Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

I've owed the Giro Prolight slx shoe (white) for more than a year now and usedthem virtually every day! For me I would go for sidi shoes instead, mainly because the pads at the back aren’t replaceable and I wore through mine in less than 2 months.

I also wouldn't recommend using them in the rain as there is a vent gap to help to keep your foot cool, but also allow water to enter as well (even withovershoes)

The only good thing about my shoe is how light these shoes are and although you can't mould them to your feet like bont or shimano, they are very comfortable to ride with. (So therefore I think the leather would add a littleweight to them)

The Rapha shoes are virtually the same as Giro Prolight slx (beside from the leather) and from I’ve seen on ebay from people using them the leather rubs off quickly and seems to crank under bad weather.

Hope this helps

Rapha shoes are based on the Factor, IIRC.

Gotta say I'm loving the bomber jacket and softshell trousers on the commute in this icy weather.

+1

Softshell jacket + Softshell trousers are the perfect combo at the moment.

Rode home in the worst of the heavy sleet yesterday and remained warm and totally dry..

These trousers are as noisy as my Hope hub. Like.

Thank you for your reply. So your heel pad is worn away, you're just walking around on the sole? Seems a bit weird to me. Why would giro and rapha do that? How is the carbon holding up? As I do long rides, I tend to walk around in my shoes a lot.

Will look back at the sidi's. Have a pair now, but will be more discerning this time around.

Care to post a pic of your slx's?
Anyone care to post pics of your old rapha shoes?

Did the Rapha silk scarf have something going for it?

I am currently using a merino tube thing meant for motorcycle riders, but perhaps the V shape of a scarf - as well as the silk - has an added benefit?

well, its rapha.

Debating the Classic Wind Jacket vs the Gilet (not softshell).

Gilet packs smaller, is probably more versatile (especially given how hot summer gets here), cheaper and frankly looks nicer. Wind Jacket is more protective and will shed some rain as well, at the expense of pack size and... expense.

I do already have a lightweight Patagonia windshirt from climbing, but it's cut larger (to fit over layers) and therefore rather flappy.

Recommendations? The girl has the gilet and loves it, but has never tried a windshirt to compare it to. I've never used a windproof gilet.

will you be wearing it with just black pants and nothing else?

What's the deal with Raphas sizing? Tried on a Medium rain jacket today (over a merino ls jersey) I'm normally M in everything but this was way too snug under the arms and across the shoulders... fine in arm length. The large fitted well across the chest/shoulders but was a bit flappy everywhere else. Annoying as I was considering getting one in the sale.

Also, I'm sure it's been mentioned but how does the material stand up to having bag straps on the shoulders? Had a gore tex paclite jacket that failed there very quickly... don't want a repeat.

^^ black merino pants, obv.

will you be wearing it with just black pants and nothing else?

Only for special occasions.

Such as funerals.

Debating the Classic Wind Jacket vs the Gilet (not softshell).

Gilet packs smaller, is probably more versatile (especially given how hot summer gets here), cheaper and frankly looks nicer. Wind Jacket is more protective and will shed some rain as well, at the expense of pack size and... expense.

I do already have a lightweight Patagonia windshirt from climbing, but it's cut larger (to fit over layers) and therefore rather flappy.

Recommendations? The girl has the gilet and loves it, but has never tried a windshirt to compare it to. I've never used a windproof gilet.

The packed size difference is negligible, really. Both comfortably go in a jersey pocket.

The gilet is great for chilly starts. The wind jacket is too, but is also a lot more use in showers and colder weather since it covers the arms, has taped seams etc (I've worn it all day over base layer, jersey and arm warmers). So I'd say the jacket is more versatile. But they do slightly different jobs.

Thank you for your reply. So your heel pad is worn away, you're just walking around on the sole? Seems a bit weird to me. Why would giro and rapha do that? How is the carbon holding up? As I do long rides, I tend to walk around in my shoes a lot.

Will look back at the sidi's. Have a pair now, but will be more discerning this time around.

I really like my Rapha shoes, I've been wearing them for the last 8,000km's or so with LOOK pedals on a geared Cervelo.. Comfy straight out of the box using the largest arch support thingy (they come with three different inserts).

I've been riding them without overshoes (-3 this morning) and my feet have stayed warmer for longer than any other shoe (I've had Mavic, Sidi's and Shimano).

Also surprisingly water resistant and dry quickly when they are wet. I have the white ones and scuffed the toe pretty quickly and the rapha logo started coming off the heel, but I think they look and feel better than ever.

it even says in the disclaimer that they wont give warranty replacements for damage caused by stuff like that. ruined one condor pro team jersey from 2 hours with a backpack :D

The packed size difference is negligible, really. Both comfortably go in a jersey pocket.

The gilet is great for chilly starts. The wind jacket is too, but is also a lot more use in showers and colder weather since it covers the arms, has taped seams etc (I've worn it all day over base layer, jersey and arm warmers). So I'd say the jacket is more versatile. But they do slightly different jobs.

I must admit I wonder if the added warmth of the jacket would make it less versatile for me, though. Right now it's dipping down just below freezing and when I'm actually riding, I'm getting away with a Classic Softshell and a thin merino baselayer under it (I freeze when I stop, so you know, don't stop!).

The other day it was maybe 4 or 5 Celcius and I wore the LS Country Jersey over two thin summer baselayers and I was good to go (in fact I have it unzipped for most of the ride).

Basically I run hot (I think?) and I'm slightly worried that I might just cook in the jacket when it starts to warm up a bit.

if you run hot, and actually work hard on the bike you will cook in the softshell in anything over 2-3 degrees.

Re: gilet - I really honestly do not think it's worth paying that much for a gilet as due to their open construction they don't need to have the advanced breathability of jackets. I own a Rapha gilet and like it very much, but a cheap one does the job just as well, at a fraction of the cost.

If you are determined to buy something from Rapha, buy a wind jacket.. and get yourself a cheap gilet.
I should however also say that as someone else who runs hot, I find that a gilet is a much much more useful piece of clothing which I use all year round. Jackets, however thin and breathable are very much a winter item for me.

If I was buying a gilet specifically I'd go for one of the gore ones - as they are excellent.

^This

Gore stuff is generally excellent. I know it's expensive to do so but I've never understood why Rapha don't license the use of goretex for stuff like gloves and parts of jackets. Or use taped seams and backed zips for all their products for that matter.

I have a paclite riding jacket that is just as warm as the softshell when it needs to be, a lot more waterproof and 1/8 of the bulk/ weight. £60 five years ago.

You know this will sell out rapido.

Just chequed again, nothing sold out yet.

I must admit I wonder if the added warmth of the jacket would make it less versatile for me, though. Right now it's dipping down just below freezing and when I'm actually riding, I'm getting away with a Classic Softshell and a thin merino baselayer under it (I freeze when I stop, so you know, don't stop!).

The other day it was maybe 4 or 5 Celcius and I wore the LS Country Jersey over two thin summer baselayers and I was good to go (in fact I have it unzipped for most of the ride).

Basically I run hot (I think?) and I'm slightly worried that I might just cook in the jacket when it starts to warm up a bit.

The softshell is quite a bit warmer than the wind jacket.

Agree that the gilet seems like a lot of money for what it is.

+1 for Gore gilets. dan speaks the truth – picking the right clothes is important, rather than the right brand.

Also surprisingly water resistant and dry quickly when they are wet. I have the white ones and scuffed the toe pretty quickly and the rapha logo started coming off the heel, but I think they look and feel better than ever.

Thanks dude

I found that with Gore, if I picked a Gillet that fit me in terms of circumferance of torso then it finished roughly in line with my kidneys.