Casual but technical cycling clothing - Rapha and who else?

caw35slr

I'm looking for cycling clothing that looks like normal casual wear but is also (a) made of material suitable for physical pursuits and (b) has features for cycling (e.g. a good fit, the odd rear pocket, etc).

The only brand I can see who is serious about this is Rapha with their Fixed line, especially the Fixed Shirt and Fixed T-Shirt.

My only piece of rapha kit is a pair of their Touring Shorts which are superb: a snug-fitting, long-ish short in a tech fabric with the pockets in the right place. I've never seen anything else remotely like them, the principal alternative seems to be MTB baggies.

If I could stand their eye-watering prices I'd be sorted but I'd be interested to know if anybody else is making smart/casual clothing for the urban cyclist.

GyatsoLa

Assos have a casual wear range - super expensive of course, very euro styling.

Howies of Wales do great casual cycling clothes with a bit of an mtb vibe, but quite expensive for what you get IMO. (www.howies.co.uk)

Bionicon is a German company that does very high tech casual styled clothes, mainly for mountain bikers. www.bionicon.com (seach through their for their clothing catalogue).

Patagonia do some very nice outdoors kit which is casual styled but very high technical quality. They don't do bike specific stuff but some of their outer shells are perfect for cycling. www.patagonia. com

Some Gore Bikewear kit has quite 'casual' styling - I have a pair of their touring shorts which are superb on the bike, but good for general use.

Some North American brands go for a more casual styling for their bike kit - Pearl Izumi and Sugoi, for example. Cannondale also have some very nice casual jackets made of technical material, with subtle little bike friendly touches.

In the US there are a few companies that aim for the urban rider / fixie vibe - Swobo, for example.

I can't think of any that are cheap! Maybe some Endura kit, especially the shorts (they usually have good prices on chainreactioncycles.com).

dinosaur

Also, check out swrve: http://swrve.co.uk/

From memory, I think that www.alwaysriding.co.uk usually has a decent range too.

giant_man

Don't disregard Assos. They have the most technically advanced kit out there. Rapha do casual very well, but don't have the slightest inclination about producing something technical imo.

andrewc3142

Rapha has its detractors (and stuff like the £3k cycling suit deserves it) and is not cheap but fits and wears well IMHO. If technical means comfortable to ride in, does what it says and doesn't fall apart then I'm a satisfied customer.

Otherwise, have a look at hill-walking or running gear. Berghaus, Mountain Equipment, etc, etc all do non-sweaty t-shirts, soft windproof fleeces, that kind of thing. Perfectly good for leisure cycling and generally not that pricey.

barbej

You could look at Bspoke clothing. Evans sell it.

http://www.fisherexpo.co.uk/bspoke/default.html

agnello

dinosaur wrote:

Also, check out swrve: http://swrve.co.uk/

From memory, I think that www.alwaysriding.co.uk usually has a decent range too.

swrve are great. i lived in their hoodie jacket over the winter. not bought the troosers but the quality of the jacket was absolutely top notch....

very helpful guy on the blower too

caw35slr

Thanks for the replies, there's some good stuff in there. A few comments:

1. What I'm looking for is cycling gear that looks like ordinary clothing that is made from good fabric for cycling. I.e. something I can conceivably have a business meeting in. Think polo shirt not Z-Peugot team jersey! The Rapha stuff fits the bill (at a price). Some of the not-100%-cotton Patagonia gear looks promising as do some of the other outdoor suppliers (who seem to be creeping into the business travel market).

AFAIK Rapha is still the only one making cycling jerseys (with rear pockets, dropped rears, etc) that look like everyday wear.

2. I tried Howies a while ago but found their sizing to be very small. We took some funny photos of me in a supposedly XL jumper (more like a M or even an S). It made us laugh before I returned it. Has anybody else noticed that? Have they changed?

3. swrv looks good - love the belts!

Thanks again for the input!

badhand

I've just taken delivery of a Rapha red club jersey. The detailing and fit is fantastic. As yet I haven't worn it on the bike but can't wait til tomorrow.

I'm hoping that the £95 price tag will mean it should last at least until the beer finally takes over.

Oh, and my girlfriend wants me to wear it later

GyatsoLa

caw35slr wrote:

Thanks for the replies, there's some good stuff in there. A few comments:

1. What I'm looking for is cycling gear that looks like ordinary clothing that is made from good fabric for cycling. I.e. something I can conceivably have a business meeting in. Think polo shirt not Z-Peugot team jersey! The Rapha stuff fits the bill (at a price). Some of the not-100%-cotton Patagonia gear looks promising as do some of the other outdoor suppliers (who seem to be creeping into the business travel market).

AFAIK Rapha is still the only one making cycling jerseys (with rear pockets, dropped rears, etc) that look like everyday wear.

2. I tried Howies a while ago but found their sizing to be very small. We took some funny photos of me in a supposedly XL jumper (more like a M or even an S). It made us laugh before I returned it. Has anybody else noticed that? Have they changed?

3. swrv looks good - love the belts!

Thanks again for the input!

1. One other I forgot is NZO (www.nzoactive.co.nz) from New Zealand. They do merino bowling type jerseys with subtle back pockets. I ordered one but sent it back as the styling really wasn't 'me', but its still nice and very good value. Their trousers (essentially long legged versions of their mtb shorts) are very good and terrific value if the NZ dollar is still weak.

2. I think you got a strange Howies - I find them spot on and consistent with sizing, although I'm fairly broad shouldered. I'm an 'M' with most brands, with Howies I'm somewhere between M and L.

alp777

I have just ordered two of the Fixed T's from Rapha for £67.50.....bargain!

http://www.rapha.cc/fixed-tshirt-2pack/

Super cool styling and has an antibacterial treatment, ideal for my summer tour!

caw35slr

GyatsoLa wrote:

2. I think you got a strange Howies - I find them spot on and consistent with sizing, although I'm fairly broad shouldered. I'm an 'M' with most brands, with Howies I'm somewhere between M and L.

I'm an XL, occasionally XXL. Howie shirts only go to (not quite) XL, so they have nothing for me whatsoever. The jumper I talked about was insanely small, it fitted my wife.

paul_or

Have you looked at shutt vr?

http://www.shuttvr.com/

calvjones

www.vintagevelos.com

End of discussion 8)

DaSy

Oulier from the US are a kind of expensive version of Rapha, some quite nice gear though...

http://outlier.cc/outlier_garments/

caw35slr

calvjones wrote:

www.vintagevelos.com

End of discussion 8)

That's a lot of wool. Some good vintage and repro stuff (including the odd wool original) at Prendas!

DaSy wrote:

Oulier from the US are a kind of expensive version of Rapha

Yes indeed, what the World needs is an expensive version of Rapha! Some interesting stuff in there...

Thanks for all the links!

blakman

Two different opinions. What is your opinion?
Cubavera

thegreatdivide

giant man wrote:

Don't disregard Assos. They have the most technically advanced kit out there. Rapha do casual very well, but don't have the slightest inclination about producing something technical imo.

So you've tried the full range of Pro Team kit then? The Softshell jacket too?

daviesee

Don't bite TGD.
"imo" doesn't make it fact.

LegendLust

Nobody mentioned Vulpine?

http://www.vulpine.cc/

LegendLust

Also try Italians Pistard

http://pistard.cc/

mroli

On a more budget tip, H&M did a tie in with Brick Lane Bikes. I think it sold out pretty quickly. Levis do some commuter jeans/jackets. Surface have a small range and Muxu do some nice stuff.

sloppyschleckonds

4 year old thread resurrected lol

gabriel959

thegreatdivide wrote:

giant man wrote:

Don't disregard Assos. They have the most technically advanced kit out there. Rapha do casual very well, but don't have the slightest inclination about producing something technical imo.

So you've tried the full range of Pro Team kit then? The Softshell jacket too?

Jeez, give him a rest, he replied in 2009. In 2009 theydidn't have the Pro Team Kit.

sloppyschleckonds

Swrve

daviesee

gabriel959 wrote:

Jeez, give him a rest, he replied in 2009. In 2009 theydidn't have the Pro Team Kit.

Hadn't noticed that resurrection. :oops:
None the less, Rapha was selling the Softshell at that time and it is still regarded as a quality piece of kit.

Rigged

Surface have some really nice clothing. https://www.surface-clothing.com/

I have some of their loose-fit shorts and would gladly wear them when not on the bike.

Grill

LegendLust wrote:

Nobody mentioned Vulpine?

http://www.vulpine.cc/

This. I have a few of their tops and I can't say enough good things about them. Fantastic fit, quality, etc.