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Tuesday, January 28, 2014

UK Winter Cycling Comfort and Joy(pt2) Rapha Pro Team Jacket - review - women in men's clothing

Follow @mcphoo Want an all rounder jacket for crap winter weather cycling in at least the southern UK if not the entire Pacific North West and darker winter places of Europe? Have you looked at the Rapha Pro Team jacket?

rapha pro team jacket: manly yes, but i like it too

Oh, you're a gal so you gave these a miss as another "man garment" and that's just one too many? Understood, but maybe reconsider. Here's why.

Two things have been a revelation about how southern UK wet winter riding, in those 0C-4C mornings have gone from a head-shaking grimace to a smile: one has been the crud roadracer mk2 fenders, discussed in the last post. The other has been this incredibly versatile Pro Team Jacket by Rapha.

When asking folks about cycling attire for UK winters, where one may get caught in the rain from time to time, but perhaps is not going out for a long ride in such deliberately, there are a range of suggestions from wind jacket that's water repellent, to, well, a rain jacket. And i spent quite a few cycles going back and forth with base layers and jersey plus wind breaker or rain jacket. One suggestion that's came up a few more times (including from The Steve), though, is: get a soft shell.

What is a softshell jacket? Nice discussion of jacket types from wind to water proof, from hard shell to soft here at road.cc My take away is that a soft shell has some insulation while offering breathability, some wind stopping and some water resistance but not what you'd call waterproof. As road.cc puts it, with these attributes,

bicycle magazine's
what to wear

Soft shells [...] can simply be worn over a base layer of your choice when it’s not too cold. Add a thicker long sleeve mid-layer for really cold days and you begin to see that soft shells are the best solution for cyclists looking for a do-everything winter jacket. Paired with a lightweight, packable waterproof jacket, it’s a good combination.

But what soft shell?

It seemed from what i could find that many softshell jackets were for weather colder than what the UKsouth tends to get as regular brrr. Or at least for me.

What i've also learned is that riding togs are very personal. While i'm riding with knee warmers and oversox on the shoes, riding partner Steve has his longs on with his winter booties. This is 6-7C.

Personally, i've been finding the clothing recommendations at Bicycling Magazine's What to Wear interactive chart to be really close to working for me, suggesting that the most i'd want taking riding to occasional sub 0C.

Customer Conversation

What's a gal to do?
I phoned Rapha, a british cycling garment company, and i am sad sad not to have noted the person's name in Portland who helped me out, but we had an awesome conversation about riding styles and temperatures.

Portland weather is not unlike the UK's, and this person and i seemed to be on the same wave-length. He recommended the Pro Team Jacket as not too warm, where a variety of base layers could make it warmer as necessary; it could be worn like a jersey or as a jacket over a baselayer and jersey.

I thought this sounds ideal.
You may ask yourself: ideal? how could it be ideal given

it's PRO (and i'm not),
its made for guys (and i'm not),
the site says it's for "high tempo" winter training. That sounds intimidating.
its cited review on road.cc says "It doesn't have the warmth of some other winter jackets "

My sense was that the Pro Team Jacket Would Work, and for a few reasons. Because the more racey (ie trim and shorter) cut would actually work for a small gal, and based on the predicted weather, the layering approach would be just the ticket. And as for tempo, i think that just means 2 things: the primary activity is not the stop and start commuting can be that may require extra warmth for non-moving moments; this is a jacket that warms up with you: you're moving, it's keeping you warm. All fine for the intended application: deliberate rides.

Oh! and i also wanted something visible but not garish. The orange seemed to fit the bill.

Does The Pro Team Jacket Work?

Does it work? Oh my goodness! Happiness and joy. I kept waiting for the weather to break - to get cold enough to give it a try - for it to drop below 7. And then it happened: a -1C morning over the holidays. I was off. I wore a light long sleeve base, a marino jersey over that, and then the jacket. With tights, neck gaitor, marino toque and some overshoes and mitts, i was in a very happy place. Cold? what's that?

The jacket kept off the wind incredibly well, while, as i got hot (perhaps i was tempo'ing after all), the back let the heat out to keep body temp just awesome.

The über test: the flood, the car and the fountain.

this is the kind of thing that hit me
yet - Pro Team Jacket keepin me dry - amazingly

The next ride, 4C, provided an even greater demo. It was a sunny day after torrential rains. The road in
one point was crossed with water - pretty deep - four inches or so right across the road. I was moving through the middle, very carefully, and what should come speeding the other way, but a car, going fast.
Maybe they didn't see me; maybe they thought it would be fun to drench someone, see how hight they could get the water to fountain up.

Maybe they were drunk. I dunno. All i do know is that this wave came over me and i wasn't surfing. That was the last time i'd seen water from the inside like that. It was like time slowed down.

I was expecting the ride to be ruined. That i'd be soaked - and my new jacket to be wrecked and would have to turn around like a wet rat and crawl home. Didn't happen. I was laughing (and pedalling ) out loud.

I was still comfy and dry. My legs were feeling damp from the soaking but my body felt dry. I couldn't believe it. Still dry, still warm, still riding. The ride continued. It just became Epic Ride. Today i was a Belgian Hard Man. I was out; others were not. I got a soaking and was able to keep going. Ain't techno grand?

side view: the back's Super-Roubaix rear
and underarm panels are stretchier
than the Polartec windproof/water resistant
chest shoulders and arms.
Rapha calls this
a "softshell membrane"
- it's certainly light and lovely.
Yes those grey stripes are reflective

I still expected the jacket to be covered in black road gunk, but when i got home, the jacket was amazingly fine. I don't know quite how, but wow.

Temperature Ranges

inside the jacket, two types of fleece
on the windproof bits and the stretchy back.
Also you can see the seams are taped inside.
The grey fleck on the arm is reflective;
the cuffs are elasticised and slip well
under mitt or glove cuffs.

I've now worn the Pro Team Jacket from -1C to about 7C usually on about 24 or so mile rides, so not huge long tests, but it's been great.
It's been easy to fling a windbreaker or gillet over this when getting the first few miles in, just to get that tempo-heat going, then stuff the layer into the capacious back pocket. The obvious extra garment also being a rain jacket/hard shell, but it just hasn't hit the cold for long enough to need - but it would definitely give at least five more degrees.

Often the back pocket has glove liners in it when it's these temps: the gloves can get a bit sweaty inside and not dry out after a mid day cafe stop; having the liners is a cheap way to keep hands warm in slightly damp gloves

When it's 5-7C, i've been wearing it over a base layer and take a vest or windbreaker with me, pending on the wind chill. I've yet to be caught in a real rain pour that was more than a minute or two.

When it's 0-5C i've been wearing a heavier base layer and jersey, then the jacket. that's LOTS. Starting up from a cafe stop, i'm glad to have a vest/gillet or windbreaker to warm up a bit before that "tempo" think kicks in.

When it's 7-9C, it's not on: i find it's just too hot and prefer a base layer, jersey, vest or windbreaker; shorts and knee warmers.

The warmth plus breathability are the Pro Team Jacket's functional star features. These functions come from its bevy of well considered materials and composition.

Pro Team Jacket Composition

Some of the things that seem to make the jacket work are the way it does the windproof water resistant slightly stretchy polartec on the front, and the very stretchy more breathable (and water resistant) material on the back.

Classy design touches: there is a slight contrast between the back fabric and the windproof front and arms panels

the collar comes up for good protection, with give or a neck gaitor,
soft material facing for against the neck and zip garage.
(click for bigger image). Hanger is obvious useful touch inside.

top/front of arms, shoulders and front panels windproofed polartec
(click for larger view)
Power Shield Pro softshell material, exclusive to Rapha,
used for the front-facing panels in the chest, arms and shoulders

There are the Rapha trad three big pockes on the back for food, wind or water proof and Other Stuff. There's a wee zip pocket in the front - great for a phone/id.

Fit - for Women?

For me, my use, so far, this jacket seems pretty durn perfect. And now i make the requisite comment that for the price it should be. My expectation is that like other quality gear - like Patagonia or Assos - it will last. Wherever possible i like the "buy once" approach to things (eg "steel is real") .

That's me taken care of, but how well will this design would work for gals more generally? Usually, i take a women's small; this is a men's small. Men's stuff can often be either a bit big or too long.

nice having the id/phone pocket in front
Trim lines and room in the sleeves for layers.
just click for larger image/detail

3 big Jersey pockets, in back with reflective stripes

men's small for a gal (5'6", 128) who takes women's small
gives room for baselayer and jersey (and gillet if needed)
underneath no problem
or just as easily with just base layer

The advantage - it seems - with the Pro Team Jacket is that because it is "aero" it is smaller/snugger perhaps than a usual guys piece for a given size. Looking at reviews of the jacket, this has been an observation by the men (eg this latest by road.cc). For gals, this guy snugness is perhaps a help.

Would love to know from other women, if you've tried it on, what your experience has been?

Check out Sizes? EASY. If this sounds like a jacket you'd like to explore, Rapha makes this pretty

easy if you're not on the doorstep of one of their shops.

One of the extremely nice things about Rapha is that it's easy to order a couple sizes and send back what doesn't work. In the US and UK in any case, it's free postage back to the mother ship. Their returns process is also easy (returns policy here) - it assumes only that you have access to a printer to print out the return information, though if stuck you could likely write out all the information by hand.

Their mailing envelops are robust so it's also easy to reuse the bag that the garments came in to send back.

Rapha mail bag reused for size return

Women's Pro Kit? Meanwhile, it would be lovely for Rapha to consider making some of its pro kit for gals. It makes its "classic" pieces in a women specific cut. Some commenters argue that the women's versions aren't really as "women's" as they could be. Would be keen to hear what other garment makers see?

In the interim, the Pro Team mark currently says "guys" tho some customer support folks say it's not really "men's" it's "unisex."Hmm. I'm not sure if gals wearing men's clothes makes them "unisex"but it's something most of us are used to in sport gear.

Talking with a Rapha customer service before x-mas, they did say they had a whole lot more women's stuff planned for spring. Will be interesting to see what that means.

Quick Aside: Customer Service

But speaking of customer service, i've written before about how what can keep someone coming back to a brand is not just a great product, but also the pre and post sale contact. Rapha does this side of the business really well. I have to write a post about that - there are some pretty cool stories and awesome people. Such stories of folks going above and beyond the call of customer duty, consistently, mean that, where financially possible, i will try to connect with a Rapha product: ya get the whole pre post and during support along with a well made product.

"Today" - based on a very UK winter day
by Mark Fairhurst, Zeitgeist Images

Overall: Pro Team Jacket - it's a keeper.

The happiness about this jacket - what's it's meant for me in terms of the Joy Factor - is that i can go for bike rides through the winter. I can keep riding. moving. Now i'm sure there are other jackets that would likely work, but this is the one i've found, and it surprises and delights me every time i'm out in the wind and the muck and i feel just right and keep turning the cranks. Keeping the tempo. Finding the flow. Joy.

Have you tried the Pro Team Jacket? what kit keeps your winter joy turning?

Related Posts

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Saturday, January 25, 2014

Gear for Winter Riding Joy part 1: Crud Roadracer Mk2 Road Cycling Mud Guards Review

Follow @mcphoo Two things sing to me about cycling right now, en hiver d'Angleterre. Crud Roadracer Mk2 bike
fenders (mud guards) and the Rapha Pro Team Jacket.

Not quite in lieu of fenders
mark fairhurst, zeitgeist images

At least for me, they seem the perfect response to the prevailing conditions of the past couple months in southern UK: roads after the rain that are either covered in places with water or simply totally mucky, and morning temperatures that can be anywhere from 0-4C, with day temps more like 7-10C.

I'll come back to the jacket. In this piece let me touch on the Mk2 guards, and not just the guards, but a story of awesome customer service delight that just earns customer loyalty.

The Aesthetic of Road Crap?

Some folks will not put mudguards on their wheels even in winter. It's an aesthetic thing apparently and
also some boy rule thing (i wonder if they wash their own kit?)

ass-thetically pleasing?

I dunno, aesthetic of guards on the bike vs mud stream up the ass and back. The latter is somehow more fetching than innocuous guards that keep said spray off the costly kit - where there's no guarantee the wash will remove those road grease gunk stains?

If not for you for your riding buddies? When out for a jaunt with your personal Steve i've learned now from experience, if this person rides in front of you and does not have a guard, and the roads are post rain, the spray arcing up behind that rider's tire will decorate your front attire. Keep well back. Perhaps this is a feature: wheelsuckers will be pushed back or face the consequences?

Enter Crud RoadRacers Mk2

box with bits - all the Mk2 pieces
some assembly required

But, mes amis - for those who are willing, consider mudguards

As signifieds that: you are training in the winter (Merckx used fenders) you are ok with a few extra grams on the bike; this is a gift to your practice; you will fly in the spring
it's actually functionally better for that practice for one's kit to stay as dry and clean as possible, is it not? so we can work as long and hard as possible. Personally, i prefer my suffering to be in the form of pushing my lactate threshold than from being cold, wet and grimy for no reason, don't you (apparently some others like to be more miserable so take off fenders to increase Suck quotient)
Reduced laundry is reduced laundry - resources spared as well as wear on clothing and gunk in machine.
One's bike will say "thank you" as more of it stays clean - like the underside of the saddle, front mech, (you).

Crud Roadracer Mk2's seem to be designed to be as light and flexible and discrete as possible. They blend. Some folks, while extolling their lightness, have said they're fiddly to put on. Perhaps a bit the first time. But i will take a few extra minutes of fiddly to put together the blades than having to take on and off and reset brakes to put on heavier fenders with metal stays that usually rattle.

Dean Downing (cyclist on the box from rapha/condor time) - with mk2's

Easy to take on and off

I've used the Mk2's on two bikes now, and after doing the first bike, moving them to the other bike took less than ten minutes. This is a good thing: when it is nice and dry out and fenders not required - it's super fast to remove them; when it gets rainy or cruddy, it's durn quick to put them back on. I leave the little tabs on the stays for where the stays attach. That speeds up on and off-ness a treat.

Unique Mk2 Attributes: three pieces for custom size/length of guard.

Unlike more standard plastic fenders, the Mk2's come in three pieces, based around the core part of the fender referred to as the blade.

blade bits

nose and tail bits in a bag

On the front, this means that the amount of fender poking out in front of the wheel from the front fork forward, and from the back of the wheel down is up to you. Longer and less spray; shorter more spray/save a few grams.

In use: wrap of rear mk2
covering mech.
It works

On the back, the options are again how much cover beyond main blade: have it as full or partial coverage as you wish. Cover can come down down completely behind the seat tube to wrap around the tire and protect front mech, and the tail can cover as much of the back wheel as you wish, fanning out practically behind the level of the chain stays.

The core blade component attaches in two places: above the brake and on the chain stays. The fender is suspended above the wheel via easy to undo zip ties attached around the brake bolt.

lug held by o-ring to attach
stays:
leave on bike for
fast reattachment

I was surprised to read bikeradar's review that says these ties always have to be cut. Not in my experience: press down the release tab to undo the tie, the tie comes off. The blade is kept away from the wheel by the adjustable stays that attach to the frame by small plastic tabs wrapped onto the chain stays with o-rings. The entire rig is plastic.

The nose and tail components of the blades are attached by plastic bolts and washers, and optional double sided tape provided, once you're certain which tail/nose you wish.

Nice that the bit on the rear fender that comes down by the front mech has a lovely bit of coverage to reduce crud flying up there. If you keep your bike inside your domicile, these features are a plus: they make bike de-cruding before bringing inside an easier process.

Yes, they blend. And they Work

The big question of course will be: do they work? Yes. You'll see quite a few reviews on the web in support of these fenders since they were first introduced in 2009. In the rain, or in the muck (my dominant use seems to be the latter).

Customer Delight

Front blade brakes in two

Sometimes things surprise you. Don't you just love a company that delights you? exceeds your expectations? First of course is good product, but it's the follow up support that keeps you coming back, eh?

First Surprise The first time this happened with Crud Products, i'd had a cable tie break after a ride with them on the fixie. I emailed to ask how might i get a replacement and how odd for a nylon tie to break - i got an email asking for my address just to send me one. There it was in the mail. Cool. How very nice. I mean that's time and postage out of someone's day to do that.

Second surprise: There are a number of videos on the Crud site about installing the fenders, and also showing how even with a stick coming up under the fender, the guards are designed to let go, and are made to bend rather than break (shown below).

Given that, I've recently had two blades actually brake by having a stick (or something) get caught under the fender with the effect of the blade snapping and cracking, once on the front, then a few weeks later, on the back, and on the same durn bit of path, too, where no sticks seem evident.

Rear blade: another break?

Interestingly, both times the blade has broken at the top and behind the zip tie at the brake. The screwed/glued tail/nose bits do not come undone. Once these fenders are built and that sticky tape put in place with the nut and bolt, it stays built.

The first time this break happened, i wrote to Crud Products to say what can i do? and was told this was very unusual and here is the spares page where parts are available below cost. I ordered a replacement blade, and with free shipping, it seemed to arrive in moments. Super. Put it back on with ease, and away i go again. Happy as a dry and clean little clam.

Perhaps i'm just unlucky as what happened in his stick demo video did not happen for me (the chain stays come out, the blade goes free, bends, doesn't crack).

Take a look about 37 secs in

This second time, with it happening at the rear wheel, i went right to the spares page, ordered a new blade, but also emailed Mr. Crud Tompkins to say, look i've ordered the blade, delighted that i can, but because, alas, this break thing has happened again.

Here's the Customer Surprise/Delight part: on a sunday (a day of rest??) i received a note that i would be receiving a brand new set of mk2's; spare part cost refunded. On Sunday?

That's someone standing behind the product, saying (as with the above stick under fender video): they're not supposed to break. Bend, yes, come away from stays, yes. Break, no. Wow. Are you impressed? are you saying that's the right thing to do, but who does that? consistently?

Spares

But all this discussion of breaks is that Crud has a Spares page. I just like that, don't you? the notion of something being fixable rather than replaceable. It is easy to order spare parts for any component of the fender sold at what according to Mk2 inventor Peter Tompkins is at "less than cost."

My sense is that spares are more often looked at seasonally: after someone has removed the fenders from the bike, wants to put them back on and is looking about for those little bits that of course we know where they are when we so carefully put them away at first, but then can't find them weeks or months later. Thank you Pete Tompkins for the spares page.

assembled front mk2

Videos for Fenders: Install, settup, testing

The support and info for this product is pretty amazing. Though it's exactly what most of us seem to want for such do-it-yourself kit.

As other reviewers have noted, the Crud site has a host of videos about how to install these on road bikes with even super tight clearance. There are also a variety of videos on youtube about installs of different bikes.

A New Functional Aesthetic: Suck it up - get the Guards

Bottom line: for UK winters during or apres rain road cycling, where there is no way to avoid crud, do yourself, your bike, your gear, your buddies (and anyone who supports cleaning up after you) a favour and consider these lovely uk designed, UK MANUFACTURED, highly functional, customisable, unobtrusive, aesthetically pleasing mud guards. You and those with whom you cycle will be so glad you did.

Fenders? Merckx? ya uh huh. From velominati

Buy Crud / Support b2d: if you're in the UK/EU and you'd like to get a set of Crud's online from amazon and support b2d a bit at the same time, here's an AMAZON UK affiliate link.

Otherwise, hope you'll reach out to your local bike shop.