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rapha pro team bibshorts ii - long

those of you in thrall to the keepers of the cog at velominati, will doubtless have rule #14 ingrained in your psyche that bibshorts should be black, though exception can be made for side panels in order to co-ordinate with the rest of the team kit. rule #15 extends that directive to championship and leaders' jerseys, but on looking out over your smiling faces, i'm not sure that any of us fit into the latter category (though if tao's reading, well done that man). of course, velominati's 95 rules are mostly tongue-in-cheek, apart, obviously, from rules #5 and #9.

nonetheless, they're remarkably handy when you want to prove a point, or when backup for any eccentricities is required, but otherwise...

the keepers of the cog, however, share a similarity with elected officials at aigle in switzerland, in that they accept only that everything begins and ends with eddy merckx, a point of view with which i have no particular disagreement. but a certain degree of levity and variance ought best be observed, if keen to avoid vocal accusations of ludditery. thus, we might ask ourselves whether eddy would have been likely to don a pair of purple bibshorts for a day in the saddle? it's a bit of a rhetorical question, because, so far as i'm aware, there were no colours other than black available in eddy's era, presumably having encouraged velominati's rule #14 in the first place.

rapha, while having arguably presaged the monochromacity of the rules, are prescient enough to view them with a healthy perspicacity, for with the release of the second version of the pro team bibshorts, not only is purple an option, but it's accompanied by navy blue and carbon grey (though a more traditional black option is also available for the naysayers). and just to add an essence of delight or blasphemy - depending on your point of view - they can be bought with extra length in the leg.

i make no apology for having opted for the purple version, even if only on the basis that the rapha lettering on the left leg is imprinted an a wonderful jade green, a contrast that looks far more professional than does this particular wearer of the purple. i have, in my lengthy 'career', worn many a pair of bibshorts, ranging from the sublime to the cor blimey, and i tell you now, that these are amongst the finest bibshorts in which it has been my pleasure to ride.

the fit (size small reviewed) is impeccable, while the pad affords the sort of luxury that keeps itself to itself; you'd scarcely know you had them on. the extra length in the leg not only saves the rider from being mistaken for sean yates, but is most equitable to all riders who care not one whit for paying close attention to their tan lines. on scotland's west coast, that's hardly much of a travesty. perhaps all shorts should be built this way? granted, i am not particularly long of leg, so it's possible those who are will find the extra centimetre or so, less noticeable. but the extra measure allowed me the confidence to ride bare-legged in early november and in temperatures of less than ten degrees, without my kneecaps icing up.

the mesh bibs and back panel help greatly with breathability 'neath a late-autumn weight jersey, do not exert undue pressure on the shoulders, yet hold all that purpleness just where the intrepid cyclist would like it to be. the leg grippers are almost non-existent, yet exert as little pressure as is needed; they never moved a millimetre no matter how much i tried to have them do so (and honestly, i tried).

wonderful.

rapha's pro-team bibshorts ii with the longer leg are available in purple, navy, carbon grey, black, or black with white bibs. they can be had in sizes ranging fom xs to xxl at a cost of £195. if you only have room for one pair of bibshorts in the cycling drawer, might i recommend that it be these, or their shorter legged sibling.

rapha pro-team bibshorts ii long

saturday 7 november 2020