Rapha, the British purveyor of some of the most expensive cycling kit on the market, is bringing its wares to a broader audience this spring with the line. The collection of four pieces, which offers Rapha鈥檚 understated style, will sell for between 35- and 50-percent less than the premium line.
鈥淐ore introduces Rapha to a customer price point where we鈥檝e not been available before,鈥 says Chris Distefano, the company鈥檚 communication director. 鈥淲e keep all the details, though, like high-quality fabric, finishing details, and a great chamois…so it鈥檚 distinctly Rapha.鈥
That sounds like good marketing, but is this just a grab for more customers using cheap seconds?
We鈥檝e been riding in Core for a couple of months, and it doesn鈥檛 feel like watered-down product in the least. The jerseys are constructed of a stretch fabric that鈥檚 perhaps not as lightweight as some of Rapha鈥檚 other materials, but is still soft and cooling in the heat. The details are dialed, including contrast fabric swatches at the neck and sleeves, a wide gripper elastic waist in the rear, reinforced rear pockets including a zipped pouch, and contrast stitching for Rapha鈥檚 characteristic arm-band look.
The bib shorts are just as good, starting with the same thick chamois that Rapha uses in its Classic bottoms. There are laser-cut silicone grippers at the quads and a huge rear cutout in the bibs for cooling. And the fabric, while thicker than that used in Rapha鈥檚 higher-end gear, is extremely compressive and comfortable.
So far, testers have loved the feel and performance of Core. Several have actually noted that the heavier fabrics seem more durable than those in the more premium lines.聽In fact, given the price differences鈥$115 for the Core jersey versus $170 for the Classic and $210 for the forthcoming , and $150 for the Core bibs as opposed to $235 for the Classics鈥攎any riders have said they might opt for the Core instead. It鈥檚 definitely excellent, everyday gear that outperforms most of the other budget options out there鈥攁nd looks better, too.
Rapha wouldn鈥檛 be Rapha without a healthy dose of affect, and Core definitely delivers in that respect. 鈥淚 looked a lot at Tadao Ando鈥檚 architecture, which is really simple and plain,鈥 says Rapha聽Head of Design Alex Valdman on his inspiration for the Core line. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always just four walls, but the order in which he builds the walls creates gaps, and it鈥檚 those gaps which produce light and brings real drama to his buildings. With Core, the main idea was how to use only one or two fabrics but still offer drama?鈥
For our part, we鈥檒l save the drama for those late-race attacks and high-speed descents. But we鈥檙e totally down with the good-looking cycling gear for less.
The collection is comprised of the Men鈥檚 Core Jersey in four colors and the Women鈥檚 Core Jersey in three, both for $115, the Core Bib Shorts for $150, and the Women鈥檚 Core Shorts for $120.