Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Hire bikes get trashed as well. My old shop operated a hire scheme on touring hybrids and city bikes and I can assure you, everything @hoops is saying is completely correct.

Done right, a hire is a time consuming and expensive business. Bikes need regular parts and servicing, time spent with customers, answering emails, sizing people up. It’s a time toilet. Then you’ve got bikes coming back damaged and the challenge of pursuing that with the customer, we generally absorbed costs of damage, bent forks, snapped mudguards, broken lights, broken helmets, lost keys, lost tools and pumps etc etc. So factor all of that in. There’s a reason not many places offer hire bikes, it’s a complete PITA.

If it’s expensive maintaining a £500 hybrid that goes out at £20 a day, scale that up to a high end road bike that’s being hired for 60-100 mile days. Given that shimano quote 12-1400 miles on a chain and cassette, 11 speed parts ain’t cheap.

Anyone know if the commuter rain jacket has any pockets?

mechanics collection 3/10

going back

dickies 10/10

It’s a time toilet.

Beautiful turn of phrase.

Why? Was also sort of interested.

Shit fit. Dickies fits better.

Yes it does

Out of interest how waterproof is it?

how long is a piece of string?
how spicy is curry?
how racist are the tories?

and other philosophical questions

52

Hahaha.

Enough to keep the rain out and the sweat in. With or without, you will arrive wet at your destination.

As I get a bit older I find myself getting increasingly cold on long rides. Particularly bad after a cafe stop. I have been looking at the Rapha Pro Team Training Jacket, and Brevet Insulated Jacket as potential Christmas investments to keep my hands on the feeling side of numb. Already doubling up base layers and don't want to wear too many layers as it becomes quite ungainly.

Ideally I don't want to ride around in ninja black, and unfortunately the pro team insulated jacket appears to be all but sold out. I'm erring towards the Brevet jacket in that case, but am slightly put off by the lack of standard pockets. Any thoughts on which would be a preferable winter outer layer?

Brevet jacket with a gilet over the top works pretty well. The gilet gives you the pockets you need as the brevet jacket pockets are in an annoying place.

Lack of pockets is a bit annoying however it has a double zip so whilst its not the easiest to do whilst riding, it does take a second to unzip from the bottom and reach your jersey pockets.

Other than this, its one of my absolute favourite pieces of cycling kit. Makes a big difference to warmth. This morning I wore a short sleeve jersey, the brevet insulated jacket and a winter windblock jersey over the top, it was -1 and I had to unzip both a bit as I was too hot.

Got the bravet jacket in the recent sale, first ride this morning. Merino base layer and jacket was lovely.

Is the repair service still going? Will it extend to a transfer jacket?

This link is dead:
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/repair-service

1 Attachment

Link works!

Seems the jacket can be repaired.

Huzzah! Did a great job on my wind block, which seems to be same material.

Extra pockets keep essentials to hand, and the brand is clearly confident that it’s existing chamois is capable enough for indoor riders, who are often remaining in a static position for much longer than they would riding outside – and getting a lot hotter.

I will, without irony, probably buy a couple of the training towels.

I'm waiting for the e-bike range.

Don't hang about

it it ain't raining, you ain't training