Autumn Road bike Clothing 2021 in Test Pro Team set from Rapha

The Rapha autumn set in the road bike clothing test: The weather in autumn is moody, so it's not always easy to find the right road bike clothing. For better orientation, we have examined five autumn sets from well-known manufacturers for you. Here's how the outfit from Rapha's Pro Team collection performed.

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Rapha clothing is only available through direct sales on their own website www.rapha.cc or at any of the Rapha Clubhouses located around the world. The English have an enormously wide range of racing bike clothing of all kinds and also equip a professional cycling team with EF Education-Nippo. The trademark is a contrasting colored "armband" that can be found on all jerseys and jackets.

Slide show: Road bike clothing test 2021: Fall set by Rapha Start slide show » # rennrad-outfit-rapha-8840

Here are general tips for road bike clothing for autumn

Rapha Pro Team Winter Bib Shorts Review

The Rapha Pro Team Winter Bib Shorts is a very special product that is unlikely to be available in a similar form from too many other suppliers. If you want to describe it very briefly, it is about winter trousers with short legs. The cut is based on the "normal Pro Team Bib Shorts", so it is athletically tight and with slight compression on the legs.

The unusual bib shorts are fully lined on the inside and also tailored with a windproof, three-layer fabric on the front. Breathable Thermoroubaix panels are used on the back to increase comfort. The high cut on the stomach is also striking, in this area the fabric goes up significantly further than in summer pants and thus offers significantly better thermal insulation.

The Rapha Pro Team Winter Bib Shorts live up to their name and sum it up in one word: warm. This makes it a solution for all racing cyclists who absolutely don't like long trousers, but still want to be out and about in cold weather. Combined with the Pro Team Leg Warmers, the result is a combination that is not inferior to genuine winter trousers in terms of thermal performance. With rather mild temperatures in autumn, however, this is usually too much of a good thing.

But the bib shorts offer alternatives to long winter pants. If you don't want your knees and legs to be that warm, you can combine them with thin but very breathable merino knee or leg warmers and thus find a personal feel-good setup. If your knees are largely insensitive, you can ride without long trousers even in winter. In any case, you will hardly freeze in the areas that are covered by the pants.

Equipment, quality and workmanship correspond to the ambitious price of 230 euros and give no cause for criticism. The legs are a little longer than usual, depending on the area of ​​application, and reach almost to the knee. The wide and completely rubberized cuffs offer a lot of comfort and excellent support. The straps are also comfortable and fit perfectly.

# The Rapha Pro Team Winter Bib Shorts have a very high waistband - this creates extra warmth on cold days.# There is also a lot of heat protection in the kidney area on the back - the straps are very comfortable.# The leg is slightly longer than cut like the "normal" Rapha trousers - it reaches almost to the knee and thus keeps you warmer.# The Rapha lettering is made of reflective material - small, reflective seams also increase passive safety.# The wide and rubberized leg ends offer lots of support - the inside is fully lined with brushed fleece material.# A name tag can be found on all items in the Rapha Pro Team line - great for team riders who get their laundry done, but more of a gimmick for the average Joe.

Compact information and prices

Price: RRP €230

Our recommendation: For temperatures below 12 degrees.

Rapha Pro Team LS Training Jersey Review

As the name suggests, the Rapha Pro Team LS Training Jersey is designed for sporty and ambitious racing cyclists. It fits skin-tight and has not an ounce of fabric too much. The fact that it is by no means uncomfortable is due to the excellent cut, which is perfectly tailored to the posture on the racing bike. If you stand upright, the zipper pulls both at the neck and at the waistband, but the Pro Team Training Jersey fits perfectly in the riding position.

The fabric feels very comfortable on the skin, the cuffs are designed with a wide flexible "band" and fit perfectly. The end of the waistband is designed with the same material, here it is also rubberized all around. The jersey sits very securely when riding - even with filled pockets - and does not slip. The jersey pockets are roomy and well placed, however there is no pocket that is secured with a zip.

The front zip runs very easily and can be operated with one hand in all situations while driving. It has a wind flap over the entire length, and there is also a comfortable cover at the neck end. The breathability is excellent due to the rather thin material.

# The Rapha Pro Team LS Training Jersey fits skin-tight - when standing, the zipper pulls the neckline down, in the driving position everything fits perfectly.# The contrasting armband is Rapha's trademark - here in orange it also increases visibility.# The width The waistband is completely rubberized - it keeps the jersey firmly in place.# The front zipper is fully backed - the cover on the neck prevents unpleasant scratching.# A wide, elastic cuff is used on the cuffs - this is very comfortable and functional.# Three spacious pockets offer enough space for vest, jacket & Co. - unfortunately there is no pocket with a zip.

Concise information and prices

Price: RRP €115

Our recommendation: You can see it at first glance, the Rapha Pro Team LS Training Jersey is made for sporty use in rather mild autumn temperatures. Ideal for ambitious training sessions. Without a jacket for temperatures above 12 degrees.

Rapha Pro Team Base Layer Test

The Rapha Pro Team Base Layer Shirt is skin-tight but very comfortable to wear. It consists of a very thin fabric with a mesh structure on the front and back, and a wafer-thin, silk-like fabric on the side. The cut is ideal - the undershirt fits snugly without constricting and the torso is cut comfortably long.

The seam on the shoulder is pushed forward so that the straps of the racing bike pants cannot rub on the seam. So that nothing can chafe or pinch, the fabric is not sewn here, but glued! A round fabric insert is attached to the neck using the same technique. The sewn-in name tag on the lower back is a signature feature found on all Rapha Pro Team Series tops. It will probably rarely be used by the average consumer, but it doesn't bother us either.

# Even if there is a bit of fabric sticking out on the shoulder in the photo - the Rapha Base Layer fits great and is very comfortable on the skin - alternatively, the Pro Team Base Layer Shirt is also available as a long-sleeved version. # The fabric seam on the shoulder is pulled forward and glued - this increases comfort and prevents uncomfortable pressure points.

In use, the thin undershirt shines with an extremely comfortable fit and excellent breathability. In addition, it dries very quickly. It fulfills its purpose with flying colors and never attracts negative attention. All in all, this leads to the test victory among the base layers.

Compact information and prices

Price: RRP €60

Our recommendation: As the first layer on the skin in mild temperatures. But it also works in winter and midsummer. Also available as a long sleeve version.

Rapha Pro Team Leg Warmers Test

Long, windproof, warm - these are the characteristics of the Rapha Pro Team Leg Warmers in a nutshell. The leg warmers reach from the thighs to the ankles and are very well cut. If you hold them in your hand, you can immediately see that they are "preformed" for the bent leg. Size M fitted our tester perfectly with a height of 1.76 meters and 66 kg.

The wide, rubberized waistband keeps the leg warmers in the perfect position on the thighs without adding bulk. A narrow waistband without rubber is used at the ankle. The fabric on the front is windproof and water-repellent, while material with higher breathability is used on the leeward side. The leg warmers are fully lined with brushed fleece material on the inside. Large, white reflective elements on the calves increase passive safety.

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The Rapha Pro Team Leg Warmers are easy to pedal and also fit perfectly on the knees. However, they are rather too warm for autumn, especially when worn together with the Pro Team winter bib shorts. Both in combination, however, result in a completely winter-ready set. The Leg Warmers shown here are also an excellent match for thinner pants, because the thighs alone are excellently protected from wind and cold.

# The Rapha Pro Team Leg Warmers are long, windproof and warm - and more suitable for cold days below 10 degrees.

Information compact and prices

Price: RRP €70

Our recommendation: For temperatures in the single digits and below.

Rapha Pro Team Winter Socks Test

Do you have to wear special cycling socks when cycling? No, but it makes sense because the requirements are different than running, for example. The Rapha Pro Team Winter Socks shine with great construction and excellent workmanship. Different materials are processed with different knitting techniques to an excellently fitting and comfortable to wear sock.

The winter socks are quite fluffy and thickly padded in the heel and ankle area, but they are not too bulky in cycling shoes and they also fit in summer shoes. The always critical seam on the toes is perfectly finished and never rubs uncomfortably. The high merino content ensures cozy warmth in cool temperatures without leading to sweaty feet.

# Well made, warm and coordinated with the design of the tops - the Rapha Pro Team Winter Socks are also convincing.

Information compact and prices

Price: RRP €25

Our recommendation: Warm socks for cool days. In well-ventilated shoes for temperatures below 15 degrees, otherwise on colder days.

Test conclusion: Rapha autumn set

The fact that the tested clothing items from Rapha do not all fit perfectly together is due to the limited availability at the time of the test. However, it in no way reduces the performance of each product on its own. The winter bib shorts are very special trousers that are of particular interest to people who absolutely do not want to wear long trousers on the bike. In connection with the tested leg warmers, you don't even have to worry about minus degrees. Base layer and jersey harmonize perfectly and are an excellent choice for warmer autumn days, which we have been able to experience in November for a number of years. The Pro Team collection is intended for sporting use, cuts and materials are perfectly matched to it. The fit of the jersey in a sporty driving position is outstanding.

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What are your experiences with Rapha fall road clothing, any combination tips?

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Here are the other tests of road bike clothing for autumn 2021