Rapha's Gabba?

bendertherobot

I was musing on this review, on Rapha's site:
http://twmp.net/rapha/pro_team_softshell/

It doesn't really say anything. What's also, perhaps surprising, is the claim that all rain jackets are, well a bit crap.

Save that he liked the Rapha hardshell?

bendertherobot

coriordan wrote:

The thing is at these temperatures, you are better off being 'boil in the bag' with just a baselayer underneath. (As I did last Thursday). If it's properly cold, then a warmer jersey or 2nd base layer could be used.

The downside being is if you have to stop for an extended period.

But today was about 9 degrees. I never got cold, even when wet, in a Gabba at 9 degrees. The Rapha material changes when wet, the Castelli feels the same. Difficult to explain!

paulmon

bendertherobot wrote:

I was musing on this review, on Rapha's site:
http://twmp.net/rapha/pro_team_softshell/

It doesn't really say anything. What's also, perhaps surprising, is the claim that all rain jackets are, well a bit crap.

Save that he liked the Rapha hardshell?

Why do all his reviews start of with 5 paragraphs of waffle. I find them really annoying to read.

bendertherobot

PaulMon wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

I was musing on this review, on Rapha's site:
http://twmp.net/rapha/pro_team_softshell/

It doesn't really say anything. What's also, perhaps surprising, is the claim that all rain jackets are, well a bit crap.

Save that he liked the Rapha hardshell?

Why do all his reviews start of with 5 paragraphs of waffle. I find them really annoying to read.

It's the Rapha way

LegendLust

PaulMon wrote:

bendertherobot wrote:

I was musing on this review, on Rapha's site:
http://twmp.net/rapha/pro_team_softshell/

It doesn't really say anything. What's also, perhaps surprising, is the claim that all rain jackets are, well a bit crap.

Save that he liked the Rapha hardshell?

Why do all his reviews start of with 5 paragraphs of waffle. I find them really annoying to read.

Would you trust a bloke with a pony tail anyway?

gweeds

I know Brian. He's a lovely bloke and absolutely bleeds cycling.

Counting Richard Sachs and Ernesto Colnago as personal friends (and having bikes made for him by both) doesn't hurt his pull in the industry.

bendertherobot

I always read his reviews, mostly because he's so prolific!

And, mea culpa, he does whinge a bit about the hardshell's breathability.

(I prefer, riding up notwithstanding, the Hardshell). I wish I'd kept that and returned this.

on-yer-bike

Does he do a review of the Rapha Hardshell? He seems to really like the PT softshell. Bender, although you were soaked were you still warm?

bendertherobot

No, freezing.

It's still in airing cupboard. Drying off.

I was thinking about the DWR. Rapha say they embed it into the material.

Thing is, rain doesn't really run off it. It sits there. Beads a bit. From recollection the Gabba beads a bit, runs off, eventually gives up. THat's because the DWR is external.

That's my recollection. It's been a while. But, I can't remember ever being cold in a Gabba.

cougie

I've been cold in my Gabba. Brrrr

Maybe the windchill made you cooler ? Was it blowy when you were out ?

bendertherobot

cougie wrote:

I've been cold in my Gabba. Brrrr

Maybe the windchill made you cooler ? Was it blowy when you were out ?

Not really. Nothing like recent days. The thing is, most of this is simple physics. Cold thing, movement, you get colder.

Rapha sell this as the ultimate wet weather race gear. It's interesting. They don't claim warm. They don't claim resistance to the cold. Neither do they claim waterproof, of course.

So, what is it?

"This is a jacket for riders who seek the highest levels of performance in wet conditions, when a race cape would be too constricting and a jersey too exposed to the elements."

What is that performance? Is it the form fitting nature of it? Possible. But, for me, even that's not true. When it gets soaking wet it looses it's elasticity and starts to sag, particularly on the arms.

As I say mine is still in the airing cupboard. There was no part of it that was not soaked through. The taping is pointless because the whole thing lets go.

bendertherobot

Tidy. Rapha added large Hardshells in their final sale reduction. So, got one on way. Should never have given it up in the first place.

Just need an ebay buyer to snap this up now.

ddraver

what size was it?

bendertherobot

XL. S'on ebay.

ddraver

ah, need XXL - sorry bud

bendertherobot

No probs! I have 21 watchers at the moment, so should be ok

bendertherobot

So, I sold this easily enough. Then got the hardshell in the clearance. It's had a lot of use and I like it a lot. Excellent in today's Hail!

amack

I like really like my Hardshell too, I couldn't decide between it and an Alpha and as I already had a Gabba 2 I thought the Hardshell would get more use commuting through the winter. It's not too sweaty (I wear either 1 or 2 base layers depending on the temp) and seems to work best when it rains! Only thing I find is the back could be a little longer as I keep hitching down when stopped at junctions. It gets washed every week and looks good as new and still sheds the water well.
I think next Autumn I'll be deciding on either the Alpha or the Rapha Pro as I think these would be great on the cold dry days. Having said that, when you are commuting the weather can be nice and dry in the morning but cats and dogs when you are heading home in the cold and dark - which is why the Hardshell gets my vote for best all round for December to March - it's still only 2° or 3° these mornings in Northern Ireland.
The other thing about the Hardshell is I don't get too sweaty when it's below 6° but when you do the sweat stays close to you so you can sometimes feel cool around your body I suppose because it's so sealed and not winds topper fabric like the Gabba.

bendertherobot

Yep. It can occasionally feel cool but at least there's no added moisture seeping in and making you even cooler. A good weight base layer helps.

I'd avoid the Rapha Pro if it's the soft-shell. If it's the normal jacket then yes, you have my seal of approval!

amack

bendertherobot wrote:

Yep. It can occasionally feel cool but at least there's no added moisture seeping in and making you even cooler. A good weight base layer helps.

I'd avoid the Rapha Pro if it's the soft-shell. If it's the normal jacket then yes, you have my seal of approval!

Funny you mention that ,it was the jacket I quite liked the look of. But how does compare with the Gabba or Alpha? Similar to the Gabba in terms of warmth but not as versatile or warm as the Alpha? It does look nice in red so I'll keep an eye out if there's any sales in March/April.

bendertherobot

The Alpha jersey is a bit like witchcraft. Stays warm very well IMO. But, the Rapha Pro Team Jacket is warmer. But, of course, more expensive. The Alpha jacket is warmer again.

The Gabba is not as warm as any of them IMO.

cougie

The gabba is just a jumped up race jersey. I'd not consider it for winter unless I was racing.

gweeds

No contest in terms of warmth between Gabba and Alpha IMO

paulmon

Just thought I'd update this with my thoughts after using this for the last few of months. I ridden it in all conditions dry, rain, cold, snow and various combinations of each. I've come to the conclusion that less is more with regards to what to wear underneath. Initially I would wear a long sleeve winter base layer as I thought there was no way it would keep me warm without it.

However in the past couple of weeks I've been wearing it over the top of a short sleeved summer base layer (The Rapha pro team ones) and its been perfect. Even last week in the bitter cold, snow, sleet my torso was warm. I couldn't feel my fingers even with two pairs of gloves and I couldn't take my helmet off but my body was toasty.

It isn't waterproof but it doesn't matter as long as you don't have something on underneath that will absorb and hold the water and subsequently make you cold. I got caught in a biblical downpour last week and when I got home my feet were wet and cold even with winter boots yet when I took the jacket off my body was dry and warm and so was the jacket. I'm not sure exactly how it work but it does.

lancew

1) Do you normally have cold hands? I was informed that having warm forearms and ankles will help prevent cold hands and feet? Also what gloves are you wearing?

2) How do you find the material is against your skin on your arms? My current cheap jacket is horrible without a merino under layer.

3) How is it standing up to washing? Would you feel comfortable washing this on a commuters cycle? i.e either nightly or othernightly.

4) Have you worn it with a back pack?

Sorry to be a pest, but I am considering this as I am doing 140 miles a week commuting and I would quite like something that can breath a bit while still keeping me warm on my ride in.

paulmon

Lancew wrote:

1) Do you normally have cold hands? I was informed that having warm forearms and ankles will help prevent cold hands and feet? Also what gloves are you wearing?

I don't normally have cold hands. Sometimes the tips of my fingers get cold when its freezing but nothing as bad as last weekend. Normally wear Endura FS260 but I also have a pair of Giordana Sottozero

2) How do you find the material is against your skin on your arms? My current cheap jacket is horrible without a merino under layer.

Its actually OK not sticky like you might expect it be when you get warm

3) How is it standing up to washing? Would you feel comfortable washing this on a commuters cycle? i.e either nightly or othernightly.

I've washed it twice and it dries pretty quickly. Is it a commuters jacket? I don't know, I don't commute so don't really know what kind of riding that involves. I don't see how it would need to be washed every night or every other night. Its not a jersey.

4) Have you worn it with a back pack?

Nope, sorry

Sorry to be a pest, but I am considering this as I am doing 140 miles a week commuting and I would quite like something that can breath a bit while still keeping me warm on my ride in.

Its not something I would wear every day. I'll only put it on if its raining or going to rain. Hope this helps.

P

velosophie

I found this post useful as I was looking at the Rapha proteam softshell and the Gabba. I finally opted for Rapha's jacket so thought I would share my findings
- XS was the perfect choice for me (I usually wear S with Assos).
- I had some HIIT training under rain it the jacket was great, it was surprisingly water proof and I did not feel hot
- It is lighter than the hardshell jacket and breathes way more> My hardshell is kept for short cold commuting or extreme cold weather (-5 and below) when you do not even sweat anyway...
- Agree with the "less is better" in terms of under layers. I had once a long sleeve winter layer at 9C and it was too warm. I now wear either a short sleeve or even just a mesh layer.
- When it is sunny and around 15C, I would not wear it unless bad weather is ahead.

nfkb

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19567658#p19567658]velosophie[/url] wrote:

I found this post useful as I was looking at the Rapha proteam softshell and the Gabba. I finally opted for Rapha's jacket so thought I would share my findings

Hi,
have you tried both jackets before making your choice ?

bendertherobot

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19567658#p19567658]velosophie[/url] wrote:

I found this post useful as I was looking at the Rapha proteam softshell and the Gabba. I finally opted for Rapha's jacket so thought I would share my findings
- XS was the perfect choice for me (I usually wear S with Assos).
- I had some HIIT training under rain it the jacket was great, it was surprisingly water proof and I did not feel hot
- It is lighter than the hardshell jacket and breathes way more> My hardshell is kept for short cold commuting or extreme cold weather (-5 and below) when you do not even sweat anyway...
- Agree with the "less is better" in terms of under layers. I had once a long sleeve winter layer at 9C and it was too warm. I now wear either a short sleeve or even just a mesh layer.
- When it is sunny and around 15C, I would not wear it unless bad weather is ahead.

Wait until it's 5 degrees and raining. Then come back and tell us whether you think it's any good

velosophie

So no I did not try the gabba before buying Rapha's. Some friends have the gabba and they like it. I have been riding under heavy rain at around 7C and I still like it. The gabba seems to work well as well for my friends, so it seems to come down to a personal preference.