Reviews

Rapha

The British brand have nailed down some bright colour choices for next summer's kit

Rapha may split opinion but there’s no way round the fact that they make really good bike kit. The British brand’s grown exponentially over the last few years – the partnership with Team Sky no doubt being a big part of that – to the point that they’re firmly part of the cycling establishment.

Here we have Rapha’s Pro Team Climber’s Jersey in its new guise for spring/summer 2016. That’s right, it’s an exclusive. We reviewed the existing model last year and really liked it. There are few jerseys on the market that can match the dual qualities of being very light and yet still effectively keeping you dry and comfortable. Some super-light jerseys make the mistake of prizing lightweight material above all else, and end up making the a sweaty mess, because even if the material’s incredibly light, it may not be all that breathable. That’s not the case here. And if you’re not really a fan of the hi-vis pink, Rapha will also offer two other options for 2016: black with a white stripe or light blue with a white stripe.

Love them or hate them, there’s no way round the fact that Rapha make really good bike kit. Ignore it and you’ll be missing out big time

The Pro Team Lightweight Bib Shorts are a very similar proposition. First things first, the have a sun protection of SPF 50, meaning you don’t need to worry about sunburn under the shorts on hot days out which, as anyone whose ever ridden in poor lightweight shorts on a sunny day can tell you, is a very useful feature indeed.

They’re made from a lycra which is light in both weight terms (Rapha say the shorts weigh around 168g, if you’re interested) and the material sense, offering a really high degree of breathability, aided further by the mesh bibs. THey’re also available in two lengths, regular and short (with short being three centimetres shorter in the leg than regular) – so if you fancy the Sean Yates look you’re well catered for.

Pricing:
Pro Team Climber’s Jersey – £130
Pro Team Lightweight Bib Shorts – £180
Pro Team Socks – £15
Website: Rapha

Another of the things Rapha do really well is socks. A quality pair of socks is both very important for comfort and keeping your feet cool (in the heat of summer anyway, which is when you’ll be wearing this ensemble), but they’re also vital part of the the look.

And the Pro Team Socks are great. One main colour, small black stripe at the back? Simple, lovely, you can’t ask for much more than that. They’re light, highly ventilated and have excellent wicking properties. Plus, a set of crazy coloured socks can lighten up even the drabbest of get ups.