Review – Rapha Core Jersey Short Sleeve £55.00 (Sale Price)

As I have mentioned in my previous reviews: I buy all of my own kit.

Therefore, it should be no surprise to anyone reading this review that this is my first piece of Rapha apparel that I am reviewing.

Put simply this is down to cost; not through any brand snobbery.

I actually purchased this jersey (Link: https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/core-jersey/product/COR01XXYEL) just after Christmas 2017 as my Brother and his partner gave me a Rapha voucher which was very kind and appreciated. I had always wanted to purchase some Rapha kit to see what all the hype was about but with buying a house and saving for the wedding I always had to look at the more financially sensible options.

If you haven’t clicked the link above the jersey is the Rapha Core Jersey in their “chartreuse” colour; which to you and me is Hi-Vis Yellow. At the time of purchase the jersey was on-sale for £55 + shipping. This was reduced from £75 owing to the Christmas sales. As I had a £50 Rapha voucher; this was the lucky garment that was purchased.

Shipping, as you would imagine from a company like Rapha, was flawless and it appeared on the right date. Within the parcel there was obviously the jersey and also the shipping instructions. The shipping instructions and receipt came enclosed within an envelope. So far, so very highbrow compared to Wiggle, CRC, Decathlon, Merlin and Sigma Sports.

Unpacking the jersey and it feels very soft and stretchy. There is very nice detailing on the Rapha logo and the band on the left hand sleeve. This band is actually quite subtle, as is all of the Rapha branding on the jersey. I am a fan of subtle branding as oppose to in your face branding. The seams on the pockets and the zipper on the valuables pocket are all expertly stitched, as you would expect. There were also no frayed edges or frayed stitches.

In terms of the sizing I ordered a medium and it came out just right. The arm length and also the torso length of the jersey were excellent. Rapha market this jersey, along with the Brevet range, as utilising the “Regular Fit” as oppose to the “Race Fit” in their more performance orientated apparel. I find this to be quite roomy when in the riding position, hunched over the bars and this means that there is a bit of spare fabric that can ride up slightly.

The pocket sizes are very reasonable and quite deep. However, their positioning is just plain wrong. Yes, they are on the back (which is obviously where they should be), however they are too far up the back which means that it is not easy to get things in the pockets when packing before a ride if you are wearing the jersey. If you struggle to get things in when packing the pockets pre-ride; then I can atest that it is just as difficult to get things out of the pockets if you are on the bike and reaching for a gel, for instance. If you are stopped and off the bike then it is easier but I don’t want to be stopping everytime I want to get something out of a jersey pocket. The valuables pocket is a useful pocket. However, it is a squeeze to get my Huawei P9 in it but for keys, credit cards and coins it’s fine.

So now for the not so good: as mentioned; the pockets. Not a fan at all due to the ridiculous placement of them. I am not double jointed in my shoulders or elbows; maybe if I was I’d find them easier to access. Along with that though the front hem doesn’t have a gripper which means that the jersey rides up at the front so I need to pull it when going from the drops to the “hands on the flats for climbing” position. Coupled with that; when you try to zip the jersey back up, if it has been unzipped for ventilation, then the jersey rides up as there is nothing for it grip when pulling the zip up. This can be quite an annoyance.

Conclusion:

This is a quality garment in terms of workmanship and materials. The breathability is good and the fit is excellent. If ever so slightly coming up on the larger side. However, it is let down by a number of small yet essential details such as the pocket placement and lack of front hem gripper. As this is the case I don’t think I would be happy to pay the full retail price of £75. To be honest, had I not had the voucher I don’t think I would have been happy to pay the £55 sale price.

In short…probably a 6.5/10 (no voucher and sale price) or a 7/10 (with voucher and sale price)

The Castelli Gabba 2 (All Hail The Gabba)

Wow.

That is the verb I would choose to most fully describe the Gabba 2.

At this point I feel it is important to nail my colours to the flag regarding kit and cost. Firstly, having moved to Yorkshire 2 years ago the county has rubbed off on me as I look for value for money from my kit purchases. Secondly, I will look at reviews of multiple similar products to try and ascertain whether or not there is something on the market that does a comparable job at a cheaper price.

Anyway now that is out of the way back to the review.

Having ordered the Gabba 2 for a good price around the Black Friday sales. The perfect time of the year to put it through it’s paces.

When it arrived it was delivered in it’s own separate box (?!).

It is clear that this is not just a jersey.

Rosso Corsa – Castelli’s Premier Line

When I ordered the Gabba 2 I went up one size from what I normally wear (in cycling terms). This for me meant I was going for a size Large. When I was opening it up the Gabba looked very small so I was a bit apprehensive and thought, for a split second, that I should have gone for an XL.

When I put it on those worries were allayed as it was the perfect fit. The Gabba 2 is cut in a performance fit and is the best fitting jersey/jacket I have. There is absolutely no excess material on the arms, shoulders or body that flaps about in the wind which makes for a reduction in drag. In terms of fit I cannot fault this jersey at all.

For the first real test of this jersey I waited for it to rain and be windy. In other words, foul weather. That wait did not prove to be a long one being based in Yorkshire. In November.

Rosso Corsa – Castelli’s Premier Line

As I left the house and got on to the bike my first thought was “wow, this is cosy”. As a result of the windproofing absolutely nothing was getting through. I only had a long sleeve base layer on underneath and it was the perfect temperature. The ambient temperature outside was around 7-8 degrees C to put that in some context.

My main concerns on the first ride were A) not being warm enough but as I was rolling down the hill that was never going to be an issue. And B) getting far too warm to the point where I would boil.

The first ride, and subsequent rides that I have used this on, have been undertaken at a good tempo as they have been training rides. As the first ride went on the idea of taking off the long arms never crossed my mind as I was at a very comfortable temperature and during any efforts the Gabba 2 was breathable enough for me not to overheat.

The rain repellency  was very good during the intermittent showers and hail that I encountered. These were not for prolonged periods (only around 30 – 40 mins) and it coped admirably with the water hitting the material and beading dripping off, or staying stationary, but not absorbing.

Obviously, this is not a fully waterproof garment and as such will not keep you dry in heavy persistent rain. When this has been the case I have worn a rain cape over the top of it. Even in 2.5 hours of heavy persistent rain, when the rain cape was breached, the Gabba 2 kept me dry and warm.

The storm flap on the back of the jersey would be very useful if I did not have full mudguards on my winter bike as it fully covers the behind when on the bike.

Having been on subsequent rides, particularly, in changeable conditions and unseasonably warm conditions (14 degrees C in December?!) this jersey is immense with the breathability and ability to remove the arms. It really does give it an excellent window of usability in terms of both temperature and also weather conditions.

In conclusion then:

The Gabba 2 convertible is an excellent jersey that really is (almost) do it all. It feels like excellent value for money as it can be used in many conditions and may just be the only jersey that is required during the winter.

The only word I can use to describe it is wow.

Long Sleeve Gabba 2

Castelli