Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Anyone know if I'll be able to take something I bought off the website into the shop and swap it for another size?

Aye, well at the moment. I went out a couple of nights ago and it was <5 which was fairly uncomfortable with long sleeve merino base, Jersey and merino outer.

I've got a short sleeve merino base I'll use with it but I'm hoping it'll fit nicely over a shirt for getting around town for work.

Slight impulse buy but it'll last a while hopefully.

I wear mine over a baselayer.

That's what they said in the shop so I'll give it a go. Hopefully I've not packed on too much daddy weight since I tried on the medium last year.

Are the merino glove liners all they're cracked up to be? I get really cold hands so want toastiness

Free postage on all orders this weekend, for all those who've been moaning about the postage costs levied.

But why don't they have a pre Xmas sale with every thing I want at knock down prices, it's all so unfair.

I normally wear a small Rapha Classic bibs.

I assumed I go for the same size for the 3/4 bibs? they seemed noticeably tighter and less elastic than the Classic.

I placed my order on monday and it still haven't been shipped. It's mostly like this when i order from the webshop, not only when/after sale. Guessing they only ship international once a week?

I found them very useful last winter, kept my hands warm when used in combination with the winter gloves. You might want to go for the deep winter gloves with them if you get very cold hands.

I think they are trying to catch up with the amount of orders from the offers they put on last weekend.

Nothing more than a single baselayer - unless you live in Scandinavia.

not just the orders need cathing up. responds to emails are non-existent

mailed on the 4th

Ls base layer and winter jersey have kept me toasty through my commutes thankfully. Anymore would be overkill I think.

Pro team Thermal bib & leg warmers or winter tights with pad or classic bibs & winter tights ?? Decisions decisions

I don't really see the point of the thermal bibs beyond racing. If it's cold enough for thermal bibs (and I presume warmers) it's cold enough for tights.

Get your tights with a pad - so much less hassle.

Lies.

If your tights are without pad you can wear them a few days back-to-back – just wash the bibs. You also get the benefit of the compression in bibs that the tights don't have.

If have a pair of thermal bibs in your wardrobe you can team them up with tights when it gets really cold. They're also just useful for short rides in the cold, cross, wearing with knee warmers into pretty cold temps, riding in the wet (keeping the right muscles warm) etc...

This.

I have 3/4 winter tight, which made for cosy riding with a cheapo "roubaix" winter tight.

My Rapha winter tights w/pad are certainly very compressive.

Almost every other high end manufacturer has moved on from tights w/o pads now (including Rapha), they belong in the <00's or on people who still think that's the way to do it because they're traditionalists. There's a reason Team Sky and RCJLT requested tights with pads (almost every WT/conti team kit i've seen comes with them as standard)...it's far less fuss 7AM on a freezing morning to get geared up and also the fit is superior.

Further to that tights cover almost any training circumstances the whole A/W. Thermal bibs really are quite niche and yes, I'd own a pair, but not before normal winter tights...

Please elaborate on what the reason is so we can decide if its relevant to our needs or just to team sky's? Cheers.

Edit: got it

How do you know that Team Sky and RCJLT requested padded tights?

The world is a big place, just because YOU think something is better than something else it doesn't mean everyone else does. I will wear thermal bibs and knee/leg warmers over tights every time I can. Some people were out in shorts and ss jerseys today in Richmond Park.

Everyone is different.

Also, far less fuss to wear tights with pad rather than put a pair of tights over bibs is just silly.

Getting dressed is not very difficult.

Putting tights without pad over all the normal bibs I have is a lot cheaper than buying a complete set of new ones for winter, no matter what the pros do.

Most manufacturers offer both. I disagree it's an out-dated method – it's quite normal.

Sorry to hear about you getting your bibs in a twist at 7am.