Summer jersey. Assos or Rapha?
on-yer-bike
Posts: 2,974
I need a summer jersey and am torn between the two. They are both very expensive but I'm told that it's worth it. I'm wondering if the Assos will moisture manage as well as the Rapha being 100% Polyester. I've heard that the pockets in the Rapha are very small.
Pegoretti
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo
Colnago
Cervelo
Campagnolo
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Comments
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I'd go neither. Its only a jersey - it doesnt have to do too much.
Assos jerseys - way overpriced.
Rapha tops - way overpriced and wool ? Unless its the racing kit you're after.
Plenty of other tops out there. My mate has an Assos top and he prefers his cheaper club top to it - fits far better.0 -
Assos tops are excellent if it fits you. Moisure wise it depends what kind of base layer you wear underneath it. Have a look at the Uno jersey, cheaper than the SS13 and imo looks better.0
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actually rapha tops are sportswool. perfect for summer riding temperatures. expensive, but iv had my jersey 2 years and im still wearing it.0
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Fully agree with Giant Mancp
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Assos tops are well worth the money. IMO, the Rapha's don't even come close. By all means, wear Rapha if you want to be a sheep and follow city slicker's fashion. Otherwise, put the smart money on Assos - there is no compromise!
Jared0 -
Assos tops look like they were designed by stevie Wonder'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'0
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I have both and would vouch for the Rapha Sportswool. It sounds uncomfortable but when you wear it over a merino wool base layer, its a different ballgame, Assos doesnt compare aswell and thats saying something.
The Rapha Sportswool jersey has also been touted as the best cycling jersey ever made.....nuff said
http://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle ... ID=14449040 -
The Rapha sportswool is much more comfortable than the Assos IMO. That said, I've also got £30 polyester adidas tops that do a decent enough job. The difference isn't significant like it is with shorts.0
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Depends on how hot your expecting it to get. I have both, but the consider the Rapha to be a spring / cool summer jersey rather than a blazing sunshine job. If it gets really hot, look for something in white with mesh panels and a full length zip.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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I have a variety of jerseys including Assos and Rapha. The Rapha I have only worn on one short ride but it appears to be pretty damn good!0
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I have the Andy Hampsten Rapha top - thats nice - but I dont think it got to blazing hot last year when I was wearing it ? Is that sportswool too ?
Personally I'd just go for one that looks pretty - and with a decent base layer underneath - what more do you want from a top ?
If you want pricey - check out the Campag 11 speed tops !0 -
I'd get 2 of each, you obviously have more money than sense
Shorts I can see the point of spending stupid money and quality is much more apparent but jerseys come on you're kidding yourselves if you think an Assos/Rapha jersey is any more comfy than the mid-price alternatives out there. 0 -
fast as fupp wrote:Assos tops look like they were designed by stevie Wonder
I know what you mean. I've got a couple of plane gilets that I like, but the jerseys aren't that great to look at imo.0 -
I'm interested to read that base layers are worn under summer jerseys - doesn't that get really hot? Or is it a better way to regulate temperature?0
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NapoleonD wrote:I have a variety of jerseys including Assos and Rapha. The Rapha I have only worn on one short ride but it appears to be pretty damn good!
Loving my Rapha Sportwool jersey. I have some sportwool tops for hiking/backpacking and the great thing is that they don't stink, even after 5 days walking across Wales, I could still go into a pub for a meal and smell decent. Try doing that in a manmade fibre.
Great cut, great fabric and full of smart little features.Trying my best to do 300 miles a month on and off road.0 -
Today I went out and bought the Assos SS 13 jersey...its damn expensive but the feel, cut, detail and shape look incredible.
Will wait to wear it on a hot day but first impressions are very very good0 -
Cubic wrote:I'm interested to read that base layers are worn under summer jerseys - doesn't that get really hot? Or is it a better way to regulate temperature?
Depends purely on the base layer but most are very good at wicking sweat away from the body. I always wear one underneath a jersey in the summer and I never overheat.0 -
I love my Rapha jerseys, and I agree with NapoleonD: no matter how long you ride with them, they don't smell.
Assos: hmmmm, white bibs! YUK! :twisted:0 -
Monty Dog wrote:Depends on how hot your expecting it to get. I have both, but the consider the Rapha to be a spring / cool summer jersey rather than a blazing sunshine job. If it gets really hot, look for something in white with mesh panels and a full length zip.
Sounds like the Rapha lightweight jersey which isn't on their w/site at the moment (similar to the Panache one on the Bike Radar home pageM.Rushton0 -
giant mancp wrote:Cubic wrote:I'm interested to read that base layers are worn under summer jerseys - doesn't that get really hot? Or is it a better way to regulate temperature?
Depends purely on the base layer but most are very good at wicking sweat away from the body. I always wear one underneath a jersey in the summer and I never overheat.
One day soon I reckon some clever sod will think "I know, if we make some fitted summer cycling jerseys out of a wicking base layer material cyclists can stop wearing two shirts..."
Rapha, Assos - just stick the cheque in the post.
So how exactly is wearing a fitted wicking base layer under a fitted wicking jersey better at keeping me cool than the fitted wicking jersey on its own? Should I be riding without a wicking base layer under my softshell in winter to keep warm? Surely the ideal summer top would be a single white, wicking, close fitting top with plenty of venting...?
giant macp this wasn't directed at you specifically!0 -
I always ride with a base layer simply because it is more comfortable than just a jersey, especially if the jersey pockets are full. Never been too hot yet. You can get cycling specific base layer vests for really hot conditions.0
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jam1e wrote:
One day soon I reckon some clever sod will think "I know, if we make some fitted summer cycling jerseys out of a wicking base layer material cyclists can stop wearing two shirts..."
Rapha, Assos - just stick the cheque in the post.
So how exactly is wearing a fitted wicking base layer under a fitted wicking jersey better at keeping me cool than the fitted wicking jersey on its own? Should I be riding without a wicking base layer under my softshell in winter to keep warm? Surely the ideal summer top would be a single white, wicking, close fitting top with plenty of venting...?
giant macp this wasn't directed at you specifically!
Agree entirely. The only reason I would wear a base layer would be to keep me warmer, not cooler. Surely, wearing two layers would slow down the process of evaporation as there's two layers for the sweat to get through. The most important thing is that the jesey has a nice close fit.0 -
Just before attending a Star Trek conventionfast as fupp wrote:Assos tops look like they were designed by stevie Wonder 0 -
I almost always wear a base layer. Reason why, is layer next to the skin wicks sweat, and outer (dry) layer prevents windchill on wet base layer on descents etc. In hot weather though, I'll probably give it a miss unless there's some significant climbing involved.0
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i got some nike pro compression baselayers that are for heat, they take the heat/sweat away through loads of venting, for £8 at sports direct. i wear one, weather its a sleevless one or long/short sleeved depends on temp. But i think they really do work for me.... keep my skin a little cooler that is0
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Good call Gemma, I'm looking to get a base layer, these will do.0
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jam1e wrote:giant mancp wrote:Cubic wrote:I'm interested to read that base layers are worn under summer jerseys - doesn't that get really hot? Or is it a better way to regulate temperature?
Depends purely on the base layer but most are very good at wicking sweat away from the body. I always wear one underneath a jersey in the summer and I never overheat.
One day soon I reckon some clever sod will think "I know, if we make some fitted summer cycling jerseys out of a wicking base layer material cyclists can stop wearing two shirts..."
Rapha, Assos - just stick the cheque in the post.
So how exactly is wearing a fitted wicking base layer under a fitted wicking jersey better at keeping me cool than the fitted wicking jersey on its own? Should I be riding without a wicking base layer under my softshell in winter to keep warm? Surely the ideal summer top would be a single white, wicking, close fitting top with plenty of venting...?
giant macp this wasn't directed at you specifically!
Jam1e nobody has answered this so I thought I would if that's ok
Base layers in the winter is different to the summer of course.
Whereas in the summer you need a good wicking base layer to keep you dry, or at least that's the theory, in winter time you need an insulating base layer to keep you warm.
Most of these are breathable anyway so sweat isn't so much of a problem. And if you do sweat, you want that moisture to stay warm and not go cold, because then you get cold.
This is what I've always found anyway. As with anything cycling, it's all such a personal thing cos everyone's different.0 -
Oh I understand the concept of base layers vs cold weather insulating base layers - but nobody has yet come up with a reason why a wicking base layer & jersey combo is cooler than a good wicking jersey that fits well on its own.
If it helps to see where I'm coming from think of it this way - If you were cycling in just your wicking base layer (ie no jersey) and were too hot would you put an extra jersey on over the base layer to cool down? What would the addition of an extra layer of material achieve other than slowing down the evaporation of sweat passed through your base layer and creating a tropical "micro-climate" between the 2 shirts?!
Somebody mentioned wearing a jersey to prevent windchill on descents when wearing a wet base layer. This does make sense from a keeping warm perspective but not from a keeping cool perspective - afterall windchill is surely just "over cooling".
FWIW those £8 Nike tops are excellent - I've a few and always wear them when it's too cold for just a jersey but not cold/wet enough for a shell or windproof. I do get a bit too warm in them if I wear them on milder days though... As someone said earlier however - comfort is a something which varies from person to person and so there is no "right" answer just what works for you. (But even if there is no right answer to keeping cool then wearing 2 tops is the wrong answer imho
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In the UK its probably warm enough to go with one layer about one day per year. Windchill really cools you down. Plus - if you crash - two layers are better than one - the layers will rub on each other.0
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NapoleonD wrote:Good call Gemma, I'm looking to get a base layer, these will do.
if you cant find any in your local shop i think amazon are also doing very cheap ones. top stuff!0 -
here are the links to the bargainous nike baselayers -
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nike-Vent-Tight ... 683&sr=8-5
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nike-Tight-Slee ... 683&sr=8-70
