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TECH NEWS

New Rapha kit for Team Sky

Professional riders spotted in new training kit that'll be launched early 2015

Team Sky are currently gadding about Mallorca in new Rapha training clothing that will be available early in 2015.

Geraint Thomas posted this pic on his Facebook page half an hour ago.

What’s that jersey Geraint (second from right) is wearing? It looks like a Rapha Super Lightweight Jersey in Sky blue, but no Sky logos. If it’s not the same fabric, it’s certainly very similar in style.

And that gilet on the left: that’s not in the current Rapha range.

Check out this pic from Team Sky’s Facebook page. Ben Swift (left) is wearing the same gilet and what looks like a new version of the Brevet jersey with the horizontal stripes.

And what’s this Geraint Thomas is wearing here with a short neck zip?

Then, we have this pic of Bernie Eisel.

With those ventilation zips on the side of the chest, he could be wearing a new version of Rapha’s Winter Jersey. Would he be wearing that in Mallorca today, though? Maybe not, so perhaps it’s a similar design in a lighter fabric.

And are those new non-Sky branded shorts with leg warmers too?

Stay tuned for more details once we’ve hassled Rapha for some answers.

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. 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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54 comments

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brian_the_snail | 9 years ago
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mike the bike | 9 years ago
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I think this may be an age thing. When I was young, let's say up to 40, I was a smart man. Bespoke suits, sharp shirts and silk ties by the drawer full. My shoes were courtesy of skilled hands and my hair, even as it disappeared, was skilfully shaped.
And it seemed to work. Trophy wife, company cars and a nodding acquaintance with every good beach in Italy. Had I been into bikes at that point I would probably have invested in a dozen items of Rapha-like quality.

But with age comes a sort of wisdom and gradually the whole shebang lost its appeal. My attitudes to life and success mellowed and the wife kicked me out, keeping the dogs. The Lexus was replaced by a bike and the brogues by sandals. Endura now supplies most of my cycle clothing although I still worship at the shrine of steel and spend a decent amount on frames. Would I buy Rapha/Castelli now? No thanks; I have a shrewd idea how the law of diminishing returns affects prices.

But would I decry the need of another person to buy into the whole fancy clothes thing? Never. Live and let live.

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Kadinkski replied to mike the bike | 9 years ago
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mike the bike wrote:

I think this may be an age thing. When I was young, let's say up to 40, I was a smart man. Bespoke suits, sharp shirts and silk ties by the drawer full. My shoes were courtesy of skilled hands and my hair, even as it disappeared, was skilfully shaped.
And it seemed to work. Trophy wife, company cars and a nodding acquaintance with every good beach in Italy. Had I been into bikes at that point I would probably have invested in a dozen items of Rapha-like quality.

But with age comes a sort of wisdom and gradually the whole shebang lost its appeal. My attitudes to life and success mellowed and the wife kicked me out, keeping the dogs. The Lexus was replaced by a bike and the brogues by sandals. Endura now supplies most of my cycle clothing although I still worship at the shrine of steel and spend a decent amount on frames. Would I buy Rapha/Castelli now? No thanks; I have a shrewd idea how the law of diminishing returns affects prices.

But would I decry the need of another person to buy into the whole fancy clothes thing? Never. Live and let live.

Well said  1

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bobinski replied to mike the bike | 9 years ago
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mike the bike wrote:

I think this may be an age thing. When I was young, let's say up to 40, I was a smart man. Bespoke suits, sharp shirts and silk ties by the drawer full. My shoes were courtesy of skilled hands and my hair, even as it disappeared, was skilfully shaped.
And it seemed to work. Trophy wife, company cars and a nodding acquaintance with every good beach in Italy. Had I been into bikes at that point I would probably have invested in a dozen items of Rapha-like quality.

But with age comes a sort of wisdom and gradually the whole shebang lost its appeal. My attitudes to life and success mellowed and the wife kicked me out, keeping the dogs. The Lexus was replaced by a bike and the brogues by sandals. Endura now supplies most of my cycle clothing although I still worship at the shrine of steel and spend a decent amount on frames. Would I buy Rapha/Castelli now? No thanks; I have a shrewd idea how the law of diminishing returns affects prices.

But would I decry the need of another person to buy into the whole fancy clothes thing? Never. Live and let live.

Perfectly reasoned post on road.cc forum shocker!

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ped replied to mike the bike | 9 years ago
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mike the bike wrote:

… and the brogues by sandals.

Nice. What kind? I live in my Keen sandals. They're cool. Crocs on the other hand …

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HoldTheWheel | 9 years ago
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My Rapha club Jersey is great, I find it works at a wider range of temperatures compared to many jerseys, its comfy and looks stylish (obviously a matter of opinion). I bought it half price in the sale (full price is too much for me). I don't care what people say about me for wearing it, or the winter hat I treated myself too,they are excellent products and If you can afford it then why not? I don't belittle people for wearing aldi kit, which is exceptional value, most my kit is dhb. Labelling everybody who owns a piece of Rapha kit is childish.

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Colin Peyresourde | 9 years ago
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Rapha and Castelli do great kit. Personally, it's the way you wear it that makes it cool or not.

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ajmarshal1 replied to Colin Peyresourde | 9 years ago
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Colin Peyresourde wrote:

Rapha and Castelli do great kit. Personally, it's the way you wear it that makes it cool or not.

Legs rolled up, unzipped to the waist and three sizes too small. That's how I roll.

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ChuckB | 9 years ago
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The act of feeling cool bestows immediate and lasting coolness, which will be sensed by those who are also cool. doesn't matter if you are wearing complete, autographed Sky kit or a light coat of WD 40 and fluffy bunny slippers..

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Grizzerly | 9 years ago
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The most uncool thing you can do is to want to be cool or to care about being cool. If you believe that you're cool, then you're not.

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ajmarshal1 replied to Grizzerly | 9 years ago
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Grizzerly wrote:

The most uncool thing you can do is to want to be cool or to care about being cool. If you believe that you're cool, then you're not.

But you are cool, because you think you're cool and who cares what everyone else thinks?

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don simon fbpe replied to ajmarshal1 | 9 years ago
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ajmarshal1 wrote:
Grizzerly wrote:

The most uncool thing you can do is to want to be cool or to care about being cool. If you believe that you're cool, then you're not.

But you are cool, because you think you're cool and who cares what everyone else thinks?

It's not your decision. Cool can only be bestowed upon you by others.

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ajmarshal1 replied to don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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don simon wrote:
ajmarshal1 wrote:
Grizzerly wrote:

The most uncool thing you can do is to want to be cool or to care about being cool. If you believe that you're cool, then you're not.

But you are cool, because you think you're cool and who cares what everyone else thinks?

It's not your decision. Cool can only be bestowed upon you by others.

Wrong. Only those who can keep up with you are allowed to pass judgement, and even if they can, fuck what they think anyway.

I may think he's a chopper, however if that dude in the Wallace and Grommet jersey, crocs and melon helmet thinks he's cool, dude's cool.

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Beefy | 9 years ago
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If Castelli is not cool then that mean I like it a lot, I mean I ride a bike, I value comfort and performance above cool. As I find my gabba sorpasso tights o be the best performing kit around, I'm so happy im not cool. Only problem is do I bin my 3 year old Morvello kit now it's cool? Plus I'm too old to be cool! Perhaps being old (ish) uncool could be the new cool,
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Or we could just enjoy riding and stop being told by marketing bods what is cool or uncool, or would that be cool or uncool, this is more confusing than the top gear cool wall, oops top gear is uncool erm or is it cool coz its uncool arghh !!!!

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ajmarshal1 replied to Beefy | 9 years ago
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Beefy wrote:

If Castelli is not cool then that mean I like it a lot, I mean I ride a bike, I value comfort and performance above cool. As I find my gabba sorpasso tights o be the best performing kit around, I'm so happy im not cool. Only problem is do I bin my 3 year old Morvello kit now it's cool? Plus I'm too old to be cool! Perhaps being old (ish) uncool could be the new cool,
 19
Or we could just enjoy riding and stop being told by marketing bods what is cool or uncool, or would that be cool or uncool, this is more confusing than the top gear cool wall, oops top gear is uncool erm or is it cool coz its uncool arghh !!!!

If you're happy not being cool then you're not cool. Leave being cool to the cool kids. Because of this your Morvelo kit is too cool for you, bin it.

Unless it's that old original Tokyo CC design, then just give it to me. I'll give it a cool home.

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Quince | 9 years ago
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Cannot...

Control this...

CLOTHES-BASED RAGE!!!!!! AAAAARGHGH!!!!

ヾ (✿>﹏ ⊙〃)ノ

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don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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Quote:

Castelli is not cool, it is the circa 2002 Burberry of cycling.

Morvelo is cool, capo is cool, Le Col is cool, Poc is cool, even some Attaquer stuff is cool. Castelli is not, I can't remember Castelli designed something aesthetically pleasing. Sportful however is castelli's slightly cool arm.

I was, in fact, referring to Italian stuff being cool rather than just Castelli.
That said, I find the performance of my Gabba is superior to that of my Capo. Must have missed something in the marketing bumf.

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Must be Mad | 9 years ago
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Quote:

For me the difference between Castelli and Rapha is that Castelli has grown with, and been a supporter of cycling since for ever. They have grown with the technologies and the the associated prices. Rapha doesn't have that heritage, they came into the market with outrageously expensive kit that was supported with outrageously expensive marketing speak and people reacted.

You cannot deny that Rapha has found a market for their products, so they must be doing something right.

They are not even the most expensive gear out their either.

Rapha is out of my price range - but then so is Jaguar, and I still like their cars, and Pinerallo, and I still like their bikes...

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robthehungrymonkey | 9 years ago
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Road cycling has always been snobbish IMO, most upmarket independent bike shops are horribly elitist and can just be rude.

I love Rapha stuff too, it looks good, works and you don't look like you've just got off your bike if you ride into town on your lunch break. It's not even that expensive either compared to most of the bike clothing brands reviewed on this site.

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Dapper Giles | 9 years ago
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According to Rapha (who just posted a photo on Instagram) it's their new Team Sky Training range and will be available early next year. Looks great.

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giff77 | 9 years ago
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Aye till now Antonio  3

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antonio | 9 years ago
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Crikey, comments galore and not even a helmet mention!

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stenmeister | 9 years ago
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I wonder if this post would attract as much criticism if Sky were sporting Castelli or any other brand.

I'm also surprised that it still seen as headline material now that Wiggo's is no longer the big Sky attraction.  39

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don simon fbpe replied to stenmeister | 9 years ago
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stenmeister wrote:

I wonder if this post would attract as much criticism if Sky were sporting Castelli or any other brand.

I'm also surprised that it still seen as headline material now that Wiggo's is no longer the big Sky attraction.  39

For me the difference between Castelli and Rapha is that Castelli has grown with, and been a supporter of cycling since for ever. They have grown with the technologies and the the associated prices. Rapha doesn't have that heritage, they came into the market with outrageously expensive kit that was supported with outrageously expensive marketing speak and people reacted.
Castelli is Italian too, so automatically cool.

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ajmarshal1 replied to don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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don simon wrote:
stenmeister wrote:

I wonder if this post would attract as much criticism if Sky were sporting Castelli or any other brand.

I'm also surprised that it still seen as headline material now that Wiggo's is no longer the big Sky attraction.  39

For me the difference between Castelli and Rapha is that Castelli has grown with, and been a supporter of cycling since for ever. They have grown with the technologies and the the associated prices. Rapha doesn't have that heritage, they came into the market with outrageously expensive kit that was supported with outrageously expensive marketing speak and people reacted.
Castelli is Italian too, so automatically cool.

Castelli is not cool, it is the circa 2002 Burberry of cycling.

Morvelo is cool, capo is cool, Le Col is cool, Poc is cool, even some Attaquer stuff is cool. Castelli is not, I can't remember Castelli designed something aesthetically pleasing. Sportful however is castelli's slightly cool arm.

Anyway, people bagging on Rapha is the cycling forum version of Godwin's law. Inevitable and boring. Can we all just stop it?

Apart form Team Sky kit, that's rightly year-round open season.

iamelectron wrote:

What a bunch of pr*cks ^. Who gives a flying f*ck what people wear on their bike. Snobbish elitist ar$ewipes.

Now-now, let's not soil our Sky blue merino pro-team underpants TM.

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Kadinkski replied to ajmarshal1 | 9 years ago
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ajmarshal1 wrote:

Castelli is not cool, it is the circa 2002 Burberry of cycling.

Morvelo is cool, capo is cool, Le Col is cool, Poc is cool, Castelli is not. Sportful is castelli's slightly cool arm.

Is Bontrager cool? I used to think they were but now i'm not so sure, they seem more and more mainstream. Its terribly confusing.

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ajmarshal1 replied to Kadinkski | 9 years ago
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Kadinkski wrote:
ajmarshal1 wrote:

Castelli is not cool, it is the circa 2002 Burberry of cycling.

Morvelo is cool, capo is cool, Le Col is cool, Poc is cool, Castelli is not. Sportful is castelli's slightly cool arm.

Is Bontrager cool? I used to think they were but now i'm not so sure, they seem more and more mainstream. Its terribly confusing.

Dear God no, if there's more than one person wearing or riding anything in a group or you see more than one during your ride, it's instantly not cool.

If you're riding a Cinelli Laser, clad head to toe in Morvelo Death Spray kit, rocking a Poc helmet / sunglasses combo and wearing Giro Empires. You're a style god, fact.

don simon wrote:

.
That said, I find the performance of my Gabba is superior to that of my Capo. Must have missed something in the marketing bumf.

Performance? Let's not let that get in the way of style. (I actually really like my Fawesome vest and nano flex arm / knee warmers i am of course being all tongue in cheek about this whole subject.)

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BikeJon replied to ajmarshal1 | 9 years ago
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ajmarshal1 wrote:

Dear God no, if there's more than one person wearing or riding anything in a group or you see more than one during your ride, it's instantly not cool.

I must be cool all the time then as I'm nearly always riding solo (I only really commute these days)!

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arfa | 9 years ago
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Iamelectron, do lighten up a touch and try not to take it all too seriously will you ? If you want to pony up to sport team kit, go for it and learn to be comfortable in your own individual decision.

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Eebijeebi | 9 years ago
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It is sadly true that those who have an expensive bike and can afford quality kit etc are often decried for it if they're not perceived as 'good enough'. Jealousy? Snobbery?

If you're not up to 'standard' (who's? what?) then you should ride some old bone shaker and go out looking like a sack of spuds?

Not me. I'll ride my nice bike in my nice kit because I can afford to and choose to. I'd don't have a go at those who are faster/better (which is just about everyone) as they go by for being in poundstretcher kit - so leave me alone I'm doing my thing and hurting nobody!

Getting more people cycling at any level should be encouraged but the 'mamil' tag is starting to become an object of derision which is very sad.

PS I don't wear 'advert' kit, nor do I have any Rapha.

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