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rapha milano-roma collection

rapha milano-roma collection

i'd actually forgotten it was there. every time i'm looking for tunes to play on my ipod, i rarely make it as far as the letter 'p'. on occasion, i'd revisit my youth by flicking straight to the letter 'y' and listen to 'close to the edge' or, perchance, 'the yes album'. i never actually owned the latter on vinyl (yes, my teenage years were that long ago), but a schoolfriend of mine did; we pretty much wore out the grooves on 'starship trooper', demonstrating as it did the precise drumming of bill bruford.

rapha milano-roma collection

anyhoo, i digress somewhat. the letter 'p' is where a live rendition of 'celebration' by the eponymously named 'premiata forneria marconi' or 'pfm' resides and on friday eve, i bumped into it accidentally (to be honest, i thought it was on my old ipod). i'm tempted to say that it still sounds as fresh a piece of music as it did when first released in 1973, but i daresay that depends a great deal on your point of view and what you'd define as contemporary music. i'm more inclined to spend my listening time accompanied by the mel lewis sextet from an album recorded in november 1956.

rapha milano-roma collection

at any rate, the reason i mention 'pfm' is because rather than offering an italian profundity, premiata forneria marconi' apparently translates as 'award-winning marconi bakery', which, in milan of the 1970s, was probably every bit as progressive as pink floyd, gentle giant, or led zeppelin. in the true tradition of progressive rock bands that you thought had faded into their flared jeans some years past, pfm still exist, though i believe the only remaining original is the drummer.

rapha milano-roma collection

cycle races, perhaps thought of as progressive at the turn of the 20th century have not all fared so well in the longevity stakes. several have gone under in the wake of the uci's so-called mondialisation of the sport, a rather draconian inquisition that seems to uphold that only the strongest survive. thus our early season viewing often consists of straight roads disappearing into a horizon of sand dunes, rather than winding their way through quaint old european towns and villages. such is progress.

rapha milano-roma collection

but one particular race that not only disappeared from view before the 20th century was properly into its stride, but in point of fact, took place on only two occasions, some twelve years apart in 1906 and 1918, was milano-roma. it must surely be recorded as something of an oddity that both editions were won by the same rider (carlo galetti). and i think it safe to say that, had rapha not released an immaculate collection in tribute to the 100th anniversary of the event, you and i would never have heard of it. in fact, the only person i can think of for whom this is hardly news, would be herbie sykes, who has penned an essential paean on the rapha website.

rapha milano-roma collection

it almost goes without saying that, when imperial works does tributes, it doesn't do them by half. the entire collection, featuring items strictly limited in number, offers a merino wool jersey with matching, ribbed armwarmers, a merino roll-neck sweater, a double knitted merino wool track jacket, a t-shirt, cap, essentials case and silk scarf. the embroidered lettering on the jackets and jerseys is in a typeface reminiscent of the era, while the colours, even on the essentials case, are distinctly autumnal.

rapha milano-roma collection

there have been period jerseys released by rapha in previous years which, though every bit as desirable as those currently under discussion, could hardly be viewed as 100% practical. while those surfacing in the early years of the 20th century, often with buttoned chest pockets, are particularly iconic in this respect, it's not the ideal location for a 10mm allen key and a mini-pump, to say nothing of a digital camera or smartphone. the milano-roma jersey eschews such ephemera, preferring instead to offer the standard three rear pockets. the only concession to the past is a button fastening on each.

rapha milano-roma collection

my only carping about the latter would be that they seem a tad high when trying to retrieve that essentials case in the queue at debbie's. the weather has rarely been clement enough of late to ride sans waterproof, so its possible that the positioning is just ginger peachy when reaching for munchies when in the saddle. it's a theory i've not been able to verify.

the track jacket, far from being simply a vacuous offering, with no real practical application, is a well-judged piece of kit. having returned from my twelve-speed exploratory ride, it was a welcome option to don the zipped jacket while i proceeded with attendant, twelve-speed fettling. and on those less than balmy milano days, there are a couple of front pockets just where you need them. should any uninformed, civilian onlooker fail to make the velocipedinal connection, the back features the embroidered words 'milano-roma'. make sure to read herbie's words in case this proves to be a conversation starter.

rapha milano-roma collection

a cycling collection would be breaking the law if it didn't arrive with an appropriately themed casquette. milano-roma is no exception, with an item of cycling headgear that matches the jersey in both its colour incarnations, as well as the track jacket, should you cast regulatory process aside and wear it when not riding, but fettling (guilty as charged). if this collection proves as popular as i think it might, there's an evens chance that most of the stock will have gone by the time you read this. however, assuming your in luck, the link's printed below.

highly desirable.

the rapha milano-roma merino cycle jersey is available in black/pink (brown/orange/red seems to be sold out), in sizes ranging from small to xxl. price is £160. the merino track jacket can be had in black/white or brown/orange in limited sizes. price is £215. the merino roll neck is available in dark red or black again now only available in limited sizes. price is £180. the two variations of merino t-shirt are £60 each. the one-size-fits-all casquette is not yet available but will retail at £30, while the silk scarf retails at £50 and the essential essentials case is similarly priced at £50.

rapha milano roma collection

sunday 4 november 2018

rapha milano-roma collection ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................