Raphaaaaaa... oh no

[-Adam-]

Oh yes, im about to break the bank...

But can anyone stop me?

Basically my requirement is for a jacket that i can use maily for riding to Uni. Hence it must look good off bike as well as on. It needs to have a certain degree of water resisitance and definately be windproof.

So... the

Rapha Lightweight Softshell Jacket

[img]http://www.rapha.cc/images/products/lw_softshell_gallery_3.jpg[/img]

Also what colour? Im leaning towards red for visibility but the olive colour one is cool too.

I nearly parted with the requisite £175 this afternoon, but i couldn't do it without first asking you lot for your valuable and always ragingly varying opinions!

Isn't this jacket (or its predecessor) supposed to be raphas best piece?

Help, or donate...

Thanks,

Adam

[carl f]

Adam after all you said about Rapha.........

[huw williams]

Bloody students... more money than sense.

When I was in college we didn't have dual purpose cycling/social coats.

Our jackets were made of ripped denim and had 'Iron Maiden' and 'Clash' patches holding them together.


[img]http://i16.tinypic.com/6bxwj79.jpg[/img]

That's what I would have said to a Rapha jacket in 1977!!!

Rapha jackets in the student bar? Pah I say... Pah.

[Will]

A Gore Cross jacket is a good alternative

[img]http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/gore-jcross-07-med.jpg[/img]

This picture still makes it look a bit "bikey" but it's a fairly minimalist design without too strong a biking styling. I'd recommend checking one out in a shop.

Admittedly the colours aren't quite as nice as the Rapha ones, but that Rapha red actually looks quite dark, and may not actually be that visible.

[Marek]

Isn't your bike blue or have flecks of blue in it. Always good to match your bike, go with the blue. And just to re-emphasise what Sean said, this jacket is awesome, it is windproof and waterproof and very cool. I think the new versions have deeper pockets at the back which was my only issue with mine, so it is near as damn it perfect.

You will not be disappointed, and think how much lighter you will be with all that money not weighing down your back pocket.

Cheers

Marek...

[Will]

breaking news... you can get the Gore jacket in a red

not that you'll care - it sounds like you secretly want a Rapha

[Snoop Doug]

Excellent photo Huw! Looks like the next version of ACC kit is already sorted

Snoop

[-Adam-]

Decsions decisions...

Huw, i feel your choice in attire may not keep me very warm come January! Like the jeans though!

Marek, my bikes black! Well, a deep carbon colour anyhow. And ill be on a white fixed gear bike (hopefully) so i reckon red is a good choice...

Will, the Gore jacket looks ok. Any idea who stocks 'em? (and yes, secretly i do want the rapha!)

Carl, what can i say, i just can't find a more appropriate jacket that fits the bill!

Cheers guys...

Adam

[Andrew G]

Evans sell Gore, but being Evans don't expect any sort of useful advice.

Worth bearing in mind that if you're going to use it for casual wear as well then being a cycling jacket it will be more figure hugging than a casual jacket.

Will you have a locker at Uni? If so then you could always leave a jacket in there for when you arrive.

[Amy]

Sorry - I can't stop laughing...

But it's also kind of scary - not changed much has he?

[Will]

Once a month, the Weekend FT comes with a supplement called "How To Spend It".

As the name suggests, the magazine provides a service to those who need help spending their telephone number salaries as efficiently as possible. It does this mostly be featuring the most extravagant brands/products available that will guarantee the reader only has to pay a single visit to a shop in order to satsify their monthly spending cravings.

Guess which brand features in an article in this week's edition? *





* Yes, Rapha of course. As do "Assos DB", and "Paul Smith 531" (which I hadn't heard of).

[-Adam-]

Well the Assos DB stuff is just ridiculous, however...

I did manage to get my hands on an original Rapha Softshell this afternoon, in black, with the rubbery shoulders, pink lining, ipod pocket + cable loops and you'll be pleased to hear Marek, ludicrously deep pockets!

To be quite frank, i love it! I might just enjoy winter training this winter...

It was a little more than the new 'Lightweight' version, but a much better jacket for it. And it seems, very hard to find. It was the last one Sigma Sport had, God bless them!

[Sylv]

I had to wear mine this morning!

[Will]

I wasn't sure what to wear today, but in the end stayed with shorts, and work a long sleeve Helly Hanson base layer

I think I got it just about right

I guess I left a little later than you guys though (about 8:15) so it may have been a bit warmer for me

[Will]

I saw a cyclist who'd been knocked off as well

It was on the Kings Rd, and it looked like she'd been hit by a van moving into the cycle lane

She was shaking from shock, but otherwise seemed ok, and had a crowd of people around her helping out