Wednesday, February 18, 2009

New Rapha kit





One of the perks of the Rapha Redwoods Ride was sneaking a glance at the new cycling gear set to be released this spring. There was nothing extraordinarily different or new (again, in the category of cycling gear - casual wear, on the other hand ...), but the colors schemes are significantly brighter. One obvious example is the new Netherlands country jersey. Same construction as the past few incarnations, but resplendent in Dutch national colors. The Scottish jersey is a new design, with more traditional collar and pockets. The fabric was also different from the usual sportswool, both thicker and softer wool. It is exquisite to hold, with a weight and significance that belies the legitimate functional quality of the piece. Like the rest of the lineup, Rapha expects you to ride in this jersey. The new cycling hats are clearly aimed at on and off the bike appeal with plaids and brighter colors. Also above is the new Italian knee warmer, based on the BKW white knee warmers from last fall/winter, which matches the new Italian national jersey. All said and done, the pièce de résistance was the new criterium gloves. They come in white this season, to perfectly complement my new white bar tape and saddle. Wouldn't you know that the pre-production sample fit me perfectly? 

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