Rapha SS19 Preview

Rapha unveiled their traditional look ahead at upcoming ranges this week, some we'd predicted, some returning heroes and some newness...

Footwear

As predicted, Rapha are back in the footwear game! Lots of details being promised, and we have to assume they've nailed these as the footwear has already been spotted in the pro-peloton. The eyes have drifted to the promise of a unique foot-hugging lacing system. Laces have come back in a big way, it'll be cool to see Rapha's own take on this.

With takes on road and off-road shoes this will be one to keep an eye on.

RCC X Paul Smith

I have to admit to a large dose of disappointment here. RCC simply isn't for everyone, if you don't have a Club House in the area it can quite quickly lose any appeal as a lot of the benefits are rendered redundant.

Hooking up with Paul Smith is a big deal, now I have no issue with RCC Members getting some exclusives (they already get a whole range available to them), but this is a real kick in the teeth for Rapha customers who are non-members. Maybe a portion of the range could have been available to all with a certain element kept exclusive to members. Riding is meant to be inclusive after all, it should never exclude.

Anyway, it's Paul Smith, a huge cycling fan, so you know this will be excellent. And the theme of the range sounds awesome, 'If Paul Smith sponsored a cycling team in the 1960s, what would it look like?' That's got cool as fuck written all over it.

Gilet

The Brevet Insulated Gilet has become a real stalwart of all seasons, and for SS19 we get a fresh interpretation. The Polartec lining is retained, the outer is given a cool new twist with an embroidered pattern taking inspiration from famous climbs.

A really nice new take on a classic

Souplesse Race Bibs

This is a really simple one, yet is criminally neglected by most brands. Creating a design for female riders that actually takes their physical form into consideration, and by that I mean the ability to answer natures call.

The Rapha design team have gone all out to come up with a simple solution that will work well in the peloton. The new design will feature a self-centering magnetic clasp at the rear to help with the all important toilet stops. Simple + Genius

To the Core

Rapha's essential Core line will be updated with a bit of a 2018 surprise hit, cargo pockets on cycling shorts. Now pockets on cycling shorts aren't actually new, but no one would ever claim they were mainstream now would they.?

A revamped Core collection has been promised also, but all eyes will be on the addition of pockets to the bib-shots, I'd best get the cash put aside.

Nelson Vails

Now this is an exciting new capsule, to hail The Cheetah! Not much detail is known other than the colours lifted from the Toga/Tempo Cycling team, but this could be a really exciting little collection to celebrate Nelson, a seriously powerful cyclist on the track.

Hopefully a little Rapha Film to go alongside the release.

Commuter Packing

A new commuter backpack is on the way, as a user of the existing one there is very little I would change about it, so this is an interesting move. While Rapha backpacks are pricey, they are also incredibly good and well thought out pieces of kit.

The new take features an entirely reflective base, which is such a simple idea you have to wonder why it's taken anyone so long to do this. (okay, maybe they have, I can't be bothered to spend hours on Google looking)

There will also be new retracting buckle which sounds very intriguing.

I don't need a new bag, but already I know I will be taking a look at this when it launches.

Off-Bike wear

Now, I am a fan of cycling brands doing off-bike wear, it's nice to have an alternative to the usual slew of 3-stripes and ticks.

Titled 'The Logo' there isn't much detail other than it will feature sweatshirts and t-shirts.

We may well have seen a preview of the sweatshirt in Rapha's video for EF Education First where Harry Dowdney delivered the first of the new kit sporting a black tone-on-tone sweat which featured the Rapha logo in what looked like a chain-stitch embroidered style. Cool and understated, hopefully it's the one.

Always worth keeping an eye on the Rapha videos, new products quite often sneak their way into shot...last year on Race Radio we saw the new slides...and didn't even know.