Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

^^ Is Scotch blood in demand for transfusions? It could be useful in the early season. Or would the high alcohol content show up in doping?

#protip

I'm not sure the high alcohol content in my blood would be considered performance enhancing (except in the areas of dancing, telling jokes, playing pool and charming the laydeez.)

#also Scotch. Like the drink.

Merino hoody is probably the nicest top I've ever worn. As usual, nice but pricey. But it really is very, very nice and the gold colour is really nice in real life. Good choice, design department of Rapha.

Edit: sorry for saying nice so many times.

Planning to buy Softshell and LS Jersey. Anybody got a discount code I could use please?

rapha discount code? Pah, this isn't 2011

sorry for saying nice so many times.

Tried the hard shell jacket on in store the other day out of curiosity. Reminds me how much I dislike asymmetric zips. Do they serve a functional purpose, or is it an aesthetic decision?

Tried the hard shell jacket on in store the other day out of curiosity. Reminds me how much I dislike asymmetric zips. Do they serve a functional purpose, or is it an aesthetic decision?

They don't bend when you lean forward

The reasoning behind it, as I understand it, is to ensure the zip isn't around your Adam's apple when it's closed. Which, having had a jersey which used to irritate the fuck out of the skin around my Adam's apple, I can understand.

Patagonia use them so that zipps on multiple layers dont line up. So you get less wind sneaking through, and its a bit more comfy. Can e annoying on something stiff though. You get one extra long collar.

Anyone got a pro team cross jersey? What are they like?

The reasoning behind it, as I understand it, is to ensure the zip isn't around your Adam's apple when it's closed. Which, having had a jersey which used to irritate the fuck out of the skin around my Adam's apple, I can understand.

And beard too.

Classic bibs are very nice (but pricey). Double thumbs up for my gooch feeling fine after 80 miles.

Anyone got a pro team cross jersey? What are they like?

They're nice

Pricey?

That too

Lol, I love this thread!

Feel a sudden urge to buy new kit. Can't actually walk or even stand up, let alone cycle. Hey ho...

I can recommend the pro team jacket.

I wore mine for the first time today and it was excellent. I also crashed and while my knee warmers, overshoes and shorts and gloves are all holed, the PTJ held up admirably. The baselayer under it is also shredded though.

Yup, those things are tough.

Pro team jacket is without a doubt my most versatile bit of kit, I'm a medium jersey but bought it in a large. Usually wear it with just a merino base layer underneath (in small). Windproof, showerproof, two zipped pockets, lots of storage, for a longer cooler ride that might get wet just chuck a light waterproof castelli jacket in the pocket. Base layers are amazing when you've got a few jackets so you don't waste jerseys every day for the commute. Really like the hardshell but haven't got the heart to part with the dose, yet! Nice light Norrona gore-tex pro shell again with just the base layer under it is perfect at this time of year. Although rapha tights are pretty, can't see why I would ever wear anything but castelli nanoflex bibs or tights if it's damp(spray) to pissing down.

Agreed, PTJ is a fantastic bit of kit. Had mine out today and at the weekend, with just a baselayer is more than enough. It beaded the moorland mizzle-y rain and kept me nice and dry, wouldn't have held off a downpour, but not intended to. Rain jacket in the back pocket and this is gonna be the staple for me this winter.

Race cape is equally nice. Similarly with the PTJ, the fabric qualities and cut is great, feels very durable and has a proper nice chunky zip, none of your silver ringed shite. I wish rapha would stick to these, or the magnetic ones across the range. Worse thing about the wind proof shirt IMHO is that zip.

Also, the Touring trousers are bloody lovely. As good as the jeans in terms of quality, but sadly only 32" leg. Gutted.

Seems to be a lot of tasty gear in the range right now, seemingly justified (tho I'm easily persuaded) in offering a great solution to slightly different riding conditions. Buggers.

Hmm, I'm starting to like the idea of a PTJ, but only put off by it not being waterproof, which is why I tend to be happy wearing just a jersey and windstopper.

Softshell is just too warm even on my commute and thin merino.

Agreed ed. Struggling to see the use of a non waterproof jacket in england where it does not really get cold but rains every third ride

I've used mine plenty!

Thing is about the PTJ is that it's only showerproof which is most of what you get in blighty anyway, and because it's only showerproof, it's more breathable than any waterproof hardshell, so less sweaty boil-in-the-bag rides. If one does need protection from a downpour, a light waterproof shell is useful, also useful if the temperature drops at night. So rather than being a drawback, lack of waterproofness is actually a bonus.

That's actually quite a useful explanation, cheer.

Will have to wait till December to afford one, my commute is through Surrey and end up boiling in the Softshell halfway through despite wearing little layer.