TS: assos vs rapha vs pearl izumi

pearl izumi and giordana are not the most expensive and they make great stuff

yeah that's what i mean

are we talking like $80 for good stuff, at least?

i'd say more around $120ish?

i didnt like the mid level pearl stuff-- the lycra always seemed not stretchy enough, and bunchy in weird places, but ive not had any for a while. i like the better garneau and giordana stuff. i'd say $100 and up.

i got a $75 pair of izumis that do me fine. only put 'em on if i know i'm gonna be riding for more than an hour or so, and not spending anytime sitting around, drinking somewhere, etc

i'm busily kitting myself out atm - had sugoi recommended to me at local bike shop, so got a pair of liner shorts for work commute. omfortable, good padding.

also got a couple jerseys from local brand netti, one on yr rapha-style minimalist tip - white long-sleeved with blue stripe down each arm - and the other solid fluoro yellow so i get seen in traffic, ha.

anybody heard of this derny stuff before? looks classy!

I've been snapping up biking bargains lately, from Twin Six, Giordana, Cannondale, Descente and Castelli:

The world's tightest, and fastest*, jersey:

http://www.shinybikes.com/images/P/castelli-split-due-jersey.jpg

(shaves 58 seconds off a 40km ride at 40kmh)

Some proper nice shorts, half price (were £120 or so) - very comfortable, even after 95 miles:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/descente-spirit-10044-med.jpg

My first piece of Giordana kit - not yet worn but it fits beautifully and feels like a full-on winter jacket (well, for mimsy UK winters, anyway):

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/32188-4.Jpg

And a Cannondale jacket that will serve pretty much the same function - the material contains activated carbon for some reason!

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Images/Models/Full/14879.jpg

And the Twin Six top - looks and feels very classy, very light, am very pleased (this is the rear view - front is black, with trim):

http://www.twinsix.com/gear/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/5e06319eda06f020e43594a9c230972d/T/6/T609J05b_lg_1.jpg

Anyway, the point was, if you shop around for bargains and aren't too set on specific brands/models, there's a lot of >50% sales right now as stock's being cleared for next year. I'd love to find some properly discounted Rapha stuff but it just doesn't happen, sadly.

I did get 50% off a winter cycling cap from Rapha last year. It was like I'd won the lottery.

Dude, I actually *did* win the lottery when I won a Rapha jersey in a Bikeradar competition. And some armwarmers o_O

The jersey is fucking great, too.

(just worked out I saved* £283 on the five items above)

oh yeah, twin six is local here, and there's deal on it all the time

this is pretty !!! to me, can a londoner close to grays inn road hook a yank up?

http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/news/null,282,PNP.html

Shasta, what specifically were you after? I'm away for a while but could feasibly get to Condor when I get back if you want me to pick something up.

the black "club" jersey (not sure if this is available to the non-Condor Team public) that has the paul smith logo!!! <3<3<3 :*

http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs252.snc1/9931_138010253062_90824638062_2703991_4138561_n.jpg

Ah, I'll try and head down to Condor a lunchtime this week (it's only down the road) and have a look for you Steve.

<3ing U

did u get it

Steve, Condor won't be selling them - "it'll probably be through Paul Smith's online shop, but Rapha would probably know more". Sorry to braek haert :(

bummer :(

Hey you can join the Rapha Condor club (GBP40, EUR50, USD60, AUD80) and then you can buy the team kit apparently: http://www.raphacondor.cc/club

riding around in pro team kit is a cardinal sin

or walking

http://gallery.mtbr.com/data/mtbr/500/medium/fat_cyclist.jpg

i think craft makes the best cycling clothing but my team kit is still giordana

still wear craft base layers, gloves, and shoe covers

we had giordana for a couple of years, the shorts we got were very...like, compressive. they lacked elasticity or something, and didn't conform that well. they looked good tho, and the chamois are pretty good too.

Hey you can join the Rapha Condor club (GBP40, EUR50, USD60, AUD80) and then you can buy the team kit apparently: http://www.raphacondor.cc/club

― useless chamber, Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:21 AM (11 hours ago)

riding around in pro team kit is a cardinal sin

― sir ilx-a-lot (cutty), Tuesday, January 26, 2010 6:43 AM (10 hours ago)

FYI: the club kits are different than the pro kits. i got a club kit and it is doppppppe.

want a new jersey. anyone got suggestions for something that's a) STYLIN' b) not rapha??

mark c pointed out a twin six jersey upthread, i coveted a jersey from that same year but never pulled trigger on it...

http://www.twinsix.com/gear/mens-tech/blackargyle-j#1

this campbell approves

Do you like Solo, H? http://solocc.com/ - I have the Maxwell top on the homepage.

https://www.sharethedamnroad.com/

https://www.sharethedamnroad.com/sites/default/files/3feet.photo_.small_.jpg?1260406337

Would wear this in the UK for the yucks

omg i want one

lolllllll

feelin the belgain hardman vibes here:

http://www.solocc.com/photoBank/product_images/48B8E3B3-802B.jpg

http://www.solocc.com/photoBank/product_images/48BA1A7D-802B.jpg

this I have to have

http://www.woolyswheels.com/shopping/images/cinettica_racer_red08.jpg

ended up getting this in blue w/ the white stripe - it's biting the rapha steez pretty hard, including 'sportwool' fabric, for about half the price!

nice.
wool jerseys: c
wool shorts: d

in 1988 i bought my first pair of cycling shorts and shop guy convinced me that wool was real, spandex was i guess not real. they were nice wool shorts with a chamois chamois, but never never again.

ughhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I just dropped $700 on my club's annual gear order: 2 jerseys, 1 bibshort, 1 skinsuit (!), shoe covers, 1 vest, 1 rain/windbreaker, arm + knee warmers and gloves. everything's louis garneau at a pretty sweet discount but still... I'm supposed to be saving up for a trip!

That said, there were 2 things i had in the cart and ended up passing on:
+ LGarneau Diamond custom team helmet (with personalization!)
+ light-colored "away" bib shorts... i'm pretty much terror on my dark bibs, light bibs are just asking for trouble.

kinda feeling this though the big bold helvetica just ~SCREAMS~ '00s;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandonsincock/sets/72157624096182343/detail/

definitely feeling that. where to buy?

classy imo

who the fluck is bernard

I do like that.

Hinault?

wkiw bernard

haha, while googling the designer [MUST READ]:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/FORMER+L.A.+MAN+PULLED+FROM+THAI+TEMPLE.(News)-a083895413

copyright 1997

if you're interested, leave a comment here: http://trackosaurusrex.com/pblog/index.php?entry=entry100610-101639

isn't bad form to wear team kit you don't actually race for

speaking of 00s kit design, search unattached rider

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. :-(