Rapha winter wear: Much of the winter line uses Sportwool, a 52% merino/48% polyester blend(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The back of the vest that comes with the Brevet jersey(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The text on the base layer reads, 'we run on dynamite'(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The long sleeve jersey comes in light grey, 'old gold' and this 'dark fig'(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The pro team jacket features a Polartec front with a Super-Roubaix back(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The Polartec front provides a breathable, stretchy wind shell(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: Reflective elements are stylishly incorporated into the pro team jacket(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The hardshell jacket is wind- and waterproof(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: Although the subtle styling doesn't scream nerdy cyclist from a distance, the functionality is all there(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The pro team jersey uses a thin, stretchy, wicking fabric that the company doesn't specify beyond 'exclusive to Rapha'(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: Does anyone carry a pump in their jersey pocket? Well, Rapha stubbornly insists on building in allowances for such riders, whether or not they exist(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The Brevet jersey comes with a hi vis vest(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The chest pocket is waterproof(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The Brevet jersey is also made from Sportwool(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The country jerseys — for Holland, Norway and the United States — are made of Sportwool and are offered with matching winter hats(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: What would a Rapha jersey be without a little story stitched into the pocket?(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The country jerseys feature partial front zips and waist drawcords(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The country jerseys have tapered cuffs(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The winter jersey incorporates a hardshell-like front into a heavier jersey(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: Vent zips increase the temperature range of the winter jersey(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha fall/autumn wear: An inside look at the winter jersey, with a chest vent unzipped(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: Designed in London; made elsewhere in the world(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: Reflective elements are incorporated unobtrusively(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: The winter jersey has a large back vent as well, although operating the zipper isn't as easy as the front vents, obviously(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Rapha winter wear: If the electric salmon color didn't give it away already, this is Rapha(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
For the 2013/2014 winter season, Rapha expanded its range of luxury jerseys and jackets. With heavy doses of the tried-and-true Sportwool — a merino/polyester blend — plus an influx of breathable but windproof fabrics like a Polartec custom softshell, the Rapha winter line has many options for staying warm and looking good on the bike.
Rapha has no less than 19 jackets, ranging from light rain shells and hardshells to off-the-bike jackets and even a suit jacket. While the high-zoot pieces — for example, the $450/£300 Rapha & Raeburn wind jacket made from used parachutes — continue to draw attention, it's the jersey/jacket 'tweener options that caught our interest. The Pro Team Jacket, in particular, looks and feels very much like a midweight long sleeve jersey, but with a highly breathable windproof membrane on the arms and chest. And the Winter Jacket is an even more robust version, with two long chest vents zips on the front and one horizontal vent on the back. On both jackets, the fit and feel is much more soft, fitted jersey than flappy, overdone jacket.
Much of the long sleeve jersey selection is made of Sportwool, a 52% merino, 48% polyester blend that offers some of the insulation and odor-resistance of the sheep's coat without the fussy care required for all-wool jerseys. The fabric is soft and comfortable, but not as light and stretchy as a standard, modern long sleeve jersey. The country jerseys, made of in Sportwool, also have just a partial zip, opting for a certain aesthetic over full function. Each of the country jerseys — Norway, Holland and the United States — also have matching winter hats. Note that the one-size-fits most caps fit on the smaller size; riders who wear Large helmets will likely find them uncomfortably tight.
BikeRadar will be reviewing a few of the pieces in the coming weeks. In the meantime, check out the photo gallery at above right.
What would Rapha be without the little stories stitched into the pocket?
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
