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rapha long-sleeve classic jersey ii

rapha long-sleeve classic jersey

yin can never go too far without yang; just like ant and dec, or morecambe and wise. that principle was demonstrated only the other day, when the highest march temperature since records began was recorded in southern englandshire. of course, those of us in the hebrides have to take that as read, given that temperatures round these here parts failed to come even close to the twenty plus highlighted in the weather reports. in fact, if truth be told, the hebrides failed to make it into double-digits.

rapha long-sleeve classic jersey

but it appears that yang may soon have the upper hand, with arctic temperatures forecast around easter monday, leading to major questions about suitable apparel for cycling. a short, sharp ride on thursday morning was marked by a cold northerly, substantially stronger than the forecast wind strength, but, intelligently clad (for once), cosiness was mine to enjoy. this is a factor that is likely to persist all through the summer, and though i'm hardly in a position to offer 'secrets from the peloton', the secret to comfort and joy in the saddle, is to always wear a long-sleeve jersey.

rapha long-sleeve classic jersey

yes, you will doubtless witness the professional peloton in full flight this weekend at the ronde van vlaanderen, the majority dressed in short-sleeve jerseys and bibshorts, but those individuals are not like you and i, who are dependent on having stuffed a wind/waterproof in a back pocket prior to the grand départ. that's what the team cars are for. so emulate them not; don a long-sleeve jersey for each and every ride from now until the one week of summer in mid-august, and comfort and joy will be yours.

i promise.

rapha long-sleeve classic jersey

rapha extended the horizons of the world peloton in 2004 on release of the original 'classic' jersey, fashioned from the new-fangled sportwool, and offering a simple, yet classic look. the only bit they got wrong, was bringing the black or white jersey to market featuring short-sleeves instead of long, the remedy for which we'd to wait a wee while longer. sportwool consists of a melange of merino wool and polyester, offering a more robust construction than provided by a simple wool jersey. it was, and to a certain extent, still is, a far preferable option to straightforward polyester, from which many of rapha's pro team offerings are cast. and ultimately, polyester is the nub of the problem in more ways than one.

rapha long-sleeve classic jersey

polyester is a man-made fabric derived from p.e.t. (polyethylene terephthalate), with its origins firmly rooted in oil. it offers abrasion resistance, it dries quickly, it's durable, lightweight, strong and resistant to wrinkling. in other words, perfect for a cycle jersey. but climate change doesn't like it very much, principally due to its petroleum-based foundations. assuming, however, that we wish to continue using polyester until something less divisive can be discovered/invented, the only realistic and economic alternative would be to make use of recycled polyester. and that, boys and girls, is exactly what rapha have done in the latest incarnation of their classic jerseys.

so what's the difference that might be noticed by you and i? well, rapha's own version of sportwool, the tactically named rapha performance merino - (rpm190) is now a smidgeon heavier than its predecessor. rapha contend that this is the 'most versatile cycling fabric in the world', and there's a strong likelihood that they're absolutely right. even more so if you choose the long-sleeve version, for long sleeves make the jersey even more versatile (in my humble opinion) than its short-sleeve compatriot.

rapha long-sleeve classic jersey

this latest version of the classic jersey ii, in long-sleeve version at least, is available in either navy or black, and i cannot deny that i'd have been a tad more welcoming of a wider or brighter colour range. a strong russet red, or pink would have been ideal. however, colour aside, this is probably the best cycle jersey in the world, with a full length zip, three regular rear pockets and a fourth, zipped security pocket. the short sleeve version and the navy long-sleeve, feature the trademark contrasting hoop on the left sleeve, but for some reason, the hoop on the black long sleeve version is of the same colour as the rest of the jersey. i feel slightly short-changed. however, the sleeves are of impeccable length and end in scalloped cuffs, so all is forgiven for now.

but apart from that, it's ruddy brilliant, especially now that it contains recycled fibres. time to revive the men in black.

rapha's long-sleeve classic jersey ii is available in black or navy, in sizes ranging from xs to xxl. price is a justifiable £125.

friday 02 april 2021

twmp ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................