Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Icebreaker is phenomenal stuff.

Shopping around in May/June for all your Winter 2012/13 needs...

^^ I was going to scoff since icebreaker is hardly cheap but it is indeed significantly cheaper than rapha (currently)

Short sleeves: £40 for 200 g/sm / £35 for 150 g/sm at Sigma of all places. Even normal prices are a bit less.

A lot cheaper! How do they compare to the Rapha ones (just out of curiosity).

Can I use the short sleeve ones all year round? I'm guessing if it's colder, I could just slip on some arm warmers?

Really good.. I've got 2 120gms, 2 190 gms mad 2 230 ( I think) gms.... All of them excellent quality and I wear them all the time

Christ it's cold.

First ride with the Rapha softshell jacket, I have gotten so used to the Swrve Milwaukee jacket being so warm and wind resistant straight out of the house, that the Rapha softshell jacket felt surprisingly less wind resistant being able to feel the cold air going through the jacket.

That's a good thing, the first 10-20 minutes it's a bit chilly till I warmed up and the jacket was perfect, not too hot or cold, and a lots more breathable than the Milwaukee, definitely comfortable and much more flexible.

But christ, that morning was cold.

Icebreaker/Katmadhu stuff is designed for walking/hiking = significantly lower heat being produced.

Cycling merino bases need to be much lighter weight

^This.

Disagree. However the supposed longer cut on cycle specific gear (planet-x, rapha) makes a lot of sense.

Icebreaker/Katmadhu stuff is designed for walking/hiking = significantly lower heat being produced.

Cycling merino bases need to be much lighter weight

do you stand by that statement even though icebreaker can be bought in a veritable cornucopia of weights?

I has 160 and 200 and wear them often - even a 160 under a gillet into the high teens with positive effect - ie not too much heat, sweat nor stink.

but then again - maybe I am just cold blooded

Torm.

Cannot recommend enough.

Does that mean it is shit?

No.

It means it's amazing.

It costs £25.

I wore mine for 7 day's snowboarding (5 of them solid) without washing and it only just started to smell a bit by day 5 and even on 7 if was less than 2 days of a Helly.

There is no itching and it keeps you warm when damp. I have also worn on it's own for summer morning and evening rides.

I bought my Torm stuff in October 2010 and the baselayer has been worn almost daily wear, and washed in a standard wash almost every week. Only now is it now starting to get a little looser and not as tight as it once was (mainly at the bottom). But it's still fitted enough and all of the stitching is good and the colour has held.

fwiw I' not a Rapha hater, and I have not tried Rapha baselayers or icebreaker. However until I need a long sleeves or find either for the same price, I won't bother.

£25 for merino is a good price too.

I picked up a long sleeve merino base layer from M&S and another from TK maxx. As long sleeves they are fine since I just chuck them on with a jacket and or long sleeve jersey.

New windproof shirt in black looks great, none of the pink nonsense and shit colour that the last offering had

If what I heard about the new skincare range is true Mottram is definitely cray-cray

beans; spill them

First full weekend of riding in the Pro team jersey.. I am happy to report it is nothing short of superb. Fantastic anatomical cut. Didn't over heat in it and it kept me toasty warm (worn with just on Craft long sleeve base under). It's like the soft shell in that I believe it is worth every penny.

Did you overheat and in a standard Rapha jersey?

No.. But wearing the softshell on a winter day I would often overheat and have to start unzipping everything only to zip it all up on descents/fast flats etc.

No such problem with the Pro J. It has the benefit of a Softshell type fabric on all the leading areas backed with a Roubaix and just a Roubaix on the back and underarms.. It's perfect.

Are you talking about the Pro Team Jacket? The Pro Team jersey is thiiiiin.

Sorry.. mean the jacket..

Ah, thought so. Would love a PT Jacket but can't justify the spend.

Like the sound of this, I've wanted the softshell bit worried I would boil in it.

I need to stop reading this thread. I keep getting lust for items i didnt know i needed.

adds Pro Team Jacket to list

Apparently Rapha have a delay with their returns department.

My return has taken a while and if I don't have my toasty merino collar for skiing at the weekend, I'm going to be veh annoyed.

Still have stitching fail issues it seems. Grr.

Like the sound of this, I've wanted the softshell bit worried I would boil in it.

Softshell is fantastic but I find it too hot on a proper training ride. But you can wear it as a jacket, jacket out and about.

The Pro J can only be worn to ride in. It's tight, short and cut in the riding position so uncomfortable when sat/stood up.

I need to stop reading this thread. I keep getting lust for items i didnt know i needed.

adds Pro Team Jacket to list

If you can.. IT. IS. WORTH. EVERY. PENNY. Restated..

I have just fallen back in love with the fixed shorts after a long dalliance with a Swrve pair. Matched with a pair of winter tights and buttoned up at the knee I find myself chanelling my inner 'Chariots of Fire'. I need some metal goggles and a leather helmet now.

Expensive though

I got some fixed shorts two years ago and love them, wanted a second pair and got some of the 3/4 shorts in the sale. They changed the fabric and I like the first material more than the current version. Off to a certain auction site I guess.