Rapha is quite suddenly the coolest name in cycling apparel. With vintage styling, Rapha harkens back to the glory days of cycling when icons like Lapize, Coppi, Bartoli, Koblet, Bobet, Robic, and Gemiani made competitive cycling a colorful sport full of personalities as dramatic and unpredictable as the brutal roads they raced. But Rapha wraps all that glory, all that beauty and passion, into high-tech, high-fashion cycling apparel that is just at home on the bike as it is at the dinner table.
Despite the vintage flourishes, Rapha is anything but old fashioned. Rapha uses innovative natural fabrics to keep you cool, warm, dry, and comfortable as necessary. Using hand-selected Scottish and Italian Merino wool, couture styling, and first-class craftsmanship, Rapha's jerseys can be worn on the bike or for a night on the town.
And if Rapha weren't already cool enough with their vintage approach, they even have world acclaimed London-based designer Paul Smith doing much of their design work. Paul's influence can be seen, for instance, on Rapha's leather tote bag and other cycling-related accoutrements. The similarity may not be immediately apparent, but on a moment's reflection it's clear that Rapha is to cycling apparel what Prada is to fashion apparel. Like Prada, on the one hand Rapha can be haute-couture fashion, and on the other hand it can be functional and practical.
About Sportwool
In March 2006 Bicycling Magazine wrote, "Rapha has created the best bike jersey the world has ever seen." What warrants such an accolade? The Rapha Sportwool jersey. This jersey brings new standards to the cyclist's standby and finally pairs high-end quality and fashion with high-end bikes. Available in both long- and short-sleeve versions, this Sportwool article offers optimum performance to keep you warm and dry better than most any other available fabric.
As the name suggests, Sportwool is based on Merino wool. This gives the apparel a beautifu look and feel. Wool fiber has evolved over 25,000 years to create a uniquely complex structure of interlocking protein molecules surrounded by electrically charge lysine side chains. Through a natural process called "hydrogen bonding," these side chains electrically attract water vapor molecules. The wool fibers actually pull the moisture vapor away from the skin.
As well as keeping you drier and cooler, Sportwool has lower air permeability than 100% polyester, giving you greater wind and chill protection. It's also naturally anti-bacterial and odor resistant. It has natural elasticity for comfort and natural UV protection.
With Sportwool you get the best of both worlds. It looks and feels nicer than polyesters but works harder, too. And it's durable and easy to care for: machine washable and quick to dry, with minimal ironing required.
Sportwool is rapidly establishing itself as the performance standard in a variety of demanding sports. It is produced in England by the Woolmark Company. Rapha is the first cycling brand to bring the benefits of Sportwool technology to discerning road riders.