Rapha's Gabba?

wotnoshoeseh

Load of aul' shite

Just go out and get wet. It is what it is!!!

wotnoshoeseh

Dippydog3 wrote:

nibby wrote:

Having said that, my £18 jacket from last winter (Aldi special) looks awful but does 85% of the job for 15% of the money. I just dont wear it any more. Sad really.

how sad??

Just wear what works!!!

meanredspider

My AirJack is so versatile - just that and an optional base layer between 0 and 10c. Nothing else - no gilet, no hardshell. Below 0c, I'd wear a merino base layer with it. Below -5C I'd put a hardshell over the top as extra windproofing. I'd literally wear them (I have 2) for 6 months of the year. My only criticism is that it wasn't as colour-fast as I'd hope but I can't fault the functionality.

nibby

wotnoshoeseh wrote:

Dippydog3 wrote:

nibby wrote:

Having said that, my £18 jacket from last winter (Aldi special) looks awful but does 85% of the job for 15% of the money. I just dont wear it any more. Sad really.

how sad??

Just wear what works!!!

I like the way you quoted me without me having said what was quoted




Wish I could like the Aldi stuff. I've had two items now, 1st a pair of tights then gloves, both not the best, maybe a little more expensive but still great value is the Planet X stuff. I've had and still use loads of it's stuff and all bloody good.

gabriel959

One jacket I would like to have or at least try is the new Gore Oxygen 2.0 Gore-Tex Active Shell Jacket. I have not seen a single bad review about it and someone I know sold his Rapha hardshell because this was a lot better. It can be bought for around £150 to £160 if you look around and it looks to be a game changer in the rain jacket market.

sloppyschleckonds

A lot of the Gore AS stuff is underrated

itboffin

All the gore stuff i own gets a thumbs up for functionality but a massive thumbs down for durability, without exception it just falls apart, zips breaks stitching comes away etc. actually in the past i would have said the same for castelli but that seems less so now.

cookeeemonster

itboffin wrote:

All the gore stuff i own gets a thumbs up for functionality but a massive thumbs down for durability, without exception it just falls apart, zips breaks stitching comes away etc. actually in the past i would have said the same for castelli but that seems less so now.

+1

My Gore Path goretex jacket zip failed after around a dozen rides (RRP £150)...just outside the 1 year warranty period too...you may think I didn't get much use out of it in that year and you'd be right. It was unusable for me above 5 degrees due to lack of breathability

Also my gore contest bibshorts stitching came away after a few months...and guess who lost the receipt?

I'm sure they're not all like that but I'll' not consider spending a lot on them again just in case...

bendertherobot

My Rapha is out for delivery. Well, it is now that DHL have managed to get it out there. Took a call from me to do that.

I've suggested that Rapha revert to RM Special Delivery. For me that's the second most reliable method. I'd still prefer that they use DPD.

Dippydog3

wotnoshoeseh wrote:

Dippydog3 wrote:

nibby wrote:

Having said that, my £18 jacket from last winter (Aldi special) looks awful but does 85% of the job for 15% of the money. I just dont wear it any more. Sad really.

how sad??

Just wear what works!!!

Its sad that I do not wear it and its worth nothing so I cant sell it. I have only used it half a dozen times.

Charity shop here it goes.

cougie

Why cant you wear the Aldi jacket ? I've the blue one with reflective panels from last winter and its a perfectly decent jacket. I see a lot of people out in them - and I bet nobody could tell jackets apart if you did a blindfold cycling jacket test. I guess that might be slightly dangerous though...

gweeds

bendertherobot wrote:

My Rapha is out for delivery. Well, it is now that DHL have managed to get it out there. Took a call from me to do that.

I've suggested that Rapha revert to RM Special Delivery. For me that's the second most reliable method. I'd still prefer that they use DPD.

Amen to that.

I'm not sure why they use DHL - the 'here's the hour slot we'll deliver' you get from DPD is brilliant. DHL is the usual 'wait in all day' nonsense.

bendertherobot

OK, intial impressions.

It's very premium. Oozes well made. The fabric is amazing and the taping looks like it will keep everything out.

It's much more water "proof" than a Gabba.

Now, my mind is not quite made up yet. It's more a hard softshell because it's very fitted. I got the same size as I had in the Pro Team normal jacket. This ones very fitted but feels like the torso will be excellent on the bike.

The arms. Now, the original Gabba was flappy, the new one was spot on. This Rapha is tight man. Super tight. With just a base layer you're done.

It feels like, despite not being thermal, that with a base layer you'd be warm because no air's going to escape.

In some ways it feels like a super fitted dry suit.

I'm going to leave the label on for now and try it up and down the street.

gweeds

Good to know on the sizing. Mine should be here tomorrow. Also went same size

bendertherobot

Don't get me wrong, it fits. Perfectly. There's nothing hidden by it though

On the hoods it should be absolutely perfect.

My feeling at the moment is that this or the hardshell is redundant. It may be that I get shot of the hardshell because there's nothing more to be gained by it. Will be interesting to see how breathable this is. If it's more breathable and 99% as water resistant then I think the pro soft-shell is a winner.

Less Gabba. More absolute perfect rain training wear. As long as you don't run hot this might be the ultimate.

gweeds

I'm thinking the same on the hardshell. Amazing in rain but I can get wet inside in it

dowtcha

bendertherobot wrote:

OK, intial impressions.

It's very premium. Oozes well made. The fabric is amazing and the taping looks like it will keep everything out.

It's much more water "proof" than a Gabba.

Now, my mind is not quite made up yet. It's more a hard softshell because it's very fitted. I got the same size as I had in the Pro Team normal jacket. This ones very fitted but feels like the torso will be excellent on the bike.

The arms. Now, the original Gabba was flappy, the new one was spot on. This Rapha is tight man. Super tight. With just a base layer you're done.

It feels like, despite not being thermal, that with a base layer you'd be warm because no air's going to escape.

In some ways it feels like a super fitted dry suit.

I'm going to leave the label on for now and try it up and down the street.

Just wondering what size are you normally in Rapha. I know last years Pro Team jacket was true to size but this years model is smaller and rapha's site says you should move up a size. I take a medium in rapha but thinking I would need a large in this. I am 76kg 175 cm.

gweeds

Agreed.

I'm a Large but go XL for pro team stuff. I'm 6'1" and 83kg

bendertherobot

I took the large last year and need the XL in this

on-yer-bike

The hardshell and this new one are both made from breathable, laminate membrane fabric. So whats the difference other than the tiny holes down the side? The hardshell is actually dearer by £60.00.
I dont get this sizing business; if you are within the measurement range in the sizing table then it should fit. If that isnt the case why dont they change the the sizing guide? I'm medium 36-39 chest so why do i buy one that is 39-42 chest. Is it some kind of marketing tactic?

itboffin

No no you've got it all wrong you're meant to change your body to fit Rapha's sizing

bendertherobot

bendertherobot

paulmon

I've ordered this and I'm hoping it's going to sit between Winter Jersey with rain jacket in the pocket and summer Jersey and arm warmers, rain jacket. The key thing for me is can it be worn whilst it's not raining without boiling from the inside. I have an Altura soft shell that I use for mtb and this has two large zips at the rear that you can open when it's not raining to let heat escape.

stueys

on-yer-bike wrote:

The hardshell and this new one are both made from breathable, laminate membrane fabric. So whats the difference other than the tiny holes down the side? The hardshell is actually dearer by £60.00.
I dont get this sizing business; if you are within the measurement range in the sizing table then it should fit. If that isnt the case why dont they change the the sizing guide? I'm medium 36-39 chest so why do i buy one that is 39-42 chest. Is it some kind of marketing tactic?

I think the key difference is that the hard shell is actually a waterproof material similar to goretex, where the new pro team is a softshell that has been waterproof treated. In theory this means the softshell should be slightly more breathable but also the waterproofing in theory will deteriorate over time (and require retreating) which won't be the case with the hardshell.

bendertherobot

The breathability test will be key. The arms are very tight with a base layer. So I don't know where the moisture can go. Unless the membrane is amazing. I will try it in the morning I hope.

ddraver

So bender - for a winter training esque "long & slow" ride in the rain, would you wear that or the Hardshell (or Pro Race Cape for me)??

I'm in the market for a new waterproof

bendertherobot

Personally, I think the Hardshell is the perfect commuter jacket. Even long and slow you'd end up being hot and damp. It's great when it's weeing down over 20 miles or so mind!

So I think that's what the new softshell is for. The long and slow ride. Supposed to be very wet tomorrow so I'll test it for you all. I don't hang about on my commute......

ddraver

So the hardshell is overkill unless it's really very very wet then....

bendertherobot

For me, yes.