Test ride: After pure cycling glasses, the Pro Team Glasses, Rapha is now also introducing a helmet – called the Rapha Helmet. Does it make sense to style yourself from head to toe with the luxury brand's products? Absolutely...
No sooner did you get the feeling that the British high-end supplier would move away from its core range with accessories such as Bang & Olufsen headphones for roller training, when the brand went back to where you would expect it to be: on the body of the demanding cyclist, or more precisely on his Head. With the Rapha Helmet, which, like the supplier's shoes, was developed in close cooperation with Giro, the range is basically complete. Nothing is missing when it comes to rider equipment, especially since the Rapha cycling glasses were presented a few months ago - more on that later.
Rapha Helmet - practically identical to the Giro Synthe MIPS
Elegant looks and optimal function are Rapha's two guiding principles, and since the latter is something for specialists in a product like the bike helmet, the cooperation with Giro seems only logical. At the end of the day, Rapha's helmet was about putting the finishing touches on a very good product - namely the Giro Synthe MIPS, from which the Rapha helmet differs only in details. Where the Giro sports perforated panels with large manufacturer logos, the Rapha is sleek and sleek; where that is also available in two-tone variants, this comes in three colors (plus the RCC version), which then cover a larger area of the helmet. Both are characterized by the usual good Giro fit, as well as the innovative MIPS system. As a reminder, this is an additional layer on the inside of the helmet that allows rotational movements relative to the head and is therefore intended to reduce the risk of injury to the cervical spine - for example when the helmet is braked abruptly on rough asphalt.
At 254 grams in the middle of three sizes, the Rapha Helmet is quite light; how it performs aerodynamically will be shown in the wind tunnel at some point. And users have to find out for themselves whether the practical openings for inserting glasses (more on that later) work.
It is also interesting that Rapha is comparatively reluctant to price its helmet. While the list price of the Giro Synthe MIPS is €299,95, the British are asking €275 for their model – which of course then has to be paid for, while the street price of the Giro goes down to €200.
Rapha Pro Team Glasses – unusually attractively priced
Just as interesting as the new helmet are the Rapha Pro Team Glasses, which were introduced a few months ago. Following on from last year's elegant and traditionally styled Rapha Classic Glasses, this is a pure cycling eyewear that, while looking rather spacey, is very functional. It starts with the not too dark, bronze-colored mirrored lens, which is manufactured by Carl Zeiss and offers a clear, distortion-free view. The mirroring acts like a polarizing filter and reduces dazzling light reflections; the size of the pane offers the advantage that you have a clear view in all directions - so there is no disturbing frame in the way when you look over your shoulder, for example. In addition, the pane offers almost perfect protection against drafts. The temples have a round cross-section and are rubberized at the ends; their slightly rounded shape prevents the glasses from slipping off your face when you look down. The only disadvantage is that the temples fold in quite easily when you want to put on the glasses - slightly tighter hinges would be better.
Rapha offers different temple colors, lenses in different tints, and all of this at interesting prices: €165 for the glasses, €95 for an interchangeable lens – this puts the British high-end supplier on the same level as the competition, which, however, is not nearly as elegant comes along.