Rapha Pro Team LS Thermal
£150 Long-sleeve jersey from the ubiquitous Londoners
THIS JERSEY HAS all the hallmarks you’d expect of Rapha kit. The fabric feels delightful, the colour is rich and the details are well thought out. Pro-Team is Rapha’s range of race-focused premium cycling kit that uses the same tech as the brand’s sponsored teams, with lightweight fabrics and a focus on aerodynamics.
It’s described as a jersey for cool weather, and the thermal aspect comes from the micro-grid construction that’s designed to wick sweat away and create warm pockets of air. This means the jersey is light, slimline and very breathable. It kept me comfortable during hard efforts in early spring, with sweat drying rapidly. The sleek fit also worked well for wearing under a waterproof in the wet.
However, the jersey was very susceptible to the wind. When testing it after February’s run of storms, I often needed extra layers as those air pockets were gone in a stiff breeze. Neither was it as warm as other kit I’ve used in cool temperatures, so is probably more suited to spring than winter riding for those susceptible to the cold.
In its favour, the details of the jersey (which comes up smaller than items in Rapha's Classic or Core ranges) are perfectly considered. The seamless construction is incredibly comfortable and would trump layering with thermal arm warmers any day. The zips are substantial enough to be easily used with gloves, without looking clunky. There’s also a zip-protector on the collar to prevent rubbing. It comes with some of the best pockets I’ve found on women’s cycling kit. They sit in a sensible position, are easy to access when riding, and aren’t outrageously small.
At £150, it’s pricier than Rapha’s longsleeved tops from the Classic (£125) and Core (£70) ranges. However, the pricing is on a par with tech-focused tops from other premium brands, and my existing Rapha kit is certainly built to last.
THESE HAVE LONG been Le Col’s sole roadbike shoes and, while they’ve had a few updates along the way, the size range could still be a lot better. The luxurious feel of the shoes justifies the fairly high price tag, but the wipeable black colourscheme is a little shiny for us, so we’d go for the white option.
Comfort comes
Since Le Col’s founder Yanto Barker is a former pro, you might expect a racier shoe, but it’s comfort that’s the abiding feeling here. That snug cycling slipper sensation comes from a lengthy padded tongue that protects the foot from the duo of ATOP dials and wires, plus there’s a supple leather upper, secure heel counter and dense footbed. Despite this plushness, the 520g per pair weight is acceptable and a touch lighter than the dhbs. The ATOP dials allow the tension to be incrementally tightened, but to ease it a little, you have to fully loosen then start tightening again.
On the road
The Le Cols instantly outgun the dhbs for ventilation on big rides, with mesh panels on the toe box and perforated channels on the sides giving a broader influx of air. The Pro Carbons are built on top of a Uni Directional (UD) carbon sole with a substantial heel bumper for café stops. Whether it’s down to a slight flex in the carbon sole or the dense footbed, power transfer feels less explosive than with the dhbs and the carbon soles are prone to scuffs.