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TECH NEWS

Rapha and Paul Smith launch new jacket

British labels collaborate on wet weather bikewear

The Rapha + Paul Smith collection kicked off earlier in the autumn with a merino jersey and several accessories, and the final piece in the line-up, the Rain Jacket, is now on sale.

The jacket is made from a waterproof fabric that, we’re told, has a breathable membrane and the seams are fully taped to stop the rain getting through. We’ve not ridden in one but we’ve had our paws all over the goods and can tell you that it’s pretty lightweight.

You get high-visibility cuff adjusters with neoprene inner cuffs, a durable-looking waterproof storm tail that zips away, and an off-set front zip with a chinguard up top to avoid any scratching. It comes with two zipped front pockets, an inner chest pocket, plus a light-hanger loop around the back. There’s even a little pink pouch for storing it away.

Paul Smith himself famously hoped to be a road racer before an accident put an end to his ambition, and the guys at Rapha tell us he had direct input into the collaboration between the two labels.

The Rain Jacket, which is available in black and purple, isn’t cheap, though. It’ll cost you £270 from www.rapha.cc.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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6 comments

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michophull | 13 years ago
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Yuck. It's poofy looking and vile.  31

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BikerBob replied to michophull | 13 years ago
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michophull wrote:

Yuck. It's poofy looking and vile.  31

How could you possibly question the great god Rapha  4

Avatar
Martin Thomas | 13 years ago
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I don't think you really need a rain jacket. I got a Stowaway (for a mere £160) and it's perfect as a wind/waterproof shell so I would have thought it's just a case of layering properly underneath that. I've not been through the depths of winter with it yet - nor a sustained deluge - but I reckon it's good for 99% of conditions, which is good enough for me.

I realise, of course, that 'need' doesn't necessarily come into it...

Avatar
Mat Brett | 13 years ago
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Fringe, that was a rubbish effort. Could you put a bit more passion into it next time?

Surely it's evil/crazy/sad/an outrage/something-or-other-else*?

You didn't even keep us up to date on whether you'll be buying one or not. We're sitting on the edge of our seats here.

* Delete as appropriate

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Tony Farrelly | 13 years ago
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Glad you were able to get that off your chest

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Fringe | 13 years ago
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can i be the first, 270 notes!, purple, paul smith, rapha, how dare they, blah, blah, blah.

thanks.

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