TS: assos vs rapha vs pearl izumi

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

now that's "completely unsuitable for riding in, to be fair."

only just saw this - good lord

legwarmers as Chaps offers many terrifying possibilities.

Stowaway arrived. Almost impossibly thin. Very nice to look at and touch. Gonna ridemin it in a bit and see how it feels.

So much for the Stowaway - Met Office site was predicting grey cloud and light drizzle for Exeter circa 4pm to 7pm, when I was planning to ride. It was actually 20 degrees and hazy, warm sunshine. They're so crap. They're only down the road. The jacket stayed in my pocket for about 20 of the 30 or so miles I did.

you look good haitch

so I ordered a pair of the rapha cycling trousers in the sale - size 38 waist (yes yes, v fat mantis). Took them out the packet, yep, 38 label, put them up against myself and knew there was no way I'd be getting in them. So I gave them to our garment technologist (I'm working for a workwear company at the moment, P4C Br4nds for the benefit of Haitch and the other aussies)she measures them up and they are "an un-generous 36".

Sizeist bastards!

Rapha seems to size down on the bottoms and up on the tops. I currently fit my size 38 Rapha stuff, I didn't 6 months ago.

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2011/10/ritte_racing_kitte_pre-order.php

god help me i think i want this

http://the99percent.com/articles/7087/Simon-Mottram-On-Passion-Obsession-Why-Your-Brand-Should-Take-Sides

I can attest that Rapha touring shorts are like fucking titanium. Hit the tarmac hard on my right side this morning; hip/arse is grazed and bleeding but the shorts are merely dirty. Likewise the Stowaway jacket; I was sure the right sleeve was a gonner but it seems fine. Just needs a wash.

http://www.rapha.cc/shop/team-sky

The £40/$60 shirt is clearly going to make a mint but I fear they are going to be everywhere.

Good interview with the rapha chief designer

http://www.cyclinginquisition.com/2013/01/from-wind-tunnel-testing-to-washing.html

Best news of all, no podium baseball cap in the sky range, proper cycling cap.

proper cycling caps are for riding. only.

Podium is acceptable IMO

As it happens I need a new cap to replace ultra grungy euskaltel model. I dont foresee any podiums but caps are great for days below freezing. This am at 17 deg F tested the limits of cotton over very thinning hair. :-(