TS: assos vs rapha vs pearl izumi

blow up cycling's refined retrofetishism. im ready for uncut late 80s neon lycra shit, and banning tasteful b/w photoshoots.

my new team's kit is black with red/white detailing. not thrilled about this either. what is it about red that is so prevalent in cycling colorways?

Need to get back to this era IMO

http://www.ileach.co.uk/post/2005/bob/millarpix/Z-team%20Robert.jpg

They are still around!

http://www.zteamcycling.com/sfcity/

ariostea (sp?) had a pretty cool red/gold scale pattern iirc.

i can live without a renaissance of carerra's mock jorts, though

http://www.cyanide-studio.com/forumPCM/viewtopic.php?f=91&t=52

whoa, like scores of team strips depicted by year.

La Vie Claire 4 eva

saw a good LVC-style mondrian jersey in shop the other week - just had look logos on it though.

http://cdn2.media.cyclingnews.futurecdn.net/2010/12/16/1/18_600.jpg

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/3631/89sumaillot.png

http://www.saltedmackerel.cc/images/breukink.jpg
i would kill for one of those late 80's/early 90's time trial helmets -- giro aerohead, early limar, etc. -- i just have no idea where to find them. much cooler than the "sleek" vented ones these days imo

lol giro aeroheads were massive

that came off more dismissive than i meant to do. they were pretty big though iirc.

http://blog.timesunion.com/homers/files/2010/03/GreatGazoo.gif

tempted to buy the very much on-trend rapha snood

Do it, I have one and it really is awesome.

all out of stock except in red :/

...snood?

is that like a thneed?

http://www.education.umd.edu/Depts/EDCI/edci385/Projects101/Rutkowski/pg25.JPG

May have placed a smallish order on the rapha sale.....

Wife bought me some Rapha goods for xmas. Base layer, socks and cap (the real reason for purchase). Came with free beanie. Pretty much all we could afford, lol

One of my super close friends designs all the clothes for Swobo, so I got to dig through his samples the other day. A few jerseys, arm and leg warmers, and some tights (which I'll prob never wear). Stoked.

rapha killing it with their new jerseys

whoah a $65 rapha jersey??? i might have to get that just because it's the only thing of theirs i'll be able to afford

I have only really become aware of this kind of high-end cycling wear in the last few weeks. I follow a guy on Twitter called Tom Staniford who's an Exeter student and Paralympic cyclist, who works for Rapha, and so checked out their website. Their stuff is beautiful, but hellish expensive. Have had a look at the Assos and Pearl Izumi stuff now and I'm not keen at all. Quite like the simplicity of the Torm stuff though - Mark, how's your jersey doing a few months down the line?

Bought some proper padded cycling shorts, Altura ones, for wearing under the regular Carhartt shorts I ride in. Didn't realise I'd been uncomfortable cycling until I got them! Amazing difference.

this will complete your comfort:
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaAR3lhJeVWYnkP1R4jcyjoQ-x6ZH5QZr9xp-3iJLyTgb0FwhAeQ

But only on long rides, you don't need it for sub-20 miles or anything.

The Torm jersey remains excellent - more or less identical to Rapha in fit and quality. Highly recommended.

TS: assos butt cream vs rapha butt cream

not had the cash to fork out for the latter (a pot lasts me a looong while too). But I have a pot of Paceline Chamois Butt'r here at work and it's not even close to as good as the assos.

I've only tried the Arsos. Does a job.

Rapha sizing advice, please - fancy buying a t-shirt (and, in the future, when rich, a wind jacket, and maybe a jersey), but the sizing guide is giving me issues. I'm a solid 39" chest, and thus fall into medium, just, but some of the sizing guide stuff says to order a size larger than you normally would if you don't want a close fit.

What do you lot reckon? I'm 12 1/2 to 13st (currently - was 13st+ until recently) and 5'8"ish.

Nick, I am the same weight and chest size as you (bit taller) and I fit perfectly into a large. It may be a wee bit too long but with cycling gear that's not really a minus. So I'd go for large.

have ytou done the rapha questionnaire Nick? Gets you 15% off an order, but only valid til 17th July.... Can forward a link if you want? (haven't got yr mail address I think?)

Aha, they have emailed me it today, actually. Will get filling it in!

Although, annoyingly, when I click to take the survey it just opens Survery Monkey and shows me my own surveys that I set-up ages ago. Hmph.

Assos bum grease is my favourite.

the code is SURVEY11

http://www.rapha.cc/summer-sample-sale-2011

Chris, Mark, are you attending? I'd love to chuck a wishlist at one of you.

Sorry fella, not me. I don't need more cycling gear (hah) and I'm not up for fighting with a whole load of Freds in fucking Shoreditch for a £60 jersey :)

When you put it like that...

I'll probably pop along first thing on the Saturday or Sunday seeing as it's payday and they tend to re-stock. Also, shoreditch frees don't tend to be fatties so I can find stock. At previous ones there's been all sorts of random samples and v old stock, which is what I go for. The arm warmers with reflective stripes being a good example, no idea where they came from but they're cool.

Would you mind awfully if I chucked a short wishlist and maximum budget at you, then reimbursed via bank transfer?

go for it, not a problem

Meant to say, wore my rapha 3/4 cross bibs for the first time on Friday night, by god they're comfy. Probably the comfiest chamois I've ever sat on.

Bonza, cheers dude. Shall I put my wishlist in here or email it?

let's take it to email: cee pee bee at gee mail dot com

Will do.

Have just forked out for the Rapha stowaway jacket. There's a 10% off voucher if you spend over £115 at the moment so it's taken it down to less than £150 which is a little more psychologically agreeable. I'd have no problem chucking that kind of money at a North Face jacket that basically does the same thing but is heavy as he'll and completely unsuitable for riding in, to be fair.

uh, haitch?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SANTINI-Rosa-Fizik-FLY-V-AUSTRALIA-Spring-GLOVES-S-/150654190196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_186&hash=item2313b08274#ht_500wt_1058

hahahahahaha