London-based clothing company Rapha’s Team Sky Replica kit is now available, offering the same look jersey and bib shorts as being raced by Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome this season. And with spring in the air (almost) now you can show your support for them and hit the roads in matching team kit.
Rapha offer three levels of Team Sky kit. There’s the £140 pro level jersey and shorts that is actually worn by the team, a £40 supporters jersey with a more relaxed fit, and sliding in between them both is the replica kit we’re showing you here today. From a distance it's hard to tell apart from the top-end version but the difference is in the fabrics used and the cut. And of course the price.
It’s made from performance fabrics but not the super high-tech stuff used in the pro jersey. A lightweight breathable Lycra is used in the main panels with mesh side panels for increased ventilation. The fabric is treated with an antibacterial finish.
The side panels have been designed to hold the jersey in shape and to stop the pockets sagging when heavily loaded. Talking of which, there’s three pockets plus a zipped pocket for your house keys or other valuable time. It’s available in six sizes (XS to XXL) and costs £75.
Get the full Team Sky look with the matching replica bib shorts. They’re made from an Elastane-based fabric with a high stretch factor to provide a good fit and comfort on the bike, as well as being breathable for warmer days.
The same antibacterial treatment is used. Fit is enhanced with a multi-panel design. Inside is a high quality chamois. They cost £100 and available in six sizes.
More details at www.rapha.cc
53 thoughts on “Rapha Team Sky replica kit now available”
Wondering why the Sky replica
Wondering why the Sky replica shorts are £100 and the classic bib shorts are £150?
Anyway, team kit is for team riders 🙂
othello wrote:Wondering why
Because they’re not the same. Different fabric and chamois accounts for the price difference
Why so much, the costs can’t
Why so much, the costs can’t be that different? Kinda make their classic shorts look over priced…
But as a previous poster said, team kit is for team riders… Let’s hope they don’t do a world champs, polka dot and green & yellow jersey replicas..
The XXL jersey has already
The XXL jersey has already sold out.
Im saying nowt!
http://www.worldofcrussell.com/fat-cyclist.jpg
Some Fella wrote:The XXL
😀 I’d give them the benefit of the doubt that they haven’t made any…
Some Fella wrote:The XXL
In t-shirts at least, Rapha sizes small. XXL from them is an *ahem* comfortable fit on me – everywhere else I am an XL and at times even an L.
I know I probably have a bit of weight to shed, but even so… 😉
Some Fella wrote:The XXL
Brilliant, it’s all about marginal gains, even for big units.
Rapha jersey in bargain £40
Rapha jersey in bargain £40 price tag shocker!
the prices of the garments
the prices of the garments has very little association with the ‘high tech’ fabrics used, its more a case of hitting mass consumer price points to saturate as much of the market as possible
I totally understand the move
I totally understand the move by Rapha to sell a £40 and £75 jersey whilst at the same time, totally not in agreement with the move…
A brand that I love, that established it’s place in the cycling world predominantly on it’s uniquely high quality, high style and exclusivity is now, in my opinion, completely undermining all of those values they stood for and have such regard for.
Going from that to selling cheap, nasty kit to the masses is just going to ruin the brand for me, is unjustifiable and, as much as it would sadden me, I can’t see the brand surviving for many more years to come because of it.
Tweets by NiallRussell
Really…what a grumpy bunch.
Really…what a grumpy bunch.
Firstly, Rapha is a business, not some cool club for in the know riders only. And what a great UK success story they are. Let’s celebrate it! We need companies like this to grow! We need to give up on the ‘I know about Rapha so I am cool’ exclusivity thing….design your own kit on Owayo if that is so important. Or try and outdo Mr Mottram and the team at Perrin Street.
Secondly, should we not be applauding Rapha’s approach to offering kit at price points that many can afford? You can buy the actual team kit, right down to cheaper replica stuff. That’s a great way of doing it; really inclusive. And the cheaper shirt is not nasty (have you even seen it?) Find another team doing the same.
Thirdly, how on earth can someone here know the specific cost of goods of different shorts? Some cost more, some less. Some cost more to make, some less. Company in different price for different product shocker!
Finally, who are we to judge whether or not someone wears replica kit. I know, all the rules of cycling etc (and I personally abide by them). But instead, let’s celebrate anyone on a bike, not judge them…if they want to wear Sky kit, go for it. If they want to wear Cippolini’s muscule skin suit, I say yeh! Anyone on a bike in the ‘wrong’ kit beats someone in a car in the right kit.
Relax everyone…it’s not important and it’s all good….
Love everybody.
First post.. Hmmmmm – Where
First post.. Hmmmmm – Where do you work?
Yes, Rapha is a business and its all about shareholder value… but it plays heavily on its coolness/elitism, thats why I bought into it… Now it looks like its selling out those original values for its shareholders to profit.
I don’t remember many people applauding Burberry when they went for a mass market appeal. The cheap shirt is exactly that, a cheap poly/cotton polo shirt with lots of branding.
Feel free to wear team kit but you should respect that other cyclists will judge, it isn’t soccer where it is acceptable to replica kit. We have the same in the US with baseball and proper football 😉
The reason I know about the costs is that I work for a well know sportswear company in Portland, go figure. The cost difference between those shorts will be about $5. Well done Rapha for adding £50 of value to them.
FG
Fixie Girl wrote:First post..
…I work in medical research, no conflict of interest….I just tire of all the Rapha-whingeing…I think we need a need descriptor for a certain mindset: Rapha Bashers..perhaps…other options far cleverer than my humble effort?
And I maintain, let’s not judge, let’s encourage others not to, let’s be the change we should want to see…let’s love everyone on a bike
I don’t accept that making a
I don’t accept that making a comment or to criticise as “whinging”… I bet rapha love it.. It’s branding is no accident…
No one made them sponsor Sky they did it to make money and if they choose to water their brand by doing cheap replica kit then why can people people be have an opinion? It puts me, a Rapha customer since 2006, right off them.
I don’t get how commenting on a raphia post has turned into a cyclist love in.. I hate cyclists that run red lights and some of the couriers in Portland could do well to use soap when they do drop off to my office..
FG
Fixie Girl wrote:I don’t
I turned it into a love in for me because I think we should love every cyclist…even the dude who runs the red light…love him enough to catch them up and say ‘no, don’t do that, it makes us look bad and worse, you might get really badly hurt’….love the smelly courier enough to think ‘damn, that’s stinky, but what a smile, and wow, his job must be much tougher than mine’.. love them enough to think maybe this isnt the life they had hoped for, and see if they want a decent and free coffee from a nice company machine. Love the cyclist who squeezes past a lorry on a corner enough to say ‘no, you are gonna get smeared over the road, let me explain….etc’.
And Fixiegirl, I love you too….let me buy you that Skinny Latte…and you can have toppings if you want, they are on me…
Hi Fixie Girl,
I assume you
Hi Fixie Girl,
I assume you work for Nike? If so, the economies of scale and the type of clothing made are extremely different. Do you work on the design and manufacturing side? I thought it wasn’t the done thing to knock fellow manufacturers? Or is that just my naivety? ;;)
I of course work in cyclewear, design Vulpine and look after manufacturing. I am intimate with most of the specific fabrics, trims and techniques involved. I think it’s extremely unlikely there is a $5 difference, particularly at the high-end of the scale. Using a better zip can add that to the cost of a garment alone.
I think what Rapha and Simon are doing is just fantastic. I’m very jealous! Its a dream to sponsor such an awesome team. Smashing. And British. Yea!
wow. wow and thrice wow. as a
wow. wow and thrice wow. as a cyclist i get enough flak from
motorists – where’s your licence, insurance “road tax”?
motorbikers – where’s your engine?
and
none cyclists in general – your bike was how much?
i like rapha, but sadly my funds cannot run to their products (as much as i would like some of their stuff)
however i saw the sky jersey liked it and thought £75 is nearer my budget. Apparently though i now have a new list to be wary of
Rapha fans – you are cheapening the brand
Lidl fans- Rapha you snob!!!! i could get 10 jerseys for that
others – team kit is only for team riders
it’s hard enough some times as a cyclist without getting grief from within the brethren
as well. surely showing support for a British team doing well in our sport should be a good thing. No i will never time trial like brad, climb like froomey or do a classic like Geraint, but then i’m not saying i can.
i’m sure we’ve all seen some dubious sights on bikes before, but f**k it. they’re one of us and as long as they adhere to the rules of the road and don’t cycle like a k**b then live and let live.
and if in doubt refer to rule 17
fretters wrote:wow. wow and
…perfectly said.
As a result of this discussion I have decided to wave particularly cheery waves to people in replica Sky team kit for the rest of the year..even (sharp intake of breath) last years kit!!!! ..(though not if they run red lights of course, heaven forbid)…
In fact, I am going to give every (law abidding) cyclist in any team kit particularly welcoming waves, especially if they look new to the sport (you know, unmatching shorts and jersey, slightly..er…odd helmet perched quite far back). I may even say hello to them at lights and say how awesome they look, and comment on how well their team is doing.
Thank you to FixieGirl…you have inspired me to action.
brackley88 wrote:
As a result
Think I might join you in this! When I got back into cycling I rode for a few weeks with trainers on while I got my confidence back. I passed some of the Academy squad going the other way in their GB kit. They nodded an acknowledgement, but the one at the back looked at my trainers like I was wearing polka-dot furry wellies or something.
@fretters- you were doing so
@fretters- you were doing so well, but let yourself down with citing some poxy ‘rule’.
TBH I am not into wearing pro team kit but I am comfortable with it. Was marshalling a time trial last October to see Mark Cavendish’s doppelganger cross the junction. Yep, the Sky world champs jersey. And I thought “Hey, that looks good. He must be a Sky & Cavendish fan”. The potential for a faux-pas was negated by the facts that it looked great; it was our supertastic Cav’s jersey he so admired he bought one; and that yes, Sky is a British outfit with many supporters in a country which has shunned and mocked cycling for so long.
It’s Rapha’s brand, they can ‘cheapen’ it any way they wish (though I doubt Mr Mottram would do it). Let them charge what they want.
My stock answer to “You don’t pay road tax” is “Neither do you”. But in the end you can’t fight wilful ignorance.
Who I work for is irrelevant
Who I work for is irrelevant in this context as I am passing a comment as an individual.. I don’t run the company I work for. I previously worked as a buyer for an Italian cycle clothing company hence I know the price points on shorts made in italy and china.
I can’t understand why when anyone questions Rapha they are criticised as whinging/knocking… I thought you Brits were all for free speech… I have spent $$$ with Rapha over the years so I am disappointed in them lowering their brand and I bet I am not the only customer who thinks so.
Skinny Latte time for me…
FG
Fixie Girl wrote:Who I work
Lots of things to pick up so far that are wrong assumptions.
1. Rapha doesn’t have shareholders, it’s owned by private equity.
2. Burberry never went out and tried to cheapen their brand. In the UK and worldwide the classic print (which they used for nearly 80 years unbothered) was bootlegged to an unprecedented level based on items from a couple of seasons. Their response was to stop using it in their designs until that passed. In case you hadn’t noticed, they’ve been growing considerably in the last few years.
3. I had a look at the various Rapha lines in Evans cycles this week. The supporters range (40 quid stuff) isn’t replica kit in the sublimation print on a cheaper fabric model. It’s look is identical to the rest of the sky identity but it is distinctly different item which looks to be carefully targeted at people who feel they would look like a dobber wearing a normal cycling jersey in the pub.
4. You don’t make a great deal of money putting kit on teams. It will have cost them several million to do so and it looks like they’ve had to acquire a bigger distribution centre to deal with predicted volumes. 30 riders, 800 items or so per rider, all a cost to the business.
5. Every successful luxury brand relies on principles of accessible luxury for its sales. Or lipstick and perfume as it commonly happens to be. Burberry and Chanel make a hell of a lot more from those than their clothes.
1. All UK limited companies
1. All UK limited companies have shareholders.. In the last report filed they have 15 shareholders including Nicholas Evans, wonder why Evans Cycles in the UK are the only retail outlet for the Sky Kit wonder no more…
2. Burberry went to attract a younger market by providing garments to mainstream celebrities in the UK and it went a bit wrong from what I read in the NYT. But that is only an opinion…
3. The samples we were sent in the US look and feel decidedly poly cotton like a polo shirt.
4. So Rapha is now a charity? Surely its picked Sky as the top team to sell kit, there are 47 Sky items available on the US site.
5. Yep, I understand the principle of the on ramp product, Rapha already had plenty of these before the sky kit went online.
Rapha charge lots, people
Rapha charge lots, people kick off. Make some cheaper kit and people kick off. Pretty hard to win. Ah well if it puts off those obsessed with the brand id i’ll be happier buying it! Also while I personally don’t wear trade team kit surely people buying it helps support the teams which can only be a good thing at the moment.
…and you my friend are
…and you my friend are thus, a gentleman of the road…
Man, even cyclists hate
Man, even cyclists hate cyclists.
Cooks wrote:Man, even
I like you 🙂
Cooks wrote:Man, even
Bit late to the party on this thread but this totally deserves another quote 😀
jijiandnoah wrote:Cooks
The list is endless 😉
seanieh66 wrote:jijiandnoah
The list is endless 😉— Cooks
I might put it in my sig.
It’s The Summer (extended
It’s The Summer (extended Winter) of Love ’13! Hugs for everyone!
Damn right..Happy Riding…
Damn right..Happy Riding…
Not a fan of the Sky kit,
Not a fan of the Sky kit, however I have just bought the ‘Classic’ Rapha Jersey after almost a year of toing and froing with the idea of spending £130 on a jersey (+ arm warmers). I can safely say it’s the best item of cycle clothing I’ve ever bought and would recommend them to anyone!
Proud that Rapha is British!
I wear replica team kit as i
I wear replica team kit as i like it better than some of the basic cycling tops.
AND
if anyone feels they need to speak to me about it i will endeavour to show them the error of their ways.
Let people wear what they want imho.
stumps wrote:I wear replica
Me too, and I (used to) think all of the riders were cool and worth supporting. I could buy a different kit for each day and always have clean dry kit every week.
Though I have a friend who has a season ticket at Manchester United but won’t wear anything red. Your choice really.
the time has come to wear
the time has come to wear ‘replica kit’ with pride,
and show the world which team you support…
then watch the racing down the pub and when your team loses have a fight with your rivals
😀
betweenbikes wrote:the time
Seem to recall Cav got a bit of abuse from beered-up Sky fans during 2010 Tour de France…?
(Yup, didn’t imagine it: http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/475511/cavendish-jeered-by-sky-fans-following-rough-tour-finish.html )
Guess when he signed for Sky at end of 2011 they must have felt like football fans whose team signs a star player from local rivals… all forgiven very quickly.
Thanks everyone! I knew I’d
Thanks everyone! I knew I’d get more than a few minutes entertainment and distraction from work if I checked out the comments on a Rapha article.
Off to the latest Lance Armstrong one now; might have to get a cup of tea first…
pwake wrote:Thanks everyone!
Don’t forget to stop in at helmets 😀
I love it. After years of
I love it. After years of complaining that Rapha is over priced and elitist the Rapha Bashers are now complaining about Rapha selling cheap stuff to the masses…. 😕
My club kit made by Vermarc but I suspect that as pro kit it’s actually not designed to stand repeated washes beyond a season. That’s why I buy Rapha shorts. That and because I don’t like the way I’m supposed to act a billboard for our club sponsor who have completely smothered a fine club jersey with their brand name. That’s another story though… (|:
I gladly wear replica kit but
I gladly wear replica kit but only on the condition that is a) cheap in the sale b) of discredited teams riddled with cheats, dopers and whingers c) makes me look slightly thinner.
Does it come in size FB?
Does it come in size FB?
‘if anyone feels they need to
‘if anyone feels they need to speak to me about it i will endeavour to show them the error of their ways. ‘
ooh, scary
andyp wrote:’if anyone feels
HAHAHA LUSH, you want to hear what my wife says as well :))
Any road, I’d far rather see
Any road, I’d far rather see Rapha providing kit for Sky than see cyclists wearing Adidas. That just looks wrong for so many reasons.
Yennings wrote:Any road, I’d
Does that mean the old ones aren’t retro cool? B-)
‘HAHAHA LUSH, you want to
‘HAHAHA LUSH, you want to hear what my wife says as well Laughing ‘
[avoids the obvious response] 😉
Who would of thought a
Who would of thought a British company selling goods and actually doing well would get so much debate.
Choice is a wonderful thing, lets use it, to buy or not to buy, but don’t criticise choice, it would be a horrible world is only one thing existed, imagine… only one brand/model/colour of bike !
I have a replica Omega Pharma
I have a replica Omega Pharma Quickstep jersey that I wear quite regularly.
Not because of the team, I’m just really into drugs and laminate flooring.
I’ve always thought it was
I’ve always thought it was slightly hilarious that a pharmaceutical firm should choose to sponsor a cycling team – what are they trying to sell, and to who, precisely?! 😀
notfastenough wrote:I’ve
Even more curious was Omega Pharma choosing its Predictor brand as the one to lend its name to Lotto-Predictor a few years back. Products? Pregnancy testing kits.
The one that has me scratching my head is Amgen sponsoring the Tour of California.
Here’s a Washington Post article about how Amgen made huge amounts of money through EPO…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/amgen-anemia-drugs/index.html
Can’t people just cycle with
Can’t people just cycle with whatever they want to without being given the stink eye?
I quite like the EBH Jersey, as a faithful Norwegian I might buy it and wear it proudly on the English roads where I live. Ha take that! Championship jersey AND replica!
As a Sky Rider said
As a Sky Rider said recently…no one died;-).
Take it easy peeps.