Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

well..... its a bit pricey.
:)

I'll get my ass down there.....

Why do you care what others think?

Its not so much that Andy, but rather a concern that I have never been in a position to consider such an item, and with other rain jackets out there, I imagine that there are a few comments about jackets that are better. That was more the kind of abuse i had in mind, but you're right.

FWIW, £190 for a rain jacket is a lot. No jacket will ever keep you 100% dry, and if you're riding hard, then no matter what jacket you have, you'll get wet from your own sweat despite keeping out the rain. I'd also pay scant attention to Ed's opinions, as they are usually formed from ignorance rather than hard evidence.

Rapha do far better products than the rain jacket, such as their merino baselayers, the softshell jacket, their merino hats etc. so personally I'd spend the vouchers on some of them.

^ good advice.

I don't have a rain jacket so no real frame of reference - I do own quite a lot of other stuff of theirs though. The stuff they do really well:

• bibs, both types are great. Have a few pairs, but oldest ones are almost 2 years now, worn 1-2 times p/w, still look good.
  
• jerseys - last for ages, never develop perma-smell. Perfect year round (except extreme heat)
  
• baselayers, hands down the best baselayers I've owned
  
• socks - merino sock are the best. Team ones are good for summer
  
• Softshell, stupidly warm
  
• Gillet - is great, looks like brand new after 1.5 yrs of constant use. Pricey though
  
• Stowaway - awesome. NEver owned one but borrowed a few and would really really like one for Christmas :)
  
  

Things not to buy:

• gloves, smell bad quickly, impossible to wash well. V expensive
  
• Knee warmers, I thought these were good and then got some craft ones and realised how bad the cut is. You can get better for cheaper elsewhere
  
• caps, really don't like the cut they use and.. honestly they are just caps - caps die so don't buy expensive ones
  
• merino boxers - worst item they've ever made.
  
• Paul smith Jerseys, cut is really weird on them. Baggy but unflattering.
  
• touring shorts - swrve are SO much better.
  
  

I have no idea how many vouchers you have but given the money I would buy a stowaway and baselayers / socks.. or a softshell.

Or you could wait for a sample sale and pick up a lot more for your money. Not sure if the vouchers can be used there though

For what it's worth I don't have the rain jacket, but was tempted by the city rain jacket - it's a lot (£220) but I didn't mind too much as I would potentially be wearing it most days throughout the winter.

I have absolutely no experience of riding in it, but from trying it on only I flinched at the cost. It's pretty lightweight, and doesn't look feel particularly sturdy. However, that said I'm sure there are people on this thread who have one and would say to get it.

For frees it's different - there's the Paul Smith one on their website for £150 (which I still think is pricey, but it's closer to it's worth for me). Can you not get them online to save the train fare?

(The jerseys are good - I've been rotating two (and a Torm) for a year and they still look new)

I haven't tried the swrve shorts, but I really like my Rapha touring shorts.

I also have a neck warmer, which I loooooooooovvvvvvvvve. It's basically an expensive snood with less functionality. BUT it's so much nicer, softer, doesn't smell, less sweaty. I wear it on the bike, motorbike, and snowboarding. It's awesome.

The fixeh bomber jacket is also really nice.

I'm gonna load the bike up on the train and come down to take a look, and to see what i can use the £200 quid for. Some good points made though my friends, so cheers.
Maybe i could tempt one or two of you out for a ride when i come down.....
forum goes quiet

I'd also pay scant attention to Ed's opinions, as they are usually formed from ignorance rather than hard evidence.

You got me, I've never ridden a bicycle before.

finally we get to the bottom of it

I would use your vouchers to buy a softshell. It's frigging awesome.

I prevaricated for ages about how much it was etc, etc, but it's one of the best things I've bought. Just wish it would get a bit colder so I can crack it out. That with a base layer is all i used all winter.

i would buy the softshell too. I never to it out last winter :)

Just wish it would get a bit colder so I can crack it out. That with a base layer is all i used all winter.

This!

At this rate I won't be wearing it til Christmas!

This!

At this rate I won't be wearing it til Christmas!

lets hope so! who wants the cold?

Cyclocross riders!

I'm gonna load the bike up on the train and come down to take a look, and to see what i can use the £200 quid for. Some good points made though my friends, so cheers.
Maybe i could tempt one or two of you out for a ride when i come down.....
forum goes quiet

I don't know where you live but you can also try on Rapha at Royles in Wilmslow, if you are 'up north'.

Cyclocross riders!

do they like to suffer?

Only for an hour.

Things that I like of Rapha:
My Belgian hat.
The trousers.

Things I don't like:
The button falling off my trousers (before I'd eaten)
The trousers getting a hole in one pocket.

too many coins in them D!

I do not walk around the campus of UCL with my hands in my pockets jiggling my change when talking to attractive undergraduates.

me thinks the lady doth protest too much

She did.