The Guardian: Branded v high street cycle gear tested.

[in4]

As I have no desire to look fashionable when I ride; indeed Tramp Couture is more me, the following article is offered for the more fashion conscious amongst us  

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2015/jan/19/the-best-men-and-womens-cycle-clothing-for-2015-tried-and-tested

Completely unrelated but: If you have a B&M shop near you they are selling tyre pressure gauges for 99p. Schrader only though.

[honesty]

I do like Rapha and vulpine stuff, but cant afford their RRP. Picking stuff up in the sale is a decent way of getting equipment from them though! The hidden hipster in me wants to get the vulpine blazer, but I dont think that even at the half prices sale price of £140 my wife would let that one get by!

[Danneaux]

I love Rapha and other High Quality stuff to look at but it is beyond my price range.

Instead, nearly all my jerseys come from the Goodwill/thrift shops. Shorts and tights I buy new but on sale, as the ones that show up used are really, really ehm, "used" in areas that just won't clean up nicely.

Every time I have purchased new clothing to use on tour, "something" has happened to it, be it a fall and tear-through, blackberry vines at speed, or chain oil and rim oxide...*especially* if the new item is also high-viz yellow.

I have therefore come to tour in nice-looking but less-than-new items or those that are deeply discounted at time of purchase, 'cos by tour's end they will inevitably be less nice and new than when I started. It is astonishing how deeply discounted last season's colors and styles can be on sale! I've picked up some good bargains that way, and it is a truism that in general Good Stuff lasts. Ian, the items you linked to look Real Nice.

Best,

Dan. (...who is indeed Careful of spending for bike clothing 'cos he knows it will have a hard life)