Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Maybe hi-tech but spendy gear with kevlar in it or similar.

My comment made with no ill will to MTbers BTW, I used to be one and raced XC when I was younger. I do genuinely think if they did it right Rapha could do well in that area.

Encouraging comments about safer streets from the new owners on Bikebiz:
http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/rapha-to-be-bought-by-grandsons-of-the-founder-of-wal-mart/021688

They do seem to have nice kit alright. Not cheap though for sure. Some of their designs are a bit more bland than minimal also...

You guys made me go to Kitsbow website and you should feel bad. Looks like MTB Vulpine.

VOID have some pretty nice stuff for MTB/Off-road.

Hmm... it's a bit XC, mtb tops shouldn't have zips. There's still a bit of a gap for stylish freeride/dh/am type gear isn't there? Alpinestars stuff is quite nice these days to be fair to them and the plain Troy Lee stuff is smart looking.

is there a need to look stylish for 2 mins at max speed and then in the ski lift?

Time to break out the classic Atherton quote:

"for the sport and the longevity of the sport, to wear cool race kit and to make an image for yourself is more important than the odd win here and there," said Atherton.

Obviously? What's the point otherwise...
Arguably more sense than looking fresh for a six hour, sweaty, grimy sufferfest too?

(I say arguably because obviously it's crucial to look stylish at all times everywhere.)

the rules are so different .. rapha could flourish if they decide to make ugly baggy kit.

.

No zip here: https://voidcycling.com/men/jerseys-n-tops/orbit-hs-jersey-black-men-women.html

The plain black jersey looks nice enough. They haven't resisted the urge to add a camo version (seems a camo option is pretty essential for off-roadies).

Can anyone tell me how well the "PRO TEAM LIGHTWEIGHT WIND JACKET" packs down? Is this what I need for longish descents down mountains and early starts?

Very well and yes. I favour the PT Gilet, warmer for me.

How can the gilet be warmer than the one with sleeves, it's thicker?

it's thicker?

Yep

Out of stock in all but proper MAMIL sizes. The jacket it'll have to be.

do it .. I have really hairy arms so anything full sleeve is sweat-fest in those conditions.

Any comment on sizing? For the man that wears a size S forum skinsuit.

get both XS and S to try. I'd lean towards S.

Thanks amey, your Rapha expertise always appreciated.

Another thumbs up for the jacket.

Packs down the size of a gilet. Fairly water resistant for light showers. Just used for a 300km snow roads audax up in Scotland and happy with how it coped with the fluctuating temperatures and levels of precipitation.

Aren't all Rapha sizes now MAMIL sizes? The last 'pro' jersey I brought had a baggy waist for the pro belly room I assume.

Would the jacket with a normal jersey and arm warmers be enough for British winter?

n.b. instead of a winter jersey

with a merino base layer, then probably. But it really depends on a lot of factors; do you run hot or cold? How hard do you ride? Do you ride in dog shit weather? Where do you ride?

I run a little hot and generally ride at a reasonable pace. I wore a LS wind block brevet jersey with a merino mesh LS baselayer for the majority of winter on my commutes (35k each way) through the countryside (except when it rained) and it was great for me. However, a colleague of mine would have frozen (but then they're smaller and run a lot colder).

The sizing is all over the place, I don't buy before trying these days..