Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Any of the picey but nice crowd have any thoughts on the Assos T Roubaix FI. Mille Knickers?
My aged knees dont like the drafts.

I don't know about those but I certainly rate the old F1 Mille chamois in their shorts.

I understand the whole head to toe Rapha thing...I've pretty much done the same with Castelli in the past...having kit that matches just makes sense...although the photo of three guys in matching kit does look at bit sad (but I think it was probably taken at a Rapha event)

base layers...Merino wool is awesome, but available from many places.
Howies do a good range, and I've also just bought a Brynje Merino string vest base layer
http://www.nordiclifeuk.co.uk/index.php/active-base-layers/68/563/active-base-layer/P-classic-original-mesh-t-shirt

...just comparing prices it seems that (for once) Rapha are not actually that pricey.

I've also just bought a Brynje Merino string vest base layer
http://www.nordiclifeuk.co.uk/index.php/active-base-layers/68/563/active-base-layer/P-classic-original-mesh-t-shirt

On the model:

hah sorry man my English is a bit broken at times. I meant that to be saddened by a bunch of dudes with matching cycling kits is hilarious if you live in a country (England) where the national sport is Football where spectators drunk off their asses congregate on stadiums in team kits munching on sausages.

Maybe those people work for Rapha, and were in fact, assisting on the Rapha ride 'Hell of the North'...

Maybe those people work for Rapha, and were in fact, assisting on the Rapha ride 'Hell of the North'...

still... the chap in the middle is fat nodder material — and he wears pink.

what do you guys think about the castelli velocissimo due bibshorts?

the person i see most often in castelli is an utter nobber, who rides like a furious nodder

I'm getting me some of that!

I do love Castelli stuff but I wouldn't actually pay for it. Well, maybe a skinsuit but that's for SPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED.

I have the free aeros (Castelli) and they're great for proper riding but for commuting the straps are very thin and if you have a rucksack on they can shift about a bit.

Seems hard to find decent bibs (with a good pad) that aren't race orientated.

the person i see most often in castelli is an utter nobber, who rides like a furious nodder

David Millar?

^ rep

Dan Martin is the nodders, nodder.

I loved him in Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

Aside from the retro issues--- Castelli did some, Pearl Izumi did an exceptionally good one--- the market never really stopped offering wool jerseys.

I'm not trying to nitpick, but I will. Out of your post I found that;

Castelli - only really is found on ebay, but any new stuff is north of £100.
Gonzo - nada
Swabo - is not easy to find, but when you do it too seems to be c.£100.

Other brands I found were:

All-City - $120USD.
On-One - £30-40
Endura - £40-60

So it seems that the "decent brands" cost the same with a bit of a Rapha premium. That said your post was useful for finding some nice old school Castelli, so thank you.

what do you guys think about the castelli velocissimo due bibshorts

I have these, or at least an older version. All the components are great. But they come together poorly. The lycra is nice, the pad is very cushie, and the straps sit well. But the pad isnt pulled up into the crutch. So you feel like youre wearing a nappy, it catches on the saddle, and my bits fall into the gap all the time. My DHBs have less nice lycra, a pad that is bulkier for the same value of cush, and thinner straps. But because they put the pad in the right place, they are 10 times better.

The little scorpion logo is cool though.

I'm not trying to nitpick, but I will. Out of your post I found that;

Castelli - only really is found on ebay, but any new stuff is north of £100.
Gonzo - nada
Swabo - is not easy to find, but when you do it too seems to be c.£100.

Other brands I found were:

All-City - $120USD.
On-One - £30-40
Endura - £40-60

So it seems that the "decent brands" cost the same with a bit of a Rapha premium. That said your post was useful for finding some nice old school Castelli, so thank you.

Some other ones I found:
Vulpine
Le Coq Sportif
Nitto

Nice but pricey

I have these, or at least an older version. All the components are great. But they come together poorly. The lycra is nice, the pad is very cushie, and the straps sit well. But the pad isnt pulled up into the crutch. So you feel like youre wearing a nappy, it catches on the saddle, and my bits fall into the gap all the time. My DHBs have less nice lycra, a pad that is bulkier for the same value of cush, and thinner straps. But because they put the pad in the right place, they are 10 times better.

The little scorpion logo is cool though.

Funny enough I just traded/returned my faulty* DHB Aeron Pro for these. Don't think I can justify Rapha price point yet. Plus if I'd have gone with rapha bibs, the gabba jersey that I will buy for coming/never ending winter will look 'mismatched'. Bought them in Evans after trying, proud XL in Italian sizing ;)

• Lycra got fucked in one 80 mile ride.
  

Well all the components are better like I said. They just fit horribly. Your experiance might differ etc.

Cheers for the other jersey suggestions.

I'd suggest trying bibs on if possible to check the pad placing works. The classic bibs are pretty discrete and black so I can't really see any problem with matching them to anything. My mates really happy with his Assos bibs and lots of others recommend them. They tend to be on sale more than Rapha too.

I was thinking of treating myself to some top end bibs. Rapha, Assos etc were obviously the names that came to mind. But having been forced to pull on my Skins bib knickers for last nights turbo session. I just cant see myself buying anything else.

http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2012/10/assos-capo-castelli-and-rapha-bibshorts-review/

probably a reep but some may not have seen

On the model:

I've put on weight since then

^^ interesting article. Although I kinda wish he'd had the classics in there. This made me chuckle;

Rapha products always seem to have a story to tell and the Pro Team bibs come with this little piece of inspiration:

“Under low clouds we push hard through the shivering wheatfields, our feet shackled to the pedals. Tongues hang, like those of dogs and the gang breathes fast and heavy. My grandfather once told me of Henri Pelissier, a champion rider who quit the Tour in 1924 and whom a journalist once described as a Forcat de la Route–a ‘convict of the road’. From the team car, an order comes like the lash: ‘Raise the tempo at the front’. We cannot give in. We are chained together, destined to race forever.”

Personally, I don’t think bike riding shouldn’t be that grim but the Pro Team bibs have a fit that is in perfect sympathy with this passage of text.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121097719518

Emailed the seller to inform him of his typo in the price.

"buy these are you are nearly getting there for your very very limited jacket"