy things up........

The overshoes fit well and look nice but do not wear at all well. I use mine only for 'special' but the neoprene is wearing such that I may return looking for repair. The damage is from walking in them, but that's only really from house to shed. Have had cheaper ones that lasted much better.

Marmite for sure... but I like that a lot.

Yeah, it's nice.

I also own a pair of the previous generation of the rapha overshoes, had them for 2 full seasons.

I have not worn through / torn any part of the overshoe from walking, or dismounting. I can only imagine tearing out the toe part if you're sitting on your saddle and putting your toes down? When i do walk in cycling shoes, its not like i'm doing a full heel to toe stride...

For anyone considering them, keep in mind that they will not keep water out. In continuous rain it will get soaked right through within minutes. It will only keep your feet warmer than without the overshoes... Anything below 4ºC was painful for me.

This winter i will opt for the Deep Winter Overshoe (which is actually made of a waterproof material & taped seams).

Picked up a club jersey in the sale.

Does anyone else find the inside panels are itchy as f*ck if you're not wearing a baselayer?

Might be ok once washed

Somehow found myself with $240 of Rapha code. What item or items should I buy? Could just get some classic bibs...

All of the baselayer bundles!

What do you need? The classic bibs are excellent, my gooch loves them, but get what you need.

Or buy me a pair of classic bibs.

I've only really got one pair of nice bibs and a few nice jerseys so I guess bibs make sense. Also thought about grabbing overshoes, socks, hat and baselayer or something like that instead.

Does the Classic bibs stretch noticeably over time?

@croft the other stuff you list is just tat. Apart from the baselayer you can buy all of those things, made better, for less from someone else.

The bibs are pretty much the best thing they make. I have 2x pairs of classics bibs which are still going strong after 4 years of abuse and bi-weekly washing. Many other expensive bibs have come and gone in that time..

Not in my experience.

The straps can if you hang the shorts up from them too much.

Fair does, went from medium to small after it start to feel a little too loose, did not remember the medium feeling that baggy before.

ditto with large to medium.

You got thinner and things got looser?

Hello? Is that Scotland Yard? I have a mystery to report...

Really doubt it, I'd look like a twig on crack if that were the case.

You're a what now?

LIKE A TWIG ON CRACK DAN, CHECK YOUR HEARING AlDS

Sweet thanks. Ill pick some up.

I've lost my Rapha virginity buying the Hooded Wind Jacket in the sale. This was partly prompted by my employment with a Team Sky sponsor, which means 25% off for me, coming to an end.

I love the jacket,it feels like a really good quality product. You can wear it over a T-shirt on warm days and it still feels really cool and light, but it also takes the wind chill off later in the evening. Regarding the somewhat controversial hood, I'm pleased it's there: I'll mainly be using this jacket to cycle somewhere, lock up my bike and walk around- so if it rains I don't want to be the idiot in the hood-less jacket with rain running down my face.

This said, the hood retention is shit (unless I'm missing something)- the buttoned strap which goes over the rolled hood does nothing to stop the whole hood sliding out one side and becoming awkwardly half unrolled down the top of your back. Therefore I just leave the hood unravelled.

I was originally planning on buying the navy but my hesitation got in the way and I was forced to go for orange in medium which was a bit of a blessing in disguise- I really like it, especially with matching rapha socks- also good value in sale. I'm a limb-sy 6'2" at about 70kg- the medium fits well, a tiny bit short at the front but that makes it better on the bike.

TL;DR Great jacket, shit hood strap.

Are the new winter gloves really as big as they look or is it just the photos? They look like Honey Monster hands.

This said, the hood retention is shit

Best way I've found is to have it unrolled, but down the inside of the jacket.