Rapha Classic Softshell plus base layer combo

clelanj

Thinking of buying the Rapha Classic softshell jacket along with a couple of longsleeve base layers. I am hoping that the combination of the jacket and base layer will see me right through until the weather warms up. At present I am wearing 3 to 4 light layers on my winter rides.

its seems a lot to spend but I am hoping this will give me a few years use. Is this a reasonable combination to wear through to the warmer months and can anyone who has the jacket comment on if this was a good purchase for you?

lc1981

I can't comment on the jacket, but I recently bought one of their base layers and I'm very happy with it. It's soft and comfortable, and has kept me nice and warm during this recent cold snap. There's a quote from Kristian House on the Rapha site about how he sleeps in them and wears them around the house. That might be made up for marketing purposes, but I can see how it might be true.

ShutUpLegs

Its a perfect combo but Winter is nearly over, save your cash or buy it in the sale if you really need one.

You don't need expensive base layers though

iPete

lc1981 wrote:

I can't comment on the jacket, but I recently bought one of their base layers and I'm very happy with it. It's soft and comfortable, and has kept me nice and warm during this recent cold snap. There's a quote from Kristian House on the Rapha site about how he sleeps in them and wears them around the house. That might be made up for marketing purposes, but I can see how it might be true.

I wear mine around the house! Have an icebreaker on now, once you get a merino base layer it's hard not to wear it all the time...

bendertherobot

I own three base layers. I alternate two of them being a Craft Active long and a DHB Merino 190.

Both are excellent.

On really cold days I use a Helly Hansen Freeze.

Mind, I have an Assos Bonka. You could wear that on its own

stueys

Can't comment on the soft shell but the Ralpha base layers are excellent, slightly prefer to my ice breaker ones. Stylish enough to wear generally, comfortable and pretty warm. I was using mine skiing in -22 in Jan, all good (though I'm getting better gloves!)

Anonymous

Have a look at the campag stuff on sale at CRC. Extremely warm and ridiculously cheap. Even cheaper if you can get into the private sale (if its still there). Only odd sizes left, but if you're a big lad, you'll be fine

jordan_217

iPete wrote:

lc1981 wrote:

I can't comment on the jacket, but I recently bought one of their base layers and I'm very happy with it. It's soft and comfortable, and has kept me nice and warm during this recent cold snap. There's a quote from Kristian House on the Rapha site about how he sleeps in them and wears them around the house. That might be made up for marketing purposes, but I can see how it might be true.

I wear mine around the house! Have an icebreaker on now, once you get a merino base layer it's hard not to wear it all the time...

Are the Icebreaker ones any good?

daviesee

I don't have the Soft Shell but I do have the Winter Jacket and a Castelli Gabba.
My experience with those and Rapha base layers is that you are on the right lines up to 5 degrees.
Over 5 degrees and short sleeve base layers will suffice.

stueys

jordan_217 wrote:

Are the Icebreaker ones any good?

Yes, but I prefer the rapha ones. Ice breaker mid layers are excellent, they do a good range of layers in varying thickness. More for skiing/hiking than cycling though.

iPete

Stueys wrote:

jordan_217 wrote:

Are the Icebreaker ones any good?

Yes, but I prefer the rapha ones. Ice breaker mid layers are excellent, they do a good range of layers in varying thickness. More for skiing/hiking than cycling though.

I too have both, they are excellent, hard to say which is better but the rapha edges it. At £50 the icebreaker was a tough choice but 3 years of abuse later, still great.

giant_man

coriordan wrote:

Have a look at the campag stuff on sale at CRC. Extremely warm and ridiculously cheap. Even cheaper if you can get into the private sale (if its still there). Only odd sizes left, but if you're a big lad, you'll be fine

what 'private sale' do u speak of?

wasabi_m

Sorry to high jack. But I have a rapha Softshell in black for sale. Size small.

Fantastic jacket. Best I have owned. Only riding short rides in winter this year so not really required.

jordan_217

iPete wrote:

Stueys wrote:

jordan_217 wrote:

Are the Icebreaker ones any good?

Yes, but I prefer the rapha ones. Ice breaker mid layers are excellent, they do a good range of layers in varying thickness. More for skiing/hiking than cycling though.

I too have both, they are excellent, hard to say which is better but the rapha edges it. At £50 the icebreaker was a tough choice but 3 years of abuse later, still great.

Cheers Stu and Pete. Ive just managed to get 2x Icebreaker Oasis merino l/s tops for £65. My trusty Aldi ones are on their last legs so will give these a go.

goonz

I have the Rapha softshell gilet and the winter jersey and both are top quality items.

I personally wear a base layer a long sleeve jersey and the softshell gilet when cycling in the really cold weather and It is fine.

2 of the best purchases I ever made for cycling, and the Winter jersey is so good looking I could easily wear it off the bike too!

FatTed

I have the Winter Jersey, great bit of kit how does the Softshell and pro team jacket compare warmth wise? Icebreaker are making cycling jerseys now. I think the Ristretto is the best merino vest.
http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/product-d ... IS-MER.htm

velohutts

I have the rapha softshell and it is an excellent jacket, great fit, feels quality when on and does everything you would expect of it.
When in the sale it is a much more attractive price , still expensive but you pay for what you get.
I have been using mine in the recent cold spell with a long sleeve top either a torm one or my local one and down to 0 deg it has proven well.
If you can stretch to the cost you won't be disappointed.

goonz

My only gripe with Rapha is the limited colours which they have now slowly begun to address. Black coloured tops in winter and night cycling are not ideal. I even got moaned at by a car owner that I could not be seen once, but that may have been because I was right behind a bus as he was trying to pull out from a side road.

stueys

goonz wrote:

My only gripe with Rapha is the limited colours which they have now slowly begun to address. Black coloured tops in winter and night cycling are not ideal. I even got moaned at by a car owner that I could not be seen once, but that may have been because I was right behind a bus as he was trying to pull out from a side road.

I'm with you, waiting for the new pro jacket colours to come out before I buy. Riding around in a black jacket on grey winter days has a very limited appeal...

FatTed

goonz and Stueys please email Rapha and tell them you want brighter colours.

DesB3rd

I find any softshell (assuming we're talking stretch-weave affairs) a lot of warmth on the bike great for <5degC with a lightweight long sleeve B/L under, but too much the rest of the time. I'd prefer to layer up non-windproof layers.

If the time of year drives a good sale price then they're good bits of kit, otherwise a bit of an odd buy in late Feb.

thegreatdivide

Without wishing to start a black clothing at night debate, it's the quality of your lights and the reflective bits on your jacket that get you seen.

I very much doubt there will be any new Pro Team Jacket colours this side of September btw - and the arm band on the PTJ is VERY reflective. Not sure where they got that material from but it glows at the slightest sign of light.

daviesee

DesB3rd wrote:

I find any softshell (assuming we're talking stretch-weave affairs) a lot of warmth on the bike great for <5degC with a lightweight long sleeve B/L under, but too much the rest of the time. I'd prefer to layer up non-windproof layers.

If the time of year drives a good sale price then they're good bits of kit, otherwise a bit of an odd buy in late Feb.

That kind of depends on your location. I don't know the OP's location.
Forecast is to be sub-zero every morning here this week, and below 5 degrees for the foresee-able.

danlikesbikes

clelanj wrote:

Thinking of buying the Rapha Classic softshell jacket along with a couple of longsleeve base layers. I am hoping that the combination of the jacket and base layer will see me right through until the weather warms up. At present I am wearing 3 to 4 light layers on my winter rides.

its seems a lot to spend but I am hoping this will give me a few years use. Is this a reasonable combination to wear through to the warmer months and can anyone who has the jacket comment on if this was a good purchase for you?

I have both the softshell & longsleeve base layers (bought as a 3 pack worked out well).

The base layers are good, fit well, don't itch, clean up easily, wick sweat as you'd expect.

The soft-shell jacket is fantastic & I've had mine for 3 years now without any issues. Keeps me dry when its raining, warm when its cold, has enough ventilation to help the jacket breathe and regulate temperature, really like the storm flap but only used once riding with rain & a tail wind, headphone cable guides are a nice touch, reinforced shoulder is lost on me as I'm left handed and wear any bag on the other shoulder.

Generally I would say they are both really good in their own rights, very expensive but well built and have lasted a long time without any issues. Plus personally I have used the Rapha repair service on other items & find it really good aftercare. Plus I have taken to wearing the jacket to the pub if its really cold & it made it to the Tour of Flanders for standing by the side of the road for 5 hours in the wind.

stueys

thegreatdivide wrote:

Without wishing to start a black clothing at night debate, it's the quality of your lights and the reflective bits on your jacket that get you seen.

At night I agree on the reflective part. On grey, over cast days you need lights and bright colours. Lights are always the most visible thing but sadly can break, fall off or run out of battery. Then it's nice to have a plan b to avoid the dozy driver piloting the large chunk of metal at speed....

daviesee

Stueys wrote:

.....Then it's nice to have a plan b to avoid the dozy driver piloting the large chunk of metal at speed....

You are Keith Peat and I claim my £5.

Pigeons in flight

thegreatdivide wrote:

Without wishing to start a black clothing at night debate, it's the quality of your lights and the reflective bits on your jacket that get you seen.

I very much doubt there will be any new Pro Team Jacket colours this side of September btw - and the arm band on the PTJ is VERY reflective. Not sure where they got that material from but it glows at the slightest sign of light.

Agree with greatdivide...life's a bit short for another 'black clothing debate'....but good lights are key.

I have a black rapha softshell which is the best cycling jacket I have owned. However on overcast Winter days, 'daylight' is a bit of a relative term. I feel safer using lights during the day when wearing the jacket...but if I had a brighter jacket I probably would drop the lights. I would highly recommend the jacket - but I would suggest waiting out this Winter and picking up one in red on fleabay or when a Rapha discount code does the rounds.

stueys

daviesee wrote:

Stueys wrote:

.....Then it's nice to have a plan b to avoid the dozy driver piloting the large chunk of metal at speed....

You are Keith Peat and I claim my £5.

Sadly not, I used to be quite laissez faire about the whole thing, then I started riding in London on occasions... :shock:

danlikesbikes

goonz wrote:

My only gripe with Rapha is the limited colours which they have now slowly begun to address. Black coloured tops in winter and night cycling are not ideal. I even got moaned at by a car owner that I could not be seen once, but that may have been because I was right behind a bus as he was trying to pull out from a side road.

I don't tend to agree that in the day time black jackets do not always stand out & I'm not looking to start an argument with the following statements is just my view on my Rapha jacket and other road users. My Rapha soft-shell has very good reflective parts on it & I ride at night with front/rear lights on so should be seen easily and have started in winter when its grey and damp with a rear light on as often this helps the bike to been seen a long way off when distance sight may be reduced.

Personally as a motorbike rider, cyclist & car driver I don't buy into this black jackets in the day can't be seen it sounds like a cop out to me and an easy way to blame the cyclist. My bike is white, my shorts are blue/orange/white, shoes are white/red/black, helmet white/red if as I driver you can not see me because I'm wearing a black jacket (if its cold) then surely you would say "WOW its an invisible man riding that bike"

That is only my view & I do understand that others may not agree with it but I do feel cyclists get a bit of a bad name & this SMIDSY excuse is to much of cop out.