Rapha embody and bridge the gap between performance road wear and the retrocentric fashions of the 50's, 60's and the 70's. Since it's inception in 2004 this jersey has become a modern classic, selling doubtless hundreds of jerseys over the years.
It is a simple design, and in that fact lies it's true beauty. This garment is never one that will get in the way of your chosen bicycle of the day, whether it is your retro fixie or the newest high tech uber bike. Much in the same way that in every Ladies wardrobe there must be a little black dress, so in any cyclists closet so should there be the flexible black jersey (okay I know it comes it white also, but you get my point).
A seasoned cyclist will choose his clothing as much based on marketing as the tactile feel of the material. Stroking and stretching it like a Saville Row tailor, the buyer will maybe come back one or more times before that initial purchase, and then, like all fine things, you are hooked. I had for a long time quickly dismissed this jersey being more style over substance, well sometimes it is nice to be wrong.
Some may think that the use of wool is a nod to Rapha's love of the past, and that may be true. But there is another angle to consider, when I was mountain biking a lot, the Singlespeed riders adopted the retro wool look in an way to separate themselves from the racing scene. Ironic as it may seem as they were often taking part in the same event. The jersey says I belong to the road tribe, but in a different way to a replica Team jersey, which is no bad thing. So in some way the Sportwool fabric has as much connection to the glory years of Merckx as it does to the Mod music of the Small Faces and the Jam. Lots of the small details remind me of the tailored clothing of the Mods, where they had vented trouser bottoms the Rapha top has equally neat touches in its small details that other jerseys just miss.
The Sportwool jersey is highly effective in the mixed weather conditions of these English Isles. As I write this we have been experincing days of 20 degrees celsius in the past week, but we are now back to a more typical average of 12. This change in tempreture is a great example in the flexibility of the jersey. With a full synthetic jersey it can struggle to cope with these changes and can leave the rider cold. Yes Sportwool, in it's most common form, can feel out of it's depth in the warmer months of June and July on the Continent. But thankfully Rapha have addressed the needs of the Etape or Grand Fondo rider at this time of the year with the addition of the Climbers Jersey.
The cut of the jersey is more English than Italian, but that is no bad thing as if you are a XL (as in my case) your size will be reflected in the Rapha sizing. This will offer a traditional cut to the jersey but it is not uncommon for people to go up a size, partly being influenced by the type of riding they do. I like the fact the sleeves are not tight as no matter what weight I am I have always struggled with the material being too tight around the biceps.
God is in the detail, so the phrase goes. Three pockets adorn the rear of the jersey, coupled with a zip pocket on the right for keys, phone or i-pod (you can just squeeze an I-Phone into it), with a small hole for the earphones to come out of. The only thing I didn't like about this set up was that the zip had an annoying rattling sound at times. I have never used the pump pocket, so I can not comment on it's effectiveness as I prefer to have my pump mounted to my bike, so not to forget it.
On the front of the jersey is a full length locking zip. I liked this feature a lot as it allows you to regulate the temperture, and the lockable element ensures that the zip stays where you want it. At the top of the zip is a small folded piece of material which stops the zip rubbing the sensitive neck area. All of the small details add up, like the draw cord on the hem of the jersey, which allows for that custom feel.
Now to the matter of cost. This is by no means a cheap jersey, but I will explain my thoughts on this as I think it is actually good value for money. Firstly you do get a pair of armwarmers thrown into the bargain. Not only does this reduce the effective price by £35, it also extends the usefulness of the piece beyond it's usual time frame. Secondly, the amount of detail, in the main regard to pockets, adds to the price as that is a lot of extra fabric and stitching to be done. Thirdly, and maybe most importantly, as the fabric costs more than a regular polyester jersey it all adds up.
It is a rare occasion that I have had to replace a jersey due to wear, it does happen just not as often as say shorts or socks. So as I factor all of these things into the price I reckon that I should get at least 5 years good service from the Classic. Working on that equation it works out at £22 per year, now it seems like a bargain. I have seen other riders who have an original from 2004, which is still going strong. Although I have not had mine for that period I can by looking at their jerseys gauge that this is as much of an investment as it is a fashion piece, and thus so rightly deserves the name Classic.
