For the spring season, Rapha has refined its Lightweight collection, beefed up its Pro Team offerings and rolled out a few more special edition pieces like tributes to 1974 Giro d’Italia teams and the racing signal of the coming spring, Paris-Nice.
Rapha has two basic styles of fit: Club and Pro. The Classic jerseys and the Trade Team jerseys, like the 1974 Giro options, are the looser-fit Club style and made of a merino/polyester Sportwool blend. The Club fit pieces shown here are size Medium, on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest. The Pro jerseys are a snugger fit (size Large shown here on the same rider), with more of a silky, stretch-polyester feel.
The polyester and elastane jersey has a stretchy, aero fit with mesh panels: the polyester and elastane jersey has a stretchy, aero fit with mesh panels
Extended short sleeves and special editions highlight the 2014 spring range
For those not familiar with Rapha’s online-sales protocol, riders can return any item after riding it (within 30 days) if the product doesn’t live up to their expectations.
Rapha rolled out a few retro pieces in its trade team series. the three styles are made with the merino/polyester sportwool is a looser, club fit. this is a medium on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest: rapha rolled out a few retro pieces in its trade team series. the three styles are made with the merino/polyester sportwool is a looser, club fit. this is a medium on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
This trade team jersey is in Rapha's looser Club cut, shown here in Medium on a 6ft/182cm rider
A notable departure for this spring is the “Kings of Pain” collection of matching jersey, hat and arm warmers. The Kings of Pain short-sleeve jersey has a tall, button-down collar, and is adorned with little icons and stitching reminiscent of the old-school tubular draped across a rider’s shoulders. Kings of Pain is also Rapha’s celebration of its tenth year of business.
Rapha pushes the envelope with the king of pain: rapha pushes the envelope with the king of pain - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Kings of Pain is probably the only spring jersey you'll see this year with a button-down collar
Click through the deep gallery at above right for details on all the new gear.
The mesh side panels add a little ventilation, and their stretchiness matches the rest of the jersey: the mesh side panels add a little ventilation, and their stretchiness matches the rest of the jersey - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Pro Team pieces are in Rapha's slimmer Pro fit, shown here in Large on a 6ft/182cm rider
Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
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