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rapha explore range, insulated goose-down jacket

rapha explore range down jacket

there's something about thursday that apparently makes it the day on which to target new stuff. though no longer a regular reader, the comic, otherwise known as cycling weekly has long made use of the fourth day of the week to issue its latest publication. at one time in the distant past, in a clever pastiche of the football/soccer magazine 'when saturday comes', the comic would feature adverts with vintage photos of public schoolboys all crowding round one fortunate fellow holding a colour copy of the magazine. the heading stated 'when thursday comes'.

rapha explore range down jacket

it's also the day favoured by channel e4 when introducing new series of 'the big bang theory' and other comedies, invariably stringing together three or four in a (successful) attempt to have us settle down in front of the tv rather than do something else instead. and it may not have escaped your attention that new book releases most often take place on thursdays, all across the publishing world, for no particular reason that i can think of.

rapha explore range down jacket

and it was also the day of the week when rapha regularly published a new instalment of the late-lamented, north-american rapha continental. the exciting and well-documented exploits of daniel wakefield pasley, jeremy dunn et al as they cycled along the road less travelled, exploring many a hitherto unheard of gravel route across the united states, pretty much always surfaced on rapha.cc on a thursday and i'm not ashamed to say that i eagerly awaited those stories, images and movies. because, though it might be thought a tad obvious to mention, that's the sort of cycling most of us would like to undertake. a group of like-minded individuals, in this case all aboard hand-built steel bicycles, equipped with pink chris king componentry, staying off the beaten track, enjoying the camaraderie and showing rapha apparel to very good effect.

rapha explore range down jacket

though i have no inside information to make an official connection between the continental and rapha's brevet, range, it can't be entirely coincidental that the two appear to have similar aims, except the latter seems intent on providing the wherewithal to travel those less-travelled roads, particularly for those who are bereft of motorised backup. for the continental were always shadowed by an accompanying mini-bus, initially harbouring not only the bicycles on a roof-rack, but all manner of accoutrements inside.

rapha explore range down jacket

brevet, on the other hand, a range that has partially morphed into the explore collection, seems geared (if you'll pardon the pun) more towards a degree of self-sufficiency, featuring as it does, the necessary bags for bikepacking, the modern, funky successor to plain old touring. and given that such is the case, no longer is there the option of hiding in the van, 'til the weather clears long enough to pitch a tent or dig a hole in the ground. that, i'm sure you'll agree, makes it something of a necessity to be wearing a jacket that offers unparalleled 'cosy and warm', yet adds but scant grammes to the bikepacked luggage.

rapha explore range down jacket

that's sort of where rapha's latest down-filled jacket fits the bill. though the brevet range previously featured an insulated jacket, quite frankly, it was nothing like this latest offering to the intrepid explorer. featuring goose down held in place within a series of separately sewn compartments, the jacket weighs almost nothing at all. attached to the coat-hook loop at the collar was a scarily small stuff-sack into which, believe it or not, the entire jacket, replete with hood, was able to fit. almost worth the price of admission itself.

rapha explore range down jacket

it's a jacket that lends itself to both on and off-the-bike wear; let's face it, when you've finished exploring the hinterlands, or, as in jake stangel's excellent accompanying photos, you have need of travelling on a calmac ferry, this is the very garment that will allow you to steer clear of the cafeteria and watch any following porpoises from even the most exposed part of the deck.

there are two, zipped hand pockets just where you'd expect hand pockets to be, while on the pink-lined inner surface there are a further two open pockets into which wallets, phones, sunglasses, spare socks and the detached hood might reasonably be placed. should that calmac ferry be heading into the wind, the detachable hood will shelter your ears even when you're still wearing a helmet.

rapha explore range down jacket

i'm none too sure as to just what sort of ambient temperature might be viewed as disfavourable, given my somewhat exposed residence, but though i rode the road very often travelled, in windchill of nine degrees celcius, wearing but a rapha technical t-shirt neath the jacket's cosiness, i was verging on being too hot. in fact, so far i have found no necessity to wear anything more substantial than the above mentioned t-shirt or a merino baselayer. should the temperature drop further (which it is forecast to do by next weekend), i think it highly likely that a long-sleeve baselayer will suffice.

rapha explore range down jacket

for the more technical approach, the hang tag accompanying the jacket rates its fill power as 850, a measurement relating to the ability of the goose down to regain its original volume after being compressed whether during shipping, storage, or in general use. the maximum figure is apparently 900, so this stuff is pretty ginger peachy. the down is guaranteed fluorocarbon free, water resistant and bluesign approved. the latter is, apparently, the 'everest of approvals in manufacturing', a system designed to offer a solution for sustainable textile production, eliminating any and all harmful substances from the beginning of the manuacturing process. let's face it, if you're intent on exploring the great outdoors on a bicycle, surely an ethical approach is one that you'd prefer to abide by?

and should you be inclined to investigate further, the same hang tag features the goose down lot number that can be tracked via trackmydown.com. the down filling in the review garment was apparently 100% sourced from central europe and processed in los angeles, california. though i have so far managed only to get the jacket midly damp, rapha assure that it offers sufficient water resistance to maintain warmth even under the most extreme conditions you're likely to encounter.

fortunately, however, i don't own a tent; any continental style brevetting i might undertake would currently need to feature a hotel room at the beginning and end. happily, it's a jacket that would scarcely look out of place in the lobby.

rapha's down jacket is available in dark navy, dark green or black in sizes xxs to xxl. retail price is £220. | rapha down jacket

monday 22 october 2018

twmp ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................