Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

^ Sycophants. I saw the Ellingworth book which I then bought on Amazon and a Dogma in the rack which made me aware that I should have been more inquisitive with the friend that told me about the Sky team bike sale. And yes, the large windbreaker that did not fit me at Condor fitted at the shop.

Merino leg warmers or regular ones? What's the difference (same price)?

rapha x raeburn winter hat versus deep winter hat. which one's better?

The Raeburn's certainly more available - the deep winter hat's out of stock and has been for some time.

Merino leg warmers or regular ones? What's the difference (same price)?

I have just tried out the merino legwarmers for the first time today. They are extremely comfortable.
Very different materials, natural vs. manmade. where the merino is more comfy/breathable, they are not as thick/warm as winter tights, or as water resistant/windproof as the normal nylon/poly/elastane ones. Personally, I find the normal ones move about and bunch up a bit, where as these seem to stay put....but maybe that's just the fit on me.
Compared to the winter tights i'm currently struggling with (bunching up behind the knees) they are as near to invisible as I've tried. Starting to think about selling winter tights, getting thermal bibshorts to use with them, but not sure they'd cover very cold days yet, as it is pretty mild at the minute, no?

The Scottish lady in the Rapha shop is great. They do seem to want to sell you the smallest size possible for everything though.

All the ladies in the shop are actually great. They've all been so helpful and I have to sing their praises. Not sucking up or anything. The couple of blokes that have served me seem to be have been less helpful...

Anyone know if there will be a sale just before Christmas (but too late for xmas delivery) ?

Last couple of years the sale has kicked off on boxing day.

I have just tried out the merino legwarmers for the first time today. They are extremely comfortable.
Very different materials, natural vs. manmade. where the merino is more comfy/breathable, they are not as thick/warm as winter tights, or as water resistant/windproof as the normal nylon/poly/elastane ones. Personally, I find the normal ones move about and bunch up a bit, where as these seem to stay put....but maybe that's just the fit on me.
Compared to the winter tights i'm currently struggling with (bunching up behind the knees) they are as near to invisible as I've tried. Starting to think about selling winter tights, getting thermal bibshorts to use with them, but not sure they'd cover very cold days yet, as it is pretty mild at the minute, no?

The rapha thermal bibs are very nice. Not too thick, and not too restricting. The lengh is clever too. I really think theyve got these right. Think they will be useful for 80% of my road season. If you also paired them with merino knee warmers and some windproof leg warmers youre sorted. Assos thermal bibs are nice too. Didnt give me the same tight fit when i tried them though. I dont rate the castelli offering.

Nice one, SF. Seems like that will be a better option (for me) I will try to check out the assos as well. Maybe the CW Tights will give a little, but its distracting and actually a bit uncomfortable, which doesn't seem right to me.

Gore do good winter tights I always think

My winter tights are PI Amfibs. Impressively flexible considering the ultimate amount of protection they give. Still like cycling in carboard chaps though. But they're for sub zero snowbiking.

The thing about using thermal shorts paired with warmers. For me at least. Isnt flexibility of use so much. But the way you can dial in fit. Maybe you want a large bib, and a medium warmer. Or maybe, like me, you're short, and want to simply pull the warmers up more to dial the length in. I also find on slightly cold days that a thermal short is about as warm as standard lycra longs or 3/4s. Except I much prefer the feeling of cycling in shorts. Its somewhat of a luxury for me.

The Scottish lady in the Rapha shop is great. They do seem to want to sell you the smallest size possible for everything though.

This.

ALL my Rapha kit is either L or XL (more streety stuff) and the Scottish chap there insisted I was a M - even in the PTJ. Tried it on and managed to just about do it up. Looked and felt like an orange sausage.

That said - I definitely need a M in the deep winter base layer that I'm lusting after.

^ Transfer tent, innit?

Purchased the deep winter overshoes, which along with the deep winter socks result in very toasty feet. Got knocked off by a pavement cycling idiot who's mountain bike probably cost around the same. Collision has put two small holes in them.

Do i;

1- Sue the bastard
2- Send them back to Rapha for repair
3- Get my GF's mum to darn them
4- HTFU and deal with it.

^ HTFU until you can manage without them for a bit (provided the holes are suitably small), then send them in for repair.

I stacked it recently and ripped the sleeve of my PTJ, and am planning to do the same. Apparently the repairs service is quite good (but can take a while)

Wonder if they can do some hemming on my suit trousers....

Castelli, I love, do some thick winter bibtights.

Personally I just ride bibshorts and leggings. For now.

Love my softshell so much.

i want some deep winter overshoes !!!
but out of stock :(

Why? Overshoes are all shit, don't spank money on expensive shit ones. Get good functional ones.

Just get some Endura neoprene ones, best out there and only £20. Get some toe covers too if your toes are cold, £10 craft ones.

Why? Overshoes are all shit, don't spank money on expensive shit ones. Get good functional ones.

Just get some Endura neoprene ones, best out there and only £20. Get some toe covers too if your toes are cold, £10 craft ones.

all of this x100.

And duct tape too.

Yeah I used duct tape last year. But toe covers are worth the £10, they are better than ducttape.