Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Good point DJ. I've been riding with a pair of Campy wooly gloves inside some track mits but I was thinking of getting something proper

Maybe I'll stick to deFeets with a liner...

i bought the paul smith one so i know what im on about. lovely fit and design tho so up to you :)

That's odd, my PS hoody has stood up to a lot of use. Are your back pack straps particularly abrasive?

You're both right.

I also bought the PS one and mine looked shit after three wears - I emailed Rapha about this and they said that some of the merino used was different and simply not up to standard. They were aware of the problem but the trouble was they couldn't isolate it and solve it. I took it back to PS and as soon as they saw it they refunded me straight away.

The problem of it being that, as it was different batches, some hoodies were fine and others weren't. I had a look at some in the PS sale recently and they were pilling on one shoulder where people had been browsing through them on the racks....

Rapha said that they were going to sort out the merino / quality control problem for future garments so I'm going to try one of the new hoodies at some point as I really liked the PS one (apart from the abysmal quality - it wasn't just the merino, the stitching was terrible too.)

I also had the same problem with the R+PS jersey - it pilled badly, holed and the stitching on the hem gave way after about three or four wears/washes so that went back too. Same shitty merino I'm guessing.

As for it being a characteristic of the material, my fixed jersey is nearly four years old now, is almost always worn with a bag of somekind and still looks almost new - it really is in excellent condition. I recently got the city jersey and it's lovely but I'm not sure how it'll stand up to use as it's so fine....

most of the rapha jerseys are a sportswool/merino blend - which is harder wearing. Mine are just starting to bobble a little after 1.5 yrs of constant use

there is a difference between pure merino and a merino blend such as sportswool. the merino blends are much more resilient to abrasion.

great minds... ;)

Great minds? Hmmm would a great mind be taken in by such obvious marketing bullshit?

Don't understand what you're doing wrong with your PS hoodie. I've worn mine for every ride and commute since the cold weather came. Was a bit warm in early November and I got chilly arms on the really cold days recently (rectified with long sleeve base layer) and have no out of control bobbling.

I got it in the PS sale shop for less than £100 and I would say it's probably the best value for money purchase of cycle clothing I've made recently.

Also, I have the track gloves and they have been plenty warm for winter riding with excellent padding on the palm too.

Can't wait for the next sample sale.

Don't understand what you're doing wrong with your PS hoodie.

Nothing - see my reply.

I do think that Rapha should have stopped selling them once the problem was known, taken it on the chin and rectified it because I bet there's more than a few people putting up with sub-standard products.

That's odd, my PS hoody has stood up to a lot of use. Are your back pack straps particularly abrasive?

Winter gloves are a difficult option - too thick and you lose tactile feedback, too thin and the cold sets in. I was using the gloves yesterday in when it was 8 degrees and they were fine. There is a whole thread devoted to the problems of winter gloves and no clear winner has come out, horses for courses. But I did try the assos 851 gloves, first pair lasted 3 weeks, second pair one ride before they split, they were no warmer than the rapha ones and had less padding.

I've got the winter gloves and really like them. Not sure they're 50 quid better than the Gore ones I had previously but they are warmer. Certainly decent gloves for the bad weather.

Great minds? Hmmm would a great mind be taken in by such obvious marketing bullshit?

Shouldn't you be riding in circles in the mud somewhere? ;)

Who really cares anyway - I haven't paid for any of it. It's just gear that I use because I have it, I think it's pretty good and most of it has stood up to plenty of sweat, rain, cold, being thrown on the floor in a wet pile etc etc. Not sure that I would pay full whack for it but hard to say whether you would when you haven't had to.. at the end of the day it's just kit

re: winter gloves... I really rate the Assos early winter ones. Lovely warm, not too much feeling loss.
Only problem is they are not water proof at all

I've never understood people who need ski gloves/mittens/Zoidberg claw for cycling in town. HTFU or ride a bit faster..

Most of my blood is directed towards my Cardio system and legs when cycling, therefore my hands get freezing, especially when taking the brunt of wind, so yeah I need thick gloves. Cycling faster wont stop my fingertips feeling like they're about to snap off.

I could HTFU though to be fair. Meh.

i have a pair of assos early winter gloves.. two years use now, okay the stitching went above the left thumb after three months which i have repaired but i love the fit, the long cuff. but buying white and a matching airblock jacket shows up alot of grime, plenty of wear and tear around the fingers and thumbs. but solid all the same and not likely to be given up for a while. not cheap but worth it for the mileage and conditions.

As for Rapha I like what they do. I visited Imperial Works this afternoon for a tour around, nice to see the human side of a company and Simon Mottram remembered me from a party years ago, and there were a few familiar faces around too. Something reassuring about Rapha operations and I wish them well now and for 2012. I agree with Dan though it's just kit for cycling, the obsession should be about riding a bike not what you wear.

#horsesforcoursesiguess

I could HTFU though to be fair. Meh.

Or ride slower. Less wind chill.....

didnt try the layering, but then thats extra cost on top of the 75 notes i just splurged so thanks but no thanks
best winter gloves ive had so far? 9.99 btwin decathlon. and they are still going strong. thought rapha ones would be an upgrade...how wrong i was
the r+ps stuff isnt the best made ive seen, they were selling it all off at the PS outlet store down in portsmouth. i had a quick browse and like you said the stitching is crap and the merino was already pilling despite it never having left the store
im amazed your top has stood up to a daily commute
and assos...jeezus they are even more expensive than rapha!

Rapha competition on facebook:

Only two days left until the Rapha Festive 500 starts... Escape the clutches of holiday indulgence and clock 500km between 23–31 December. Record your kilometres however you can, post evidence on Facebook, and be in with a chance to win the the Grand Prize — a priceless Trek Madone 6.9 bespoke-designed for Rapha. The most compelling entries will win special Rapha prizes and a Festive 500 roundel.

I really like the idea of trying to clock up 500k, the stress being 'like the idea'

Muxu FTW

I mentioned that a few pages back. The challenge already has more than 1,600 signed up on Strava. Wonder how many will fail to reach 500km? Me, for starters...

i like the windproof shirt

but the only colours when i got mine were white or purple so got the white

it gets grubby pretty quickly

but the garment is great for windy days
I hope that turmeric comes out :S

I wore me Winter Jersey for the first time today, it's lovely (but overkill for this weather)

I mentioned that a few pages back. The challenge already has more than 1,600 signed up on Strava. Wonder how many will fail to reach 500km? Me, for starters...

There's a little bit about it in Rides & Races.

I'm doing the Channel 4 style Alternative Ride to Redemption:

http://2011rapha500.wordpress.com/2011/12/20/festive500/

Some bloke on Strava has hit 244km already.

Is he the Australian? I think he's used the time difference and the weather to great advantage!

How do you add your km to the Strava table? I've never used it before and it's not as user friendly as I'd hoped!

I've got 14km so far - my ride to work this morning. Not going well so far!