The flashy designed ‘hazard pattern‘ kit of the Canyon//SRAM Women’s WorldTour professional team received a lot of positive feedback when the team announced it back in December, so Rapha went ahead with steps to bring the top-end gear to consumers. While many pro road teams offer their supporters replica kits, only a few offer the actual top-level materials and fit that the pros actually race in. Add in the fact that women remain less represented at the top end of sport, and it’s even harder to come by a proper pro women’s replica kit. The clothing line that Rapha has put together includes the key essentials that the team trains and races in, and now you can too…
We’ve had the chance to see the team race this kit in person during the surprisingly good weather of the Northern Classics, and even had the pleasure of a visit by rider Mieke Kröger when she stopped in at our Prague HQ to show us her setup during her non-traditional spring training tour.
The pro replica line includes four pieces of their top level everyday riding gear: a pair of new edition pro shorts, a new women’s cut aero race jersey, an all-conditions vest/gilet, and a lightweight neck warmer.
The Canyon//SRAM team Bib Shorts are a new-to-consumers women’s short. They use a lighter full mesh top/bib straps more like that of the men’s Pro Team offerings than the thinner Souplesse bibs, but still cut thinner at the front for women-specific comfort. The £170/210€/$260 shorts use the same top-end chamois that the team races on, as well as is found in the Souplesse bibs.
The Canyon//SRAM team Aero Jersey is the same high-performing, light and meshy jersey raced by Sky and now Canyon//SRAM and designed for maximum aero benefit. The £130/160€/$210 team jersey is the first time bringing this tech to women riders and is the fastest jersey Rapha has ever made with a smooth front to move air across the rider and a textured back that claims to break up airflow reducing drag. It uses the same new, updated fabric and fit tech that was just introduced to the men’s version this year as well.
At £80/95€/$120 the Canyon//SRAM team Gilet offers a lightweight vest to add a bit of warmth on those cold mornings or when the weather is more unpredictable. At just 76g, the light wind vest with a large mesh rear panel can easily be stuffed in half of a jersey pocket to be ready for anything.
And to anyone who has become addicted to the all-purpose Buff, Rapha has added their own version in the light Canyon//SRAM team Snood for £15/18€/$20. The lightweight neck warmer from Rapha is actually woven from proper PrimaLoft yarn for a quick drying, all-purpose warming piece, of course in the same colorful hazard pattern.
The entire line-up is available now to buy from Rapha. This is as good a chance as any for fans to show their support for the team, but also a chance to get ahold of a couple of new items that aren’t yet available in any other colors and patterns at the this top pro level.
Unfortunately for now, the new kit is only available to European customers. But don’t worry, that isn’t a permanent thing. We reached out to Rapha and were told that the US shop had a shipment on the Canyon//SRAM kit on the way, but it was going to be delayed a little bit as it cleared customs. It is en route though, so the US site’s not of coming soon should ring true. Update: We’ve also got confirmation from Rapha that with a big response from men looking to get the same look, they will be offering a men’s Canyon//SRAM replica line for Spring 2017.
