Rapha Pro Team Base Layer- Review

Pro Team Base Layer- Rapha

Rapha is a company I have a lot of admiration for, the clothing they make tends to be of a high quality, if a little expensive, and they set themselves high standards of customer service along with that. So when I received a sleeveless pro team base layer (they come in short sleeved and sleeveless options) for a present I have to admit, even though I previously had never bought into wearing base clothing, even in the cold, I was intrigued to see what Rapha had to offer. 

I'm glad I tried it out because now I never ride without one. The material covering the main body of the garment is made from a polyester mesh whilst the shoulders and side panels are lycra. The mesh is so light and breathable that you hardly notice you are wearing it in the hotter climates it's made for and the mesh wicks away sweat to keep you cool. I tried riding with and without one on a hot day (one of the few we've had in the UK this year) and even with the temperatures hitting 30 degrees I felt much the cooler with this base layer on. Another feature worth mentioning are the designs on the front of the base layers, 'MERCI ROUBAIX' on the short sleeved variant, replicating Franco Ballerini's farewell scrawl on the front of his base layer in the 2001 edition of the race in northern France and 'VOUS ÊTES DES ASSASSINS' on the sleeveless shirt, in honour of Octave Lapize's slight at Henri Desgrange up the Col d'Aubisque in 1910. The designs in my opinion look good but I'll let you be the judge of that...

As great as these base layers are I wouldn't risk wearing one past summer as they really don't bear up well in cooler temperatures. Plus, there's always the Rapha price-tag to go with these and at £40 and £45 for the sleeveless and short sleeved versions respectively, it's pretty steep. Although don't let that put you off, they're high quality and long lasting so you'll get your moneys worth. Furthermore these are 'race fit' so they are meant to be tight, I've read other reviewers complaining about fit but I don't understand that when Rapha clearly states that they're going to be a tight fit. The lycra panels do help  the material stretch but the polyester is pretty rigid, so if you're in any doubt go up a size.


Author: Michael Evans