Rapha has expanded its women's training and racing range with the addition of two new key products: the Rapha Sports Bras.
A sports bra is an essential piece of kit for every female cyclist, and while there are any number of sports bras on the market, only a couple of brands, until now, have produced a cycle-specific product.
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Rapha says the bras have been in development for over a year, and are a key addition to its training and racing range. The creation of Rapha Designer Maria Olssen, she describes them as "an exciting development in Rapha’s women’s collection. They are the missing piece of the Rapha women’s cycling wardrobe and from the outset have been designed to complement our existing collections perfectly.”
Designed specifically for cycling, the range consists of two bra styles that offer two different levels of support.
The Light Support Bra (£40 / $60 / AU$60) as the name suggests, provides light support and compression via a high stretch knit fabric. This has allowed Rapha to create a seamless bra, with variations in the knit giving areas with a more open knit for increased ventilation and breathability. The bra features wide straps and a wide under-bust band, and Rapha also states that the bra is suitable for other activities including Yoga.
The Medium Support Bra (£50 / $75 / AU$60) provides more support and compression, using a panelled construction of high-stretch fabric with a narrow under-bust band, structured cups and removable pads. Designed for use during hard efforts and racing, it provides additional compression across the chest which is an area of the body that becomes the most compact when riding in a race position. It features holes in key zones to increase ventilation, combined with a mesh lining which Rapha claims increases heat transfer away from the body. Rapha has also worked to create a slimline effect with reduced bulk at the shoulder seams and chest, which are indeed remarkably fine and lightweight.
Both bras are available in sizes XS to L and in black or white. They are also both designed to complement the fit of the Rapha Souplesse base layer and bib shorts.
We've got an sample of each of these bras in the BikeRadar office, so check back for an update on fit and feel shortly.
