TS: assos vs rapha vs pearl izumi

our kit for this year is diagonal stripes which honestly i'm not loving.

haven't touched polka dots since 2008 tbqh (i can't climb either).

i think mondrian style a la Look/La Vie Clair will be big in 2011.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=look%20la%20vie%20claire

rapha sample sale is soon londoners

I'll have 1x softshell and 1x jersey pls, pm for address

You've got an fb message dude.

when? where? Not that I'm there but I can send spies.

right now
http://web11.twitpic.com/img/137709840-f73e38c28e94bce8e1d8ad6dfefcdbba.4c52bec0-full.jpg

Sometimes it pays to be a very fat mantis. Popped in yesterday afternoon and while all the whippets and racing snakes were picking over the smaller sizes, I started wading through the large amounts of xxl gear. Fixed jacket, gilet, swift jersey, merino jersey and winter hat all for less than the rsp of the jacket....

A sub-question to the main one - giordana or santini bib shorts? Both do fat mantis sizes, both about the same decent price. Shame there were no rapha cross ones left at sample sale, would have been perfect.

aren't the shutt pro coolmax bibs reputedly the same quality as rapha?

They are, but about 70 quid aren't they? The other 2 are 45 in The chain reaction sale

ahhhhhhh

I like the giordana kit I have very much, but I don't have shorts. Santini's are supposed to be okay? Maybe get both and send one back (I understand this is how girls shop)?

have ordered one of each, have also ordered some Santini tights for just 25 quid, shame they're bright red.... (all other colours were more)

Sorry about the rogue apostrophe there. And I am very much looking forward to seeing you in red tights :)

sounds a bit uptight
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rapha-Exclusive-Wrapping-Paper-Giro-Pink-/140434931510?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20b292ff36

For all you saddo Rapha-ites who have suddenly discovered the Rapha range in the last year and now must, desperately, buy everything and anything to do with the brand, especially if it is listed as rare on Ebay.
Oh don't you just love that rare ebay tag. The clothing is not rare, it is like any seasonal production run from say any fashion designer, there are limited amounts produced, they come to an end and another season starts. A Picasso is rare, a Rapha Country Jersey isn't.
Hope all of you who bought XL tops and samples at the sale, samples which by and large failed to make it into production because they were crap, get badly burnt - you deserve it.

Rapha - a bit like Apple - you all now stand out in the crowd because you are wearing the same clothing - so individual.

But since you lot can't seem to do without your little Rapha, here's one for you.

It's rare ( ha-ha) Rapha Xmas wrapping paper.
Done in an imitation of the Gazetta dello Sport, the paper is in 'Giro' edition pink and titled 'Ragazzi della Rapha'.
Written in Italian, there are several interesting cycling stories spread across the page.
It really is unique - How can you do without it.
Measurement is 70cm x 50cm

rapha skincare range incoming
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_59gUEMCykpA/TFIBO-0oA4I/AAAAAAAABz0/EVYzQYx9A3U/s1600/20100729-SDIM0377.jpg

lol primark does base layers now

I've been using Nike compression base layers for a while now, and while they make me look like a badly stuffed sausage they really are excellent. Perfect wicking even with the rucksack on, and really comfortable. About 9 quid if you've got a Costco card.

shutt summer clearance goes live on friday, use club10 10% off

^^^^^^^^^^now up

shutt's customer service is ridiculously good

"Hi David

Saw your order in our admin area, did you have a problem or a change of heart?

If you're quick I will get Jess to bung you in a free pair of arm warmers...

Cheers, Pete"

Right, just bought some Shutt pro shorts for £66. They are supposed to be brilliant. Guess we'll see!

@ ShuttVeloRapide Nice Review of the Pro Bibs, there's still some left on sale too! http://bit.ly/dcWiC9 http://bit.ly/bu8IyE #cycling
12 minutes ago via TweetDeck

15% off at shutt this weekend - TDF15

got a jersey, some standard shorts and a pair of socks coming my way

so tempted
http://www.rapha.cc/club-jersey-2010/

really want this TBH

http://www.rapha.cc/tailored-jacket

do I scalp my free rapha tour of britain pack (cardboard face masks, rapha colourway union jack, wall chart) on ebay: y/n?

Nah, we're sticking wallchart proudly on wall. Talking of which, anyone else riding down to London stage of tob?

Yep, flog it Dave.

Aren't you busy that day, Chris?

nope - busy the day before, but not on the Sunday.

oh dammit - it's in London on the saturday. ffs

I'll dave you

anyway new rapha gear up to see on their website. tweed softshell only 400 knicker

local shop had that rapha tailored jacket in thee window last time i was in

tweed softshell looks fab but that price is ludacris

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rapha-Tour-Britain-Pack-/110584938624?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item19bf604080#ht_500wt_939

not me btw

http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/09/bikes-tech/tech-gallery-assos-1976-carbon-fiber-aero-track-bike_140221

pretty full-on for 1976!

any UK peeps thinking about getting the rapha 3-pack baselayer for £90? we could maybe do a group buy and cash in for £30 each?

(on deal for the tour of britain, down from £130 odd)

If we weren't at opposite ends of teh size scale then yeah, sure....

you can size up each garment individually so that's not an issue

hmmmmmm now yr talking

have a look at the bundle page. maybe mark c would be interested?

black x-large short sleeved for me (shame they don't do and xx). If needed I can put the order on my card and not drop in a winter collar and maybe a bonk bag, oh no

cool, prob best coordinating via fb if we get a third party

aldssos softshell is really nice, esp for £15

I might be interested in this Rapha threesome. What's the deal you're discussing?

base layer 3 pack down from £130odd to £90, so about £31 each delivered
http://www.rapha.cc/base-layer-3-pack

shall we take it to facebook?

So I treated myself to a Pearl Izumi Elite summer jersey and was chagrinned to discover that Large actually means Large in this case. So if anyone wants to buy a high quality technical summer jersey (black, very simple indeed, only one tiny logo on the chest) for £30 let me know! Would likely fit anyone 5'11" to 6'3" (I'm 6 foot and it's not really too long) and with a 41-44" chest.

(actually, on this topic, I have a whole load of 2nd hand bike kit I'd like to sell - do we think it's acceptable to start a thread about it? I'm enough of a regular I hope!)

Sorry, forgot to say it's been worn once - yesterday - and will obv be washed.

I am switching from Louis Garneau to Castelli for 2011. I've only had a training jersey and bib knickers from Castelli before, has anyone have any sizing tips on their racing gear?

On the small side though not ridiculously so, apart from one long sleeve jersey I have which is admittedly XL but swamps me. If you're usually on the cusp, go for one size up, but if you're a solid, say, large, I think you'll have to try them out.

(hmm, just thinking, if you're racing you'll want tighter stuff anyway so maybe the sizing will work fine for you)

Cozen has made an excellent discovery...

?