The long sleeve Brevet Jersey is a new addition to the range and is based on the short sleeve version which originally launched in June 2011.
The original jersey was used by the Rapha team when they tackled Paris-Brest-Paris that summer, and many of the features carry over to the long sleeve, winter equivalent.
Paris-Brest-Paris has a time limit of 90 hours so participants are required to ride through the night, catching an hour or two’s sleep where they can, if they are to finish.
As a result, visibility is a key feature of the Brevet jersey, with two horizontal, contrast stripes (in high-viz yellow and white) running around the middle of what is otherwise a charcoal grey jersey. There is also a reflective armband on the left arm, and a reflective tab on the back of the jersey.
As for storage, the jersey has the usual arrangement of three generously-sized rear pockets, with an additional zipped pocket for valuables. That’s all fairly standard but additional storage comes by way of a large zipped pocket with a net interior at the rear, to carry, Rapha say, the high-viz gilet or a rain jacket. We can imagine the extra storage may come in handy on a winter training ride.
There’s also a zipped and waterproof chest pocket at the front of the jersey, which Rapha say is designed to carry a brevet card (the card which must be stamped at control points to track the progress of a rider). We’ll see if it has much use away from the audax scene.
The jersey is made from the Sportwool fabric on which Rapha made their name. The main body of the jersey is made up of a 61 per cent polyester, 39 per cent wool mix, which is said to offer the breathable and insulating properties of both fabrics.
The jersey also comes with a super-light, high-viz gilet (which we’ll run through in more detail on the next page), but the additional features don’t come cheap and this is the most expensive piece in Rapha’s jersey range at £195.
Otherwise, the jersey is available in grey as pictured, or blue with pink and white contrast stripes, and with a pink gilet, and in six sizes from XS to XXL.
