Rapha's Pro Team line for 2014 features extended short sleeves in a silky polyester material - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Mesh arm bands keep the arms in place without constriction or the bunched-up look that comes with an elastic band - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The form-fitting jersey doesn't require much at the front hem - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Raph Pro Team short sleeve jersey's collar is thin and low - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The mesh side panels add a little ventilation, and their stretchiness matches the rest of the jersey - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Pro Team pieces have a slimmer fit than the club jerseys. This is a Large jersey on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Rapha rolled out a few retro pieces in its Trade Team series. The three styles are made with the merino/polyester Sportwool is a looser, club fit. This is a Medium on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Phoenix jersey is a tribute to Italian world champ Felice Gimondi of the Bianchi-Campagnolo squad - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Trade Team jerseys' short zip adds to the old-school look with an uninterrupted chest, but hampers warm-weather options - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Rapha's Sportwool, combined with a zipper flap, makes for a comfortable neck - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Gimondi's bib number was 11 when he raced the Worlds in 1974 - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
At 168g in a Medium, Rapha's Lightweight bibs are indeed lighter than Rapha's 214g Classic bibs - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Lightweight bibs come in black with three options for color splashes: light blue, white or chartreuse - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
While still not a super-thin pad, the Lightweight bib chamois is perforated for riding in the heat - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Chamois placement — always a critical factor in a good pair of bibs — is spot on with the Lightweight bibs - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Depending on geography, your results may vary - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Lightweight bibs get a redesigned gripper for 2014 - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Molteni jersey of Eddy Merckx from the 1974 Giro d'Italia is one of three special edition Trade Team jerseys for 2014 - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Back in the day, Eddy Merckx and this particular number went together like wool and hairnets - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
A zippered valuables pocket is unobtrusive - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Can you see us now? Rapha goes big for 2014 with the loud yellow it calls chartreuse - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The windproof gilet has two zippered pockets and packs down relatively compactly - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The gilet comes in grey or chartreuse, with an offset zipper - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Club jersey comes in three color options, all made with the merino/polyester Sportwool - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Rapha loves to associate racing legends with its clothing; the British company aligns the black/pink/grey jersey with Italy's Strade Bianche (white gravel roads) - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Brevet Jersey comes with a high-vis gilet - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
For its namesake, the Brevet has a waterproof front pocket - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Brevet's Sportwool body also has reflective chest and arm stripes - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Hem loops can snug up the fit if need be - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Club jerseys have zippered valuables pockets in addition to the standard three pockets - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
With apologies to The Police, "The Kings of Pain" is another special edition jersey/hat combo - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Iconography and a button-down jersey adorn the black jersey - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Rapha pushes the envelope by including a buttoned collar on The Kings of Pain - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Are these cross patterns an ode to the old-school style of carrying a spare tubular, or something darker? - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
For the spring season, Rapha has refined its Lightweight collection, beefed up its Pro Team offerings and rolled out a few more special edition pieces like tributes to 1974 Giro d’Italia teams and the racing signal of the coming spring, Paris-Nice.
Rapha has two basic styles of fit: Club and Pro. The Classic jerseys and the Trade Team jerseys, like the 1974 Giro options, are the looser-fit Club style and made of a merino/polyester Sportwool blend. The Club fit pieces shown here are size Medium, on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest. The Pro jerseys are a snugger fit (size Large shown here on the same rider), with more of a silky, stretch-polyester feel.
The polyester and elastane jersey has a stretchy, aero fit with mesh panels: the polyester and elastane jersey has a stretchy, aero fit with mesh panels
Extended short sleeves and special editions highlight the 2014 spring range
For those not familiar with Rapha’s online-sales protocol, riders can return any item after riding it (within 30 days) if the product doesn’t live up to their expectations.
Rapha rolled out a few retro pieces in its trade team series. the three styles are made with the merino/polyester sportwool is a looser, club fit. this is a medium on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest: rapha rolled out a few retro pieces in its trade team series. the three styles are made with the merino/polyester sportwool is a looser, club fit. this is a medium on a 6ft/182cm rider with a 39.5in/100cm chest - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
This trade team jersey is in Rapha's looser Club cut, shown here in Medium on a 6ft/182cm rider
A notable departure for this spring is the “Kings of Pain” collection of matching jersey, hat and arm warmers. The Kings of Pain short-sleeve jersey has a tall, button-down collar, and is adorned with little icons and stitching reminiscent of the old-school tubular draped across a rider’s shoulders. Kings of Pain is also Rapha’s celebration of its tenth year of business.
Rapha pushes the envelope with the king of pain: rapha pushes the envelope with the king of pain - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
Kings of Pain is probably the only spring jersey you'll see this year with a button-down collar
Click through the deep gallery at above right for details on all the new gear.
The mesh side panels add a little ventilation, and their stretchiness matches the rest of the jersey: the mesh side panels add a little ventilation, and their stretchiness matches the rest of the jersey - Josh Patterson/Future Publishing
The Pro Team pieces are in Rapha's slimmer Pro fit, shown here in Large on a 6ft/182cm rider
Ben Delaney is a journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for and editing some of the biggest publications in cycling. Having studied journalism at the University of New Mexico, Ben has worked for Bicycle Retailer & Industry News, VeloNews and BikeRadar. He has also previously worked as Global Brand Communications Manager for Specialized. Ben covers all things road and gravel, and can be found logging big miles in the Rocky Mountains that nestle alongside his home in Boulder, Colorado. He has covered the most important bike races in the sport, from the Tour de France and Tour of Flanders, to the Unbound gravel race, and specialises in tech content, showcasing what the pros are riding and putting everyday equipment through its paces.
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