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TECH NEWS
Rapha Sonic CollectionRapha launches Futuro Collection in celebration of the bold designs of the ’80s and ’90s
Rapha says that the limited edition collection “honours the era when professional cycling first looked to the future, embraced new technology, and transformed itself beyond all recognition.”
The range consists of three designs, the Coureur, Sonic and Futuro, with Rapha aiming to remind you of particular times in cycling when bikes were heavier, and racers didn't know what functional threshold power was. It was an innocent time (in terms of tech anyway) and many look back on those days as a heyday for panache.
Coureur
“Inspired by the audacious riding style of the young upstart Claudio Chiapucci, the Coureur Jersey features design elements honouring the effervescent Italian’s infamous attack during the opening stage of the 1990 Tour. Complete with embroidered details, luxurious merino wool, and three button-secured pockets, the jersey honours a rider whose raw emotion flew in the face of a peloton preoccupied with technological progress.”
This jersey features a very classic look with its buttoned rear pockets and short front zip. You can complete your retro look with the matching cotton cap.
Sonic
“As well as paying visits to futuristic attractions like Futuroscope, the Tour in the early 90s was defined by new technology, and an influx of new technological sponsors. The Sonic collection harks back to this era of innovation when traditional kit designs were completely overhauled with the advent of sublimation printing. Comprising a special edition jersey, bib shorts, socks and headband, the collection honours a period of racing when electric colours, and electrifying performances, were de rigueur.”
Obviously, no throwback would be complete without some garish colour combinations and the ubiquitous headband. A frosted tips haircut is optional.
Futuro
“The 1990 peloton looked right at home framed by Futuroscope – a science-fiction theme park designed to showcase the best of modern technology. Hosting not only that year’s prologue, but a double-header Grand Départ featuring a 138-kilometre morning race and a 45-kilometre team time trial in the afternoon, pro cyclist Frans Maassen described it as “like something from space.” The Futuro collection takes inspiration from these futuristic surroundings with special edition design elements and a striking reflective treatment.”
A double-header opening day, but does this kit remind you of the start of a sci-fi age? Surely the soundtrack to this kit has to come from the likes of Blur or Oasis, or is that starting another argument?
I wasn’t around in the ‘80s and football was my big love in the '90s, so I’ll throw this over to you, our highly-fashionable readers. How do Rapha’s designs do in paying homage to the best jersey designs from years gone by? Would they make the grade in our Full Kit Ranker competition from earlier this year, or even challenge the La Vie Claire jersey that you voted the best of all time? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments as always; but in the meantime, if you're a Rapha Cycling Club member then the kit is available to you now, and the general sale begins on Friday 13th November.
Latest Comments
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Those rainbow bands look more like plaid at that speed.
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18 comments
Looks at 'sonic' kit release image
Checks calendar - not April 1st
Looks at 'sonic kit release image
Checks calendar - not April 1st
Confused.
I actually like this collection from Rapha. it's not outrageous, it's not supposed to be. The palace collab was.
what I would really like to know is what bib shorts that guy has on with the horizontal logo. They look thicc and raw cut, I like it. Not in the collection tho?
Pretty sober for 80's / 90's tributes.
Retinas well and truly seared by what looked like a '93 vintage Mapei jersey on Keighley Road this morning, and that was just the sleeves. Thank the Lord he was wearing a gilet over most of it!
They need to model it on a fat bloke from Stockport!
'RCC Early Access' for the kit, which mean RCC memebers will buy it all out and have it on ebay at 500% markup by the end of the day.. Shame about riders who might actually want it to wear..
They need to put a stop to that!!
I have to agree with the previous comments. Over the last 6/7 years I've bought a fair bit of Rapha clothing as Its always fitted me well, the quality has been good and its looked smart.
They've lost their way recently though I think, there seems to be nothing new, its just churning out different colour combo's of the same tired design. Then throw in some mediocre "80's" designs and its yet more laziness...
Come on Rapha , up your game.
I think they are too big to change now. They are now just another global brand with shareholders. Mottram might still be involved and his cycling passion is what's driven the company in the past, but it's beyond a lifestyle business for him now... any genuine values we might have seen within Rapha are now getting too diluted.
I like some of the Rapha kit, but I don't value the brand as I once did. Better to look at smaller brands for that missing jigsaw piece of passion Spatz, Velobici, Ashmei, Mamnick, ReStrap, Alpkit, Velocity, Vel-Oh...
I agree, to be honest I've been buying a lot of La Passione gear this year and the quality is fantastic. Not to mention the delivery speed. I ordered a long sleeve thermal jersey yesterday afternoon circa 3pm, its now 11am and its just arrived ( From Italy !!!)
I'm sure it's great gear but they have 10%? of the variation of rapha - they are literally selling the same thing but with different colour schemes over and over (if that was the point you are agreeing with)
Looks good gear though, I've heard it's pretty decent quality too
Its of limited styles yes but its also a much smaller company, Rapha has been going a lot longer and has peddled the same design for nearly all that time.
The La Passione gear is top notch, I bought one of their Rain Jerseys and its my go to autumn/winter top. My only criticism of it is it could do with a waterproof zipped pocket.
It's a good design though, it stands out a lot more than any other high end kit. The pro team stuff is my go-to in terms of fit and style. The problem for me with this special edition stuff is it's just so safe and boring, why would I want any of it? If it's special then make it stand out, this could be from any of the brands listed in the comments. They look no different to the country jerseys they did a while ago.
Give me some proper garish stuff like the Palace collaboration and I might even join RCC to get my hands on it. Something wild like a giant Yakuza tattoo of a dragon over the back or whatever, I'd wear the shit out of it
with the likes of Velobici,nice as it is,you need a bank loan to buy their stuff.
But say this everytime Rapha pop up here with another crazy thrown together piece of kit, I dont know who they are designing this stuff for anymore. Who is the archetypal Rapha kit wearing cyclist thesedays ? Who does this appeal to ?
Most of the Rapha originals seem to have switched to LeCol from my observations.
Yep full agree. I used to be head to toes in Rapha but the brand isnt passion anymore. Le Col jacket, Spatz overshoes and Galibier shorts and gloves and I feel like im buying from authentic cyclist companies who actually ride bikes with gears.
Don't think there's a single brand out there that hasn't done the same. The mainstream ones are the worst e.g. Castelli and so on - they've barely changed in 8 years I've been cycling. There's only so many designs you can recycle I suppose.
Rapha do these retro things every few years...sometimes they work, sometimes not but you can at least get them cheap in their sales
They've launched plenty of new stuff - their adventure bib shorts with pockets and the custom kit builder with online designer application spring to mind. Maybe they haven't launched anything new that you like, but that's a different story.
Not only are they nothing like kit from the 80s, they're not even good by today's standards. Hard pass
Not too much creativity here. Just someone else ideas recycled many years later 'with a modern twist'. Its true: what goes around, come around. Time to dig out my old Panasonic jersey - its trendy again.