Cycle clothing brand Rapha has added bras to its range of women’s clothing. We haven’t seen them in the flesh, as it were, but the bras are, according to Rapha, “tailored specifically for the unique demands of riding a bicycle”.
There are two different styles, one providing light support, the other medium, to cover all kinds of road cycling, from gentle spins to high effort racing.
Aimed at longer, gentler paced riding, the Light Support bra (shown above) is cut from a high-stretch, sweat-wicking fabric with antibacterial treatment. It’s seamless, with a breathable, double-faced fabric with open-knit panels in areas of high sweat for, says Rapha, “exceptional ventilation”. Its wide straps and a wide knitted underband are designed to support the bust and reduce movement.
The Light Support bra is also suitable for other low impact activities such as yoga, Rapha says.
The Medium Support bra (above) is made from a lightweight, technical, high-stretch fabric and is designed to keep the bust secure during hard efforts and races, being “supportive without being restrictive”.
It has a slim underband and structured cups with removable pads. Rapha says it’s designed to give compression across the chest, the area that becomes smallest while in a racing position, while creating a slimline fit.
Laser cut holes in areas of high sweat are aimed at providing additional ventilation and a light mesh lining to increase heat transfer.
The cut-out back of the bra is designed to layer with the Souplesse Base Layer and Souplesse Bib Shorts.
The Medium Support bra is £50, the Light Support £40. Both designs are available in sizes XS to L, and in black or white.
“These two bras represent an exciting development in Rapha’s women’s collection,” says designer Maria Olssen. “They are the missing piece of the Rapha women’s cycling wardrobe and from the outset have been designed to complement our existing collections perfectly.”
For more information, see rapha.cc.
Tass is our production pedant, who boldly goes hunting for split infinitives, rogue apostrophes and other things up with which she will not put. She's ridden off-road but much prefers on, hasn't done half the touring she'd like to, and loves paper maps.