Like the ying to Rapha's yang and hot on the heels of the top end brand's City Range launch comes news that this Thursday 21 March supermarket chain Lidl will launch a new spring range of cycle clothing, including an £11.99 waterproof jacket. Lidl have built up a reputation for their very affordable cycle clothing, but it isn’t always available so unless you shop there regularly you could easily miss out. And there’s some bargains to be had, as the highlights below show. You won’t get cycle clothing much cheaper than this.

The men’s waterproof jacket (£11.99) is made from a lightweight material finished with a Bionic Finish Eco that gives it water repellency and wind resistance. All seams are sealed so there’s nowhere for water to seep in. There’s a hood that can be rolled up and out of the way, the cuffs are adjustable, the rear is dropped and there’s several pockets. It’s sold with a small storage pouch.

The Men’s Performance Gilet (£9.99) is made from a lightweight and breathable fabric with a wind resistant front panel. There’s reflective details, a dropped tail and several zipped pockets. Gilets are very useful for changeable weather, allowing you to quickly adapt to whatever the weather is doing. They’re also useful for early morning rides or later evening commutes.

The Cycling Shorts and Trousers - actually three quarter shorts - (£7.99) are made from Lycra Sport with a freshFX chamois, with an antimicrobial and odour-inhibiting Coolmax finish. The leg seams are elasticated with silicone gripper details to keep them in place. There’s a small pocket on the inside front for keeping spare change.

Both the shorts and three quarters are finished with reflective details. Available in men and women’s sizes.

The Base Layer Cycling Top (£6.99) features a H2Port Performance fabric designed to keep you dry, at the ideal body temperature and minimise pongs during hard exercise and long rides. They’re made with a seamless construction and there’s cool zones - a more breathable fabric - under the arms and around the back, while a warmer fabric is used over the kidney.
See the full range at www.lidl.co.uk
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