Rapha winter wear: Much of the winter line uses Sportwool, a 52 polyester blend - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The country jerseys — for Holland, Norway and the United States — are made of Sportwool and are offered with matching winter hats - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: What would a Rapha jersey be without a little story stiched into the pocket? - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The country jerseys feature partial front zips and waist drawcords - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The country jerseys have tapered cuffs - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The winter jersey incorporates a hardshell-like front into a heavier jersey - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: Vent zips increase the temperature range of the winter jersey - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha fall/autumn wear: An inside look at the winter jersey, with a chest vent unzipped - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: Designed in London; made elsewhere in the world - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: Reflective elements are incorporated unobtrusively - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The winter jersey has a large back vent as well, although operating the zipper isn't as easy as the front vents, obviously - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The Brevet jersey is also made from Sportwool - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The chest pocket is waterproof - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The Brevet jersey comes with a hi vis vest - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The back of the vest that comes with the Brevet jersey - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The text on the base layer reads, 'we run on dynamite' - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The long sleeve jersey comes in light grey, 'old gold' and this 'dark fig' - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The pro team jacket features a Polartec front with a Super-Roubaix back - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The Polartec front provides a breathable, stretchy wind shell - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: Reflective elements are stylishly incorporated into the pro team jacket - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The hardshell jacket is wind- and waterproof - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: Althougth the subtle styling doesn't scream nerdy cyclist from a distance, the functionality is all there - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: The pro team jersey uses a thin, stretchy, wicking fabric that the company doesn't specify beyond 'exclusive to Rapha' - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: Does anyone carry a pump in their jersey pocket? Well, Rapha stubbornly insists on building in allowances for such riders, whether or not they exist - James Huang/Future Publishing
Rapha winter wear: If the electric salmon color didn't give it away already, this is Rapha - James Huang/Future Publishing
For the 2013/2014 winter season, Rapha expanded its range of luxury jerseys and jackets. With heavy doses of the tried-and-true Sportwool — a merino/polyester blend — plus an influx of breathable but windproof fabrics like a Polartec custom softshell, the Rapha winter line has many options for staying warm and looking good on the bike.
Rapha winter wear: vent zips increase the temperature range of the winter jersey: rapha winter wear: vent zips increase the temperature range of the winter jersey - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Winter Jacket has two neatly integrated front vent zips and one in the rear
Rapha has no less than 19 jackets, ranging from light rain shells and hardshells to off-the-bike jackets and even a suit jacket. While the high-zoot pieces — for example, the $450/£300 Rapha & Raeburn wind jacket made from used parachutes — continue to draw attention, it's the jersey/jacket 'tweener options that caught our interest. The Pro Team Jacket, in particular, looks and feels very much like a midweight long sleeve jersey, but with a highly breathable windproof membrane on the arms and chest. And the Winter Jacket is an even more robust version, with two long chest vents zips on the front and one horizontal vent on the back. On both jackets, the fit and feel is much more soft, fitted jersey than flappy, overdone jacket.
Rapha winter wear: the pro team jacket features a polartec front with a super-roubaix back: rapha winter wear: the pro team jacket features a polartec front with a super-roubaix back - James Huang/Future Publishing
The Pro Team Jacket fits and feels like a jersey — with a breathable windproof chest and arms
Much of the long sleeve jersey selection is made of Sportwool, a 52% merino, 48% polyester blend that offers some of the insulation and odor-resistance of the sheep's coat without the fussy care required for all-wool jerseys. The fabric is soft and comfortable, but not as light and stretchy as a standard, modern long sleeve jersey. The country jerseys, made of in Sportwool, also have just a partial zip, opting for a certain aesthetic over full function. Each of the country jerseys — Norway, Holland and the United States — also have matching winter hats. Note that the one-size-fits most caps fit on the smaller size; riders who wear Large helmets will likely find them uncomfortably tight.
BikeRadar will be reviewing a few of the pieces in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out the photo gallery at above right.
Rapha winter wear: what would a rapha jersey be without a little story stiched into the pocket?: rapha winter wear: what would a rapha jersey be without a little story stiched into the pocket? - James Huang/Future Publishing
What would Rapha be without the little stories stitched into the pocket?
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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