Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Jebus that's early to ditch the mitts. Good luck with the back end of the week though, that's a better test of them.

^^ Looking forward to it - in a sick kind of way. I'm a true child of the sun but only cycling will get me out there in low temperatures and lots of layers.

Got this PM earlier "hi james,
sorry to bother.
wanted to ask about windproof shirt. i'm planning to get beige one and worried if they breathable or not so, leaving wet patches under armpits. it wouldnt be a massive problem if it was dark colour but on beige it will be visible right away. whats your thoughts?"

I never understand why such things need to be discussed privately

I had one of the white Paul Smith windproof shirts, i liked it a lot but the collar and cuffs would get grubby each time I wore it, so it meant the DWR would get a battering as it kept being washed, so i'd reproof it. I like the idea a lot and would wear it with just a long sleeve baselayer for winter commuting, if I got hot I would open it to ventilate, so it never felt like a sweaty garment.

When they did the shirt dark grey I got one of them, it does not show dirt up so easily so gets used a lot more. The white one got passed on to eyebrowse.

I think it is a decent item to have, in winter when it is not raining all I need to do is stop the wind stripping heat from me and this does it really well.

I had a similar PM asking about tyres, i'd rather be known as the go to guy for rapha ;)

What do you use to reproof it? Got the city wind jacket which I will probably need to reproof soon.

grangers proofer

i use the apparel wash first followed by the separate proofing agent. it is best tumble dryed into the garment if you have a washer dryer

I never understand why such things need to be discussed privately

i just thought you'd respond quicker, in case you don't check every single post in rapha thread.. sorry
and thanks for the answer

He does check every single post here in case someone is slightly critical of his beloved Rapha. I can smell him now, poised like a coiled spring ready to lynch anyone who, no hold on, that's not DJ I can smell, I left some fish on the radiator.

As you were.

whatever you say man.

Yet another Rapha mockup, http://passionecouture.com. Looks quite decent, eh?

Looks good that stuff, a little less bike friendly than the rest. Looks purely for city riding. Some of their tops look good though. Now for the price...

'Passione Couture' sounds like a bad market stall brand from the nineties.

^ or something off The Apprentice

Same difference.

Does anyone else here have a tiny head and find no one size fits all hat ever fits properly?

I have the drawcord merino hat which i tried on this morning for the cold but no matter how it just doesn't fit my head properly. I am a 54cm noggin so not much up there at all.

Time to start buying caps from the kids section? Think I can shrink the rapha hat a little?

Does anyone else here have a tiny head and find no one size fits all hat ever fits properly?

I have the drawcord merino hat which i tried on this morning for the cold but no matter how it just doesn't fit my head properly. I am a 54cm noggin so not much up there at all.

Time to start buying caps from the kids section? Think I can shrink the rapha hat a little?

I have this problem (I'm a small in their normal cycling caps) but the winter hat and the merino hat both fit pretty well.

i have the same problem

Might switch the merino drawcord hat for the winter cap then....

Anyone got the hardhsell. Thinking of getting one instead of my softshell.

heated gloves are the ultimate backups though.

Could you elaborate on these please?

Anyone got the hardhsell. Thinking of getting one instead of my softshell.

Yep defo recommended - keeps rain at bay whilst not making you sweat like the softshell!

The hardshell has better breathability than the softshell? Really?

Yes. It functions like a brick wall without mortar.

the new deep winter baselayer will solve all

Also suitable for bank robberies