Rapha's Gabba?

on-yer-bike

thegreatdivide wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

Mine are a size small. They're totally skin tight with zero excess material. They take about 5 mins to put on properly which is how it should be.

Do you then not feel like you're working against the tights as well as the bike? I hate wearing tights because I feel they restrict my legs at the knee in particular

I don't really notice any particular leg area feeling restricted on these. They just work.

Re the softshell. Just tried mine on for the first time and wow - that's a body hugging jacket! I'm 5 ft 7 and a bit and about 66kg so wear PT jerseys in a small and jackets in a medium - I won't be getting anything more than a base layer under there! :shock:

What size chest are you?

thegreatdivide

on-yer-bike wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

Mine are a size small. They're totally skin tight with zero excess material. They take about 5 mins to put on properly which is how it should be.

Do you then not feel like you're working against the tights as well as the bike? I hate wearing tights because I feel they restrict my legs at the knee in particular

I don't really notice any particular leg area feeling restricted on these. They just work.

Re the softshell. Just tried mine on for the first time and wow - that's a body hugging jacket! I'm 5 ft 7 and a bit and about 66kg so wear PT jerseys in a small and jackets in a medium - I won't be getting anything more than a base layer under there! :shock:

What size chest are you?

37" but I like a tight fit so I find the size down in Rapha is better for me.

chrisǃ

on-yer-bike wrote:

Chris! wrote:

Just thought I'd throw my 2p in re the pro team soft shell.
I'm 67kg 6ft tall and normally wear size small in all the pro team kit. The fit on the PTSS is a proper race fit, no flapping material etc. I personally think it's a great fit, but if your a bit like Jan Ulrich in the off season and pile on the pounds get a size up or a different jacket!
Technically the jacket is great, the average temp for 3 hours this morning was 5oc, I wore a long sleeve merino base under it and was pretty comfortable.

Is the PTSS a small too?

Yes the PTSS is a small. It's definitely more of a race fit than the PT jacket and race cape.

ck101

Specialised have done this Vinyl over the pocket thing with their Roubaix jacket. Much as I like Rapha personally I like my mudguard on my bike rather than wear it.

dork_knight

Back from a Wet & Windy 94 Mile Club Run and bloody hell this jacket is nice.

I popped on a Marino Base Layer for the first outing today, after venturing outside I was a little unsure on how this would perform so I popped the Fawesome in the back pocket just in case... it was not needed at all.

This truly is a great jacket and will probably get a huge amount of usage.

meanredspider

I went out on my MTB in my Gabba and a summer Rapha Baselayer today - foul weather and plenty of ice and snow still about. Funnily enough, with the MTB, that vinyl patch would have been useful.

meanredspider

Dork Knight wrote:

Back from a Wet & Windy 94 Mile Club Run

I know it's the common term, but why isn't it called a Club Ride?

dork_knight

Less Letters = More space for witty Strava Titles.

Actually, TBH I do not know.

ddraver

club run is fun cos it rhymes,
get with the times
you fun philistines

I I'm in London on the 23rd so I ll try the XXL I. And see how it fits. If it does then it's hired! (I suspect it won't feature in any January sales...)

meanredspider

ddraver wrote:

I I'm in London on the 23rd so I ll try the XXL I. And see how it fits. If it does then it's hired! (I suspect it won't feature in any January sales...)

Yup - we aren't getting a Rapha CC in NL until March

on-yer-bike

Is there any practical reason to own both the hardshell and the PTSS given that they are both meant for wet weather riding?

gweeds

One is absolutely waterproof and meant for the absolute worst of weather with a less racey fit (Hardshell) and the other isn't called waterproof so will leak eventually with a much racier fit and higher levels of breathability.

on-yer-bike

So, would one wear the PTSS on cold, dry day?

thegreatdivide

If you don't already own a PT Jacket (or similar) then yeah, I reckon it would do OK.

stueys

Tried my pro team longs the other day, very happy. Super comfortable, usual gorgeous rapha pad. Not tried in the wet yet but they seemed pretty windproof, especially around the knees where you want it. I would say a touch warmer than my usual castelli ones so, for me at least, I'd be wearing something else above around 12 degrees c.

bendertherobot

Stueys wrote:

Tried my pro team longs the other day, very happy. Super comfortable, usual gorgeous rapha pad. Not tried in the wet yet but they seemed pretty windproof, especially around the knees where you want it. I would say a touch warmer than my usual castelli ones so, for me at least, I'd be wearing something else above around 12 degrees c.

I really wanted to like them. Bloody wonderful construction. But too big for my, oddly massive, calves and ankles. Weird. Fitted perfectly everywhere else. So back they went.

Got wiggle to price match Sigma and got the Sorpasso Windstopper at £102 and another Castelli Alpha at £113. So, for the price of one pair, a good haul.

amack

bendertherobot wrote:

Stueys wrote:

Tried my pro team longs the other day, very happy. Super comfortable, usual gorgeous rapha pad. Not tried in the wet yet but they seemed pretty windproof, especially around the knees where you want it. I would say a touch warmer than my usual castelli ones so, for me at least, I'd be wearing something else above around 12 degrees c.

I really wanted to like them. Bloody wonderful construction. But too big for my, oddly massive, calves and ankles. Weird. Fitted perfectly everywhere else. So back they went.

Got wiggle to price match Sigma and got the Sorpasso Windstopper at £102 and another Castelli Alpha at £113. So, for the price of one pair, a good haul.

Are you using a discount code for those prices Btr? Also how useful is the Alpha jersey if you already have the jacket, do you wear a gilet over the Alpha jersey? Just wondering because anytime I'm out it's around 2 - 5 C temperature where I am and Im in the Hardshell all the time. tempted to still get the Alpha jacket but if you're buying another jersey - is that because you're using it more than your jacket? Just wondering.

bendertherobot

amack wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

Stueys wrote:

Tried my pro team longs the other day, very happy. Super comfortable, usual gorgeous rapha pad. Not tried in the wet yet but they seemed pretty windproof, especially around the knees where you want it. I would say a touch warmer than my usual castelli ones so, for me at least, I'd be wearing something else above around 12 degrees c.

I really wanted to like them. Bloody wonderful construction. But too big for my, oddly massive, calves and ankles. Weird. Fitted perfectly everywhere else. So back they went.

Got wiggle to price match Sigma and got the Sorpasso Windstopper at £102 and another Castelli Alpha at £113. So, for the price of one pair, a good haul.

Are you using a discount code for those prices Btr? Also how useful is the Alpha jersey if you already have the jacket, do you wear a gilet over the Alpha jersey? Just wondering because anytime I'm out it's around 2 - 5 C temperature where I am and Im in the Hardshell all the time. tempted to still get the Alpha jacket but if you're buying another jersey - is that because you're using it more than your jacket? Just wondering.

Deal was on Sigma. Here, http://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Castel ... -AW14/2LMM

There was a Save10 code. Not working now but £112 still very good.

The Alpha jersey (there's a useful thread on this page somewhere) is good for 5 degrees or so. I like having 2 because it's hugely versatile. No need for a gilet. Just decide on the weight of your base layer. You could even use it without up to about 14-15 degrees IMO.

Only reason for getting another (at Evans) is because the number of mild(er) days will outnumber the truly cold ones and be useful for when one of the jerseys is in the wash. I used to rotate two Assos Evo's on the milder days. The Alpha Jersey is a much better proposition than those IMO.

ddraver

It did nt fit

Man that's a skinny fit! I'm the proud owner of a Race Cape instead now. Sitting eating brekkie in my new PT Tights as I don't have a bike to go ride

FitzM

thegreatdivide wrote:

on-yer-bike wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

meanredspider wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

Mine are a size small. They're totally skin tight with zero excess material. They take about 5 mins to put on properly which is how it should be.

Do you then not feel like you're working against the tights as well as the bike? I hate wearing tights because I feel they restrict my legs at the knee in particular

I don't really notice any particular leg area feeling restricted on these. They just work.

Re the softshell. Just tried mine on for the first time and wow - that's a body hugging jacket! I'm 5 ft 7 and a bit and about 66kg so wear PT jerseys in a small and jackets in a medium - I won't be getting anything more than a base layer under there! :shock:

What size chest are you?

37" but I like a tight fit so I find the size down in Rapha is better for me.

Do you mange to wear more than a L/S base layer? And how does it manage the wicking?

I'm short, lean but my recently purchased Lombardia DWR Rain Jacket is tight.

It's a small and it's tight, not 5 mins to put on tight but as tight as a pro fit jersey, tight enough to mean I'll not get anything other than a base layer beneath it.

Does anyone know if Rain Jackets are meant to be really close fitting, and does tight impair their wicking capability?

gweeds

It's REALLY tight on the arms and I won't be winning any gun shows any time soon....

FitzM

Gweeds wrote:

It's REALLY tight on the arms and I won't be winning any gun shows any time soon....

Unfortunately it's my guns and lats that makes mine a tight fit, too many chin-ups as a teenager :oops:

bendertherobot

Worn it quite a few times now. All I would say is that, it's not that warm. Wore it with a helly freeze base layer yesterday and I was merely temperate. Perhaps that's right.

It's very pro, and will warm up a bit if you are really hammering it.

What I might also say is that I wouldn't fancy putting it back on after the cafe stop. Shiver.

I can't really compare how warm the Gabba is because, frankly, I can't really remember!

Anonymous

Wore Merino base later and PT race cape today which was fine for an hour in the rain (Regents Park). Wasn't as warm as I thought, I was expecting more boil in the bag.

I would have thought the PTSS would be perfect.

BTR - what do you wear on the legs for the thoroughly wet days? Not sure I can justify £200 on the rapha tights, but was wondering what keeps the rain off, then when it seeps, what keeps you warm? I do need to replace one very grotty pair of tights I own.

bendertherobot

coriordan wrote:

Wore Merino base later and PT race cape today which was fine for an hour in the rain (Regents Park). Wasn't as warm as I thought, I was expecting more boil in the bag.

I would have thought the PTSS would be perfect.

BTR - what do you wear on the legs for the thoroughly wet days? Not sure I can justify £200 on the rapha tights, but was wondering what keeps the rain off, then when it seeps, what keeps you warm? I do need to replace one very grotty pair of tights I own.

Three choices IMO. All Castelli!

Either the Castelli 3/4 or Full Nanoxlex bibs (had these on yesterday, while I was conscious that my body wasn't ALL that warm I didn't give my legs a second thought).

Or, for the truly cold or grim days, the Sorpasso Windstopper. Decent weatherproofing on them. £112 at Sigma. So virtually half the price of the Rapha ones. Get Wiggle to price match.

snipsnap

bendertherobot wrote:

coriordan wrote:

Wore Merino base later and PT race cape today which was fine for an hour in the rain (Regents Park). Wasn't as warm as I thought, I was expecting more boil in the bag.

I would have thought the PTSS would be perfect.

BTR - what do you wear on the legs for the thoroughly wet days? Not sure I can justify £200 on the rapha tights, but was wondering what keeps the rain off, then when it seeps, what keeps you warm? I do need to replace one very grotty pair of tights I own.

Three choices IMO. All Castelli!

Either the Castelli 3/4 or Full Nanoxlex bibs (had these on yesterday, while I was conscious that my body wasn't ALL that warm I didn't give my legs a second thought).

Or, for the truly cold or grim days, the Sorpasso Windstopper. Decent weatherproofing on them. £112 at Sigma. So virtually half the price of the Rapha ones. Get Wiggle to price match.

or Lusso Max Repel - a quarter of the Rapha price (and this is from a Rapha fan boy!)

ddraver

I have to say I'm slightly disappointed by my Rapha Pro Team Tights in the cold. it was 2degC-ish on the club run last night (but windy even for NL) and I was comfortable but not warm. When some bloke got a puncture I was very cold with a Rapha merino base layer on and an old Endura Stealth Jacket*

Above 5degC they re great, but they re not for cold days. In contrast, I ve worn = the old Gore Windstopper Tights they replaced for a run in -20 in Siberia and they were fine! Having said that I wasnt that warm up top either so maybe I need to do a bit more experimenting all over...

*Credit to Endura, they did the "waterproof softshell" a long time before the big names - albeit it's a jacket, not a jersey

Anonymous

Do any of those above tights come without pad?

ddraver

I can only speak for Rapha as Castelli is too italian stallion for me

The Pro Team tighs DO

Rapha's other offerings DO NOT

bendertherobot

ddraver wrote:

I have to say I'm slightly disappointed by my Rapha Pro Team Tights in the cold. it was 2degC-ish on the club run last night (but windy even for NL) and I was comfortable but not warm. When some bloke got a puncture I was very cold with a Rapha merino base layer on and an old Endura Stealth Jacket*

Above 5degC they re great, but they re not for cold days. In contrast, I ve worn = the old Gore Windstopper Tights they replaced for a run in -20 in Siberia and they were fine! Having said that I wasnt that warm up top either so maybe I need to do a bit more experimenting all over...

*Credit to Endura, they did the "waterproof softshell" a long time before the big names - albeit it's a jacket, not a jersey

I wanted to love mine but they were really weird. I've always been XL in Rapha bottoms, and definitely so in the Pro Team. But they were too big for my calves. And my calves are comedy big.

I'm not totally convinced by the Pro Team Soft-shell yet. I don't think it's the cold wet weather jacket that Rapha say. For the real pros perhaps. For the plodders no. IF I could swap it back for a hardshell, out of stock now, I might well do so.