thewashingmachinepost




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rapha core range cargo bibshorts

rapha core range cargo bibs

you may have read my monologue from yesterday describing my maiden visit to islay's latest distillery at ardnahoe, but a mile or so from bunahabhain distillery on the north coast. i was pretending that the sole reason was to deliver brekafast menus printed earlier in the week, but to be honest, apart from being a tad nosey, i felt honour bound to try the espresso available in the café. kindly, i have been invited to the official opening this coming friday, where lord george robertson of port ellen will cut a ribbon across the balcony doors, with the paps of jura behind him and we will officially be populated by nine malt whisky distilleries, accompanied by a tenth on jura.

on wednesday of this week, elixir spirits will hold the mandatory pre-planning application, public meeting in port ellen, in advance of their hope to become the eleventh distillery at farkin, just behind the tenth; an eventual re-opening of diageo's port ellen distillery. if you like whisky, this may soon be the very hub of the universe.

rapha core range cargo bibs

however, while trying to keep out of the way at ardnahoe i had cause to mention to the visitor centre manager (who, at one time, used to join us on the sunday morning ride) that i was a vegetarian. unlike vegans who apparently feel the need to announce their dietary choice to anyone within earshot, i had only made this fact manifest to avoid any embarrassment at the lunch to accompany the opening on friday. keen to underline the versatility of their menu, he presented me with a copy of the latter, attractively printed on brown paper, but eminently too large to carry home unfolded. you will also be doubtless aware that, folding and sticking it in a jersey rear pocket, would only incur perspiration stains about its person, than would be less than seemly in polite company.

rapha core range cargo bibs

fortunately, though not altogether deliberately, aside from my bespoke ardnahoe cycle jersey, i was clad in a pair of rapha's core range cargo shorts, released to the public earlier today. similar in format to the cargo shorts forming part of their explore/brevet range, these feature a mesh pocket on the outside of each leg, and a third, impressively large instance, where one would normally store one's race radio. it did occur to me on the return trip from the distillery, that i was probably possessed of sufficient cargo space to have taken home a large slice of coffee cake, a cappuccino, the menu and one of the copper stills resonsible for producing ardnahoe spirit. actually, that last one is a fib, but i'm sure i've made my point.

rapha core range cargo bibs

thankfully, my left thigh appears not to perspire as profusely as my torso, for on return to the croft, the menu merely suffered from a few indiscreet folds and a slightly crushed corner. but it was, i'm pleased to say, perfectly legible and presentable for mrs washingmachinepost to read. now i'd scarcely think that, at the design stages, rapha had uppermost in their minds, the possibility that cyclists such as myself would feel the necessity to carry home a folded menu. this is the very lycra garmentage that offers the intrepid, exploratory cyclist, the option of riding sans jersey, yet still have the ability to pack tyre-levers, essentials cases, multi-tools, sleeping bags and kit-kats for the lengthy and arid journey ahead.

rapha core range cargo bibs

though i am still bereft of a smartphone, according to common lore, any one of the shorts' three mesh pockets is capable of cossetting such a contemporary device (though i heartily recommend that you simply say 'no'). for those who, like me, harboured doubts over the profile engendered by carrying oddly shaped 'stuff', fear not, though i cannot answer for those of you who take your rubik's cube everywhere you go. in the process of nabbing a few photos with which to illustrate this review, i contained the lumix digital camera in a leg pocket, without attracting suspicious looks from those already supping froth in debbie's café.

rapha core range cargo bibs

however, pockets or no pockets, all would be as naught, were the comfort and fit of these core range cargo shorts to be found wanting in action. similar to their non-cargo core bibs, i found the larg(ish) hems on the legs, to be not quite as close-fitting as haute couture would demand, but this is a situation that reconciles itself in the saddle, and there was no sign of either leg creeping up at speed. the pad is comfort personified and the bibs advertised themselves not at all, throughout many perambulations of this malt whisky infested island.

for those attracted to the cargo milieu originally sported in the brevet range, but who found the price of admission just a smidgeon too high, these might ameliorate your sense of despondency, priced as they are at a more approachable £110. at that price, what's not to like?

rapha's core range cargo bibshorts are available in the usual sizes, in black only, with a rapha logo all but concealed behind the mesh leg pockets. there are also women's non-bib cargo shorts available at a cost of £95.

core range cargo shorts

monday 8 april 2019

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