Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

It can be fucking freezing on Apline descents even in July. The rain jacket is perfect for that - completely blocks the wind and obviously it's waterproof. The wind jacket is more packable but not enough if it's 5C and you're descending for an hour. It's also useless in the rain if you're not pedalling.

Recommend:

• Taking everything - cycle clothing is light and on day two you don't want to think I wish I took my softshell/lightweight jersey/gilet/etc.
  
• Long finger summer gloves (e.g. the Assos ones).
  
• Unless it's really hot, yes wear arm warmers.
  
• Big bidons if you're unsupported.
  
• If it's pretty warm or you aren't going really high, you could get away with arm warmers and gilet - much more packable.
  

This is all sound advice IMO.

Full finger gloves that can go over mitts... like Defeats, they're good.

Descended the Stelvio on a cloudy day in June with every inch covered in castelli wind proof kit apart from my fingers. Spent the first half of descent thinking only about how much I wished I had covered my fingers. Definitely +1 for the full finger option if it's anything less than scorchio on the long descents.

Thanks for the advice. Rain jacket and full finger gloves it is. Was really looking for an excuse to use that 20% off voucher but there is nothing I really need.

Think I might make use of my discount code today as I managed to lose a Giro mitt yesterday...

What did you think about for the second half?

your mum...

Just got back, nothing but a s s Jersey was needed for each ride, it was fookin' hot even on the top of the cols. was there in September two years ago and wind jacket / race cape were fine. Wore Grand Tour gloves without any issues on that trip. I would say take everything you have as you never know what weather you will get.

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How nice it was that I could feel my fingers again, and then the hand cramp set in...

drove 2 years ago some climbs like galibier, alp d'huez and ventoux. Had nothing like a lightweight jersey for up + a windjacket for down. worked perfekt this way. but... i had a support car with me, so always more options + good weather all days long.
was middle sept

As I was in Somerset I made the trip down to the archive store yesterday. Nothing really there at all for the medium gentleman.

anything for the XS variety?

Definitely a lot of XXS and XXL. I don't recall seeing much XS stuff but as I was just looking for the magic 'M' I may have missed it. Plenty of caps / socks / fripperies though (presumably as any medium sized people feel they have to buy something after coming all the way to Shepton Mallet). Perhaps you could call ahead and check?

The surrounding 'designer village' seemed to be aimed at the kind of demographic that had me wondering if the Brew Cafe man was suddenly going to appear round the corner. They even had a sodding branch of Toast. On the upside there is some kind of large cider production plant immediately opposite

I take it there's nothing in large then...?

Awesome, I'm about to stop doing any exercise with arrival if new baby. I should bulk up to xxl in pro team stuff nicely. Then a day trip to Somerset.

#plantogether #hannibal

There appear to be a LOT of people in Bath that have accidentally bought Rapha items that they now can't return and are selling it in ebay - it might be worth checking there.

Blackthorn Brewery, also used to be the Babycham brewery and have a huge blue deer out front #locallad

For those that are interested..the Rapha Survey is in and I'm probably not going to use my code. Apparently it's one use only and expires on 19th July. You need to spend over a tenner. Good for 20% off. Enjoy: SC15-8ME8

Any sign of a Rapha Rising Challenge this year?

It's not on Strava, but is happening:

http://pages.rapha.cc/rapha-rising-2015

Sub £100 Gabbas at Evans and Wiggle. Time to stock up for winter. If you haven't got one yet now's the time.

Ah, good find. Thank you.

Sounds like the Rapha wetsuit we've all been waiting for is on the horizon!

Rapha has responded to his demands with the Extreme Rain Jacket. It employs a new fabric called Outlast that uses a “phase change” technology that apparently can store heat, say from the warmth of a team car, and maintain this stored heat when given to a rider ... It has a neoprene hood with an integrated peak that fits under a helmet, and an extra long dropped tail. The outer layer is constructed from the same fabric used in Rapha’s existing Hardshell jacket.

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^^^Tempted by the sprint green...

Any cheap Alpha's?

Spotted someone where the white shoes and coral socks - and the coral is a really nice colour.

He had the zebra brevet gilet