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Rapha Pro Team Jacket



I've been looking for a while to find the perfect winter jacket/jersey. I've been looking for something that's breathable yet windproof and which is visible in poor light without being glowing neon. A few weeks ago I saw that Rapha had a new winter jacket coming out - the Pro Team Jacket. It looked like just what what I was after, just the one small problem, as with all Rapha gear, was the price. £190 is a lot for a tailored piece of polyester. Yes, as everyone knows, it's expensive, but the fit, quality and styling mean that you end up using it more and for longer than other cycling kit - well that's how I justify it.

So what about the jacket itself? First thing that struck me after putting it on is the fit - it just feels right. Not too tight but nothing flapping. Short at the front and long at the back - just right. A high neck that fits tight enough to keep the drafts out but not so tight as to be restrictive. Most importantly for me- nice long arms - long sleeve jerseys that leave a chilly gap between the sleeve and your gloves are no good.

The jacket has an understated look for a reasonably high visibility winter jersey. It's a yellow colour -"Chartreuse" if you're from Rapha - and strikes a good balance between visibility and style. You can also get the jacket in black, but why anyone would want a black winter jacket is beyond me. Obviously other buyers agree given that the yellow sold out last week whilst there seemed to be loads of black ones left in every size on Rapha's site! One small complaint is Rapha could have been more generous with the reflective trim. There are some small patches on the jacket, more for style than visibility, and it wouldn't have hurt to put some more on the sleeves, chest or back.

The jacket certainly has a great feel and look, especially in the details of the fabric and the stitching - it feels like a quality product which is exactly what you would expect. I have some concerns about how the Roubaix fabric on the back might stand up to me using it with a rucksack - time will tell how it holds up.

Riding in it today on a cool November evening reinforced that "just right" feeling. With just a thin base layer underneath I didn't feel hot on the uphills or cold on the downhills. The windproofing on the chest and arms is well balanced with the more breathable but warm fabric on the back.

Overall this is a great piece of cycle clothing. Some of you will have lost interest when you read £190, and this jacket isn't for everyone. But if like me you ride your bike a lot through the winter then you're not going to find better than this to keep you motivated to get on your bike in the dark mornings and evenings. As the Scandinavians say - there's no such thing as bad weather, just inadequate clothing.

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