The moment many of us women cyclists have been waiting for, Rapha has finally released their women's cycling clothing line. I have been following Rapha since they started in 2004 and watched as their high quality and stylish product range has grown. Now women cyclists have the opportunity to help Rapha celebrate the glory of suffering and look fantastic while road riding.
Developed over two years after huge demand, the women's products use the same performance fabrics as the men's range but with tailoring and features designed specifically for female riders. With the same paired down styling, the new women's cycling clothing line currently consists of three products: the Women's Classic Jersey, the Women's Stowaway Jacket and the Women's Shorts.
The Classic Jersey is based on Rapha's original cycling jersey and is versatile enough to be used all year round. The jersey is made from Sportwool (40% merino and 60% polyester), which wicks away sweat and keeps you dry and warm. The women's cycling jerseys come with fleece lined cream arm warmers that you can throw on in colder weather.
The jersey is shaped to be narrower at the waist and wider at the hip with additional stretch to fit over our curvy bits. A bite grip on the collar lets you unzip your jersey one-handed. The back features three main cargo pockets with an additional pump sleeve in the middle pocket. The right rear pocket also has an eyelet to run headphones through.
The Women's Stowaway Jacket is a windproof, water resistant and extremely breathable three-season cycling jacket. The Stowaway is ultra lightweight and packs down small enough to fit inside your jersey pocket should you choose to take it off while riding or save it for those chilly downhills.
The Women's Shorts take the comfort and performance of the men's bike shorts but lose the inconvenient bibs. A high waistband at the back (nice!) features soft gripper tape for a snug and secure fit. The women's bike shorts are cut long in the leg for a more flattering shape and the front panel is doubled over rather than stitched to prevent it digging in when riding. The chamois is made by Cytech and specifically designed for female riders.
The women's cycling jersey retails for $195, the jacket for $260 and the bike shorts for $185. The women's cycling clothing can be bought from the Rapha website and is available pretty much worldwide.
One question- why do the guys get to wear the pink?!?!