The Luxembourg stealth project (Team Leopard) finally rolled out the hanger. Like everyone else I've been intrigued by the prospect of the world's most formidable team (based on individual past performance). I imagined, even expected something fresh considering the circumstances of the team's creation and its implicit rejection of the old guard.

I wasn't disappointed, the besuited team looked good against that B&W mountain projection and the "true racing" tag line has promise, in fact it all felt familiar. Why, because I think it bore the unmistakable influence of Rapha. The new website, the team kit, even the slightly over-the-top neck scarves borrowed a little from our Perren Street favorites, but in a good way.

Rapha has no patent on black, distinctive striping, asymmetry or high-contrast black and white photography. They'd be the first to admit all these elements have graphic precedents stretching back decades, if not centuries. Their brilliance, and I don't think that's an overstatement, was to pull all the elements together with an inspired narrative and unflagging good taste. The result has been distinctive and iconic; classic cycling recast in modern terms. And now seven years after their humble beginnings they shape an aesthetic that other companies emulate.

I'll start with rêve.cc the new venture Wilfred de Kruijf and I just launched. I've been a designer for twenty five years and worn so much black since adolescence that it actually became part of my studio's identity. My love of B&W photography goes back even further, but I owe Rapha a debt of gratitude for proving that the visual elements I've always loved can appeal to a cycling audience.

The Rapha influence is or has been evident in the identities of Team Sky, Primal, Outlier, Panache, Baum, Enigma, Peloton Magazine and now Team Leopard-Trek to name a few. Consciously or unconsciously the Rapha effect is out there.

This is not to say that cycling industry designers have no originality. The truth is, there's nothing truly new under the sun. Look hard enough and you'll find prior art for everything. Influences are everywhere, in fact designers are known for keeping piles of reference material around to stimulate creative thinking.

As it turned out I think the Leopard Kit is quite distinct from the Team Sky and Garmin-Cervelo designs, but it did have me wondering out loud whether the UCI might step in at some point to prevent too much black in the peloton. Imagine the difficulty in covering race moves if everyone looked the same, especially in poor conditions. To my Twitter friends who thought I was ignoring cycling history and teams who wore black kits in the past, that wasn't my point. Free of the 140-character limit, I hope I've made that clear.

And Luke, take something for that migraine, you started this.

The sharp stuff got me again tonight. I stopped once to pump some air into the tire, but managed to get the horse back to the barn without having to fix it in the rain. There's nothing so black and mucky as aluminum rims in the slop. Some of that inky black stuff splashed up on the pristine front of my cream Rapha rain jacket... not that I hadn't considered that possibility, but I'll admit it did have me questioning the wisdom of selecting cream over grey.

After further consideration, I have no doubt the splatter would look equally bad on the grey jacket.

I rinsed the bike off, fixed the flat and set about trying to get the muck off the jacket. All it took was a liberal application of Shout Advanced Gel stain remover* (product plug) worked into the spots with an old cotton sock. To my surprise all the stains lifted with some vigorous rubbing. Given how many spots were on the jacket it took a good ten minutes to get all of them. Then I laundered the jacket on the delicate cycle, warm wash/cold rinse... and it emerged good as new. Now that's good news.

UPDATE: This morning Jorgen rightly called me on declaring the Overshoes watertight before wearing them in the rain. Tonight I put them to the test under the tap. I think Kurt got it right earlier today in the comments. Though some neoprene can be waterproof, open cell neoprene typically allows a little water to permeate the fabric, and that water stays warm when heated by the body. That was the case tonight. The inside of the overshoe got damp, but not wet after 10 minutes under the tap. I didn't detect any leakage through the zipper or top seam.

The mornings got chillier last week. The bedroom floor let me know the score the minute my feet touched ground... it was time to break out Rapha's Merino Hat and Overshoes. For the next four months both will see regular commute action in the season that passes for winter here in California. The Merino Hat is a proven performer, the Overshoes are new.

Getting in and out of overshoes is often their Achilles heel. You want a close fit, but don't want a profanity-laced, death struggle every time you wear them. Tug too hard and some designs come apart. Rapha have done a terrific job getting the fit just right with formidable stitching. I will say I opted to go with Medium even though the Rapha fit chart indicates the upper bound is a size 42 shoe, and I wear a 43.

The black neoprene comfortably accommodates a pair of Specialized BG S-Works with Look cleats. The full-length rear zipper runs collar to heel, and its the primary reason the overshoes are so easy to put on. That said I'm following Don Powell's advice and leaving the overshoes on these shoes for the duration. It's actually quite easy to get in and out the shoes without removing them.

I've yet to get them wet but the snug fit around the cleats and collar (the collar is secured with a velcro closure) leaves little doubt they'll perform admirably. Layered over ventilated summer shoes and winter socks they should be good down into the mid 40s. Below that you might pair them with a heavier shoe like Specialized's Defroster.

Having assured their function, Rapha delivers in the style department as expected. It's a refined look, almost formal with a very nicely placed logo on the outside of each foot and a reflective tab on the heel. Wipe the neoprene with a damp cloth and they should continue to look smart for several seasons depending on how much abuse you give them.

The Rapha Overshoes are available in black, (S,M,L) $70 | £50.00

The Pacific Coast Highway was shrouded in mist for most of the 100 miles we rode in yesterday's Best Buddies Challenge. Tim, Marcella and I flew the Rapha flag start to finish, with those two opting for arm warmers and gilets while I went with a black Stowaway Jacket. Other than a brief spell on the climb at Big Sur I kept the jacket on for the duration. Given the cooler temperatures I wish I'd opted to wear the new Rain Jacket (yes I'm lucky enough to have one a little ahead of the curve). It's beautiful, but we'll get round to that in good time.

After bagging the last two climbs I shot straight past the final rest stop at Ragged Point with just 17 miles of shallow rollers to go. The thought of a hot shower and real food was all the motivation I needed. Forty miles earlier, in an effort to keep warm, I'd ridden off alone expecting Tim and Marcella to rejoin me in a few miles. As it turned out that never happened. I soldiered on, passing and being passed repeatedly by the same five or six guys. I never fail to find that weird.

In that last stretch from Ragged Point I caught a three-man bullet train and together we made short work of those final miles with a little tailwind push (not as good as last year Brendan... and you were missed). I picked up my backpack from ride support and hit the shower truck for a blissful ten minutes of hot water, then wrapped in a big Audi towel got dressed out in the sunshine and privacy of the men's enclosure.

Clean but tired and hungry I pulled on some comfy clothes: Rapha Touring Shorts and Rapha's new Merino Jersey. This was my first chance to wear the jersey and it's a very nice piece of soft, itch-free luxury. Like everyone else addicted to the brand, I was on pins and needles waiting to see what the fall lineup would bring and as usual the boys and girls from London didn't disappoint. The Merino Jersey feels classic, urban and stylishly casual all at the same time. The perfect fit for relaxing on the edge of the Pacific in the reluctant sunshine we'd been waiting all day for.

Brian over at thewashingmachinepost has got more good things to say about the Merino Jersey. This morning, after a good night's sleep, Juli and I headed out for breakfast at the Naglee Park Garage. Inspired by egg, spinach and mushroom lasagna we took a crack at some photos of the Merino Jersey paired with the Touring Shorts. As always, yours truly... A.K.A. ordinary guy wearing extraordinary kit.

Notes to follow about my Enigma Eulogy, and the latest mods/maintenance that had her purring beautifully on that century.

I'll preface this short post by saying I'm a solid guy. By solid I mean I've decided over many years that I prefer and think I look better in solid colors. Patterns are usually not my thing, but I'll make an exception for Houndstooth when it comes from my pal Don Powell at Panache Cyclewear.

A year ago I posted about the smart Panache GS Training Jersey; my first bite of Houndstooth kit. A few weeks back I met up with Don at Boulder's hip Black Cat Bistro and we had a great dinner with Colorado Spring's Continental ride host John Phillips and his lovely girlfriend. In addition to arriving via a rather cool looking cruiser, Don was sporting these sharp Houndstooth socks.

They've become my Socks de Jour (with nightly washing of course). I've even got a couple of good-natured "nice socks" call outs from motorists. Maybe the pattern is confusing their normal hostility. Get online order a pair; they're only $12.

Update: So when you've peeled off the soggy kit, cleaned up and pulled on some pants, you don't have to let the Houndstooth go. I found these Ben Sherman "Chill"s and added them to the sneaker collection. A bit of semi-formal fun... now top that Don.

For many of us the change of seasons brings with it the anticipation of what's new from our favorite cycling clothier. I'm pleased to report we're going to have a bumper crop of new Rapha kit to choose from this fall and winter, including: full-length trousers (amen); a rain jacket (in 2 colors); overshoes; legwarmers; a series of gentlemen's caps; and many more surprises. You've probably already seen the Rapha blog post but here's the link in case you missed it.

Your intrepid reporter and admitted all-round lucky bastard is fortunate to have several of the pieces in the closet already. I'll be doing a little riding in them and getting some images together so you've got something else to read while you're waiting for Fedex to deliver yours the day after they launch ;-). Of course Brian at twmp will have the full lineup of gear too. Between us we'll get you through those difficult first few days, as you decide what to buy and then wait for it to arrive. If you haven't been saving for this day, stop eating out, and start making sandwiches, you can't afford not to.

Around here September is going to be a heady month for Velodramatic. Interbike, CrossVegas and one spectacular shooting assignment that you'll hear plenty about in a couple of weeks. October will open with Levi's Granfondo and if I survive Coleman Valley Road at mile 80, I'll finally get a chance to put down the cameras and get to work on a photo book compiling the best of 2009. I hope you'll all come along for the ride.

Rain or shine the original has been backing me up for 18 months. I'm so used to wearing it that there's usually a moment on a weekend ride where I imagine something is missing. The minimal, low-profile design doesn't allow for any extra ballast. You pack the essentials and that's it. For my commute that means a clean shirt, briefs, small towel (shoes and trousers are kept at work), a couple of apples, my G9 digital camera, hand pump, 2nd extra tube, multi-tool, spare gloves, Stowaway Jacket and wet-wipes. Wallet and keys in one side pocket, cell phone in the other. The light loops on the shoulder straps and back usually have Knog Frogs or Beetles attached.

The original is a hard act to follow, but there are times when I need to carry a heavier load to or from work, and that's been a problem. Enter the new Large Fixed Backpack.

On first appearance it's surprisingly similar in size to its teammate. A little more square at the shoulders, perhaps half-an inch deeper (meaning away from your back). It has two generous exterior pockets instead of the three exterior pockets on the original. In terms of space it's probably an even trade, but I like the placement of these pockets on the original better. I can unclip the small chest strap, swing the pack off my left shoulder so it's easy to get at my keys and wallet in the right-side pocket. The new pack will require me to take it off to get at my keys and wallet. I'd love to see a shoulder strap phone pocket, like the stretch pockets on my Think Tank photo harness.

The Large Backpack features a familiar internal layout, both packs accommodate my MacBook Pro, though I seldom need to carry it. The additional half inch of depth (front to back) will provide a bit more room for an SLR body so I'm anticipating giving it a try for an upcoming road race shoot where I ride my bike to various points on the course.

It's only when you unzip the expandable rear panel that the LARGE designation make sense. Take a look at the comparison photos of what fits in the respective packs. A couple of caveats. In the photographs where the Large backpack is expanded, it contains the shoes and my MacBook Pro. My Giro Ionos does fit in the expandable section, but not at the same time as a pair of shoes. Fully loaded with laptop and shoes the pack weighed 12 lbs.

Expanded, the Large Backpack loses its svelte profile. Of course, if you want the option of additional capacity, it's a small aesthetic price to pay for practicality. The shoulders straps continue to provide good support for the bigger load, stabilized by the chest strap and the addition of a waist strap. When not in use, the waist strap can be neatly stowed behind the lower section of back padding.

In answer to those of you trying to decide between the two. It really comes down to how much you regularly carry. Both Fixed Backpacks are identical in materials and basic construction. The original has lived up to its waterproof rating and cleans up nicely on the occasions it's been covered in road grime, I'd expect no less of its stablemate.

The Rapha Large Fixed Backpack is priced at £125 $200 €140

If you want or need to carry a full change of clothes (briefs, socks, shoes, trousers and shirt) along with a laptop the Large is the way to go. As you can see, when the expandable section is collapsed, it has a clean profile. On the other hand, if you like the minimalist discipline, go with the original. Both will give you years of good service.

Fausto Coppi's storied life ended before I celebrated my first birthday. He appears in period photographs with the dark, chiseled looks of a film star. In many of those images he's wearing a collared wool jersey with buttoned-down chest pockets emblematic of a more fashionable age. Rapha's 2009 Campionissimo Jersey, beautifully crafted in the softest merino wool pays homage to his unprecedented Giro/Tour double in 1949. It arrived two weeks ago with a nice note from Slate Olson to put it on and get out for a ride. Wearing it produced no magic alchemy. It's ordinary blood, not petrol that runs through these veins. Nevertheless, the Campionissimo is a classic change of pace from the technical kit we regularly wear, and a perfect fit for a warm spring day with no agenda save an easy pedal with the wind. Ignore the momentary cloudburst in the first picture.

How to wear the Campionissimo is a matter of personal taste. I first wore the jersey with Rapha's ¾ Bib Shorts, but I prefer pairing it with the Touring Shorts, and since it has no rear pockets... tucked in. For those of us riding above the welterweight division, its a tailored alternative that fits perfectly with Rapha's urban motif.

To the Swift

Later this month Rapha will release the new Swift Jersey to celebrate Portland's soaring bicycle culture. The swift is accurately described as the most aerial of birds, feeding, drinking, mating and staying aloft even at night. A fitting metaphor for a city whose inhabitants live and breathe cycling year round, in every kind of weather. I'm sure there's even documentary evidence of mating on two wheels, but that's beyond the scope of my experience (and balance).

As you can see from the images, the black jersey, flocked with an acrobatic flight of swifts is as easy to capture photographically as it's namesake would be with a net. The effect is subtle, sophisticated black on black, coordinating equally well with Rapha's road and urban lines. Details like the ribbed collar and cuffs and sewn-on center panel make this a unique piece. The sewn-in Swift label talks about instinct and mine tells me this one won't last long on the shelves. Better sign up for an email reminder when this goes live (current ETA April 27th). Nice to see Ira Ryan and his swallows mentioned too.

Creamsicle Orange and Just as Tasty

No sooner had I sung the praises of the Misty-Blue Stowaway than Mr. Palmer of the twmp was playfully needling me his Orange one was better. Not one to shy away from a challenge, particularly from a fellow Scot, I took immediate action and ordered an orange one. The color is a dead ringer for Creamsicle orange. Layered over an ice-cream white jersey, the semi-transparent effect had me shifting to the big ring for a sprint to the corner store freezer. As usual Brian was right, chalk up another entry for the Tab. I'm bonkers... which reminds me.

2009 Rapha Stowaway Gallery

2009 Stowaway Jacket – Misty Blue Impressions

In 2008 Rapha delivered its second generation Stowaway Jacket. Cut from lighter, softer, stretchier fabric and licensed to kill, it was a featherweight companion you could take anywhere, and did! If the Londoners hadn't seen fit to tempt us with the equally impressive Classic Softshell, Light-Weight Softshell, and Fixed-Jackets, it might have been a monogamous relationship albeit with a little more inventive layering in the bedroom. This year the definitive black model has been joined by higher-visibility Stowaways in Orange and Misty Blue. Lucky bastard that I am, I was fortunate to receive a Misty Blue version early last week and as you can see from the accompanying photos, its predictably stylish.

The 2009 Rapha Stowaway Jackets (Black, Orange, Misty Blue) are priced at £175 $290 €195

If fashion is as much about "being seen" as "how we see ourselves" cycling fashion on public roads must ensure we are SEEN. All too often it seems we must sacrifice style for a measure of safety, but not this time.

Misty Blue doesn't pack the concentrated punch of it's orange sibling, but it manages to reconcile the seemingly opposite aspirations of higher-visibility and subtlety in one sophisticated, translucent shade of blue. Pulling it on gives me the same confidence I get from my red Lightweight Softshell. I don't kid myself it will protect me from the blind, the distracted or the criminally stupid, but that's an intervention best left to my DiNottes.

If you're reading this and haven't accepted a Stowaway into your life, it's time to confess your sins and give yourself up to a higher power. Chapter and verse according to the creative gospel of Luke (Scheybeler). But enough of this blasphemy, when there's more kit to review.

Note: After a few reminders from those of you who stop to photograph traffic accidents I've updated The Tab. Yes, the world economy is in shambles but I'm still doing my best to bolster consumer spending. Step up and do your part. Looking good might help us ride fast enough to stay ahead of the flames.

One for the Road

A freshly washed Enigma Eulogy wearing Edge Composites Clinchers

DMT Dragon Gallery

Saturday, my pal Brendan and I rolled out for our first ride together since his major overhaul at the Stanford Medical Service Course. Fifteen pounds lighter and looking sharp in his Rapha winter jersey Brendan was clearly tickled to be pedaling his Soulcraft in earnest again. We followed a familiar loop from Los Altos to Woodside, stopping for a coffee at the midway point on a cool morning that refused repeated attempts by the sun to break through the clouds. Even a flat couldn't spoil the mood, with so much cycling news and gear to catch up on.

And despite the weather we were not alone. Hundreds, and I do mean hundreds of cyclists were out in groups of tens and twenties all up and down Foothill, Sandhill and Highway 84. A veritable interbike of Cervelos, Sevens, Parlees, Specializeds, Treks, Colnagos, Serottas, and Wiliers out on parade. I'm guessing but the recent ToC may have inspired a new commitment to get out and ride... and that's great.

After dropping Brendan off I headed home to shower and grab lunch. I pulled on some clean clothes and decided it was time to lace up the new pair of DMT Dragons that arrived Friday. Diamant (DMT) has been making cycling shoes in Bonferraro di Sorgà since 1996 but founder Federico Zechetto has been crafting shoes for cyclists for 30 years, and every pair proudly bears the Italian flag on the heel collar. The Dragons are DMTs lifestyle answer to all of us who want to take a little road styling with us when we're in street clothes.

DMT Dragon Gallery

The white and silver Dragons share the same microfiber and mesh uppers as DMT's Radial road shoes; meaning they breathe. It comes as no surprise that DMT used to make football boots, I'm positive the grippy white surface of the uppers would impart some wicked spin to a well struck free kick (I'll put that to the test and report back later). In the meantime I can say these are comfortable, good looking shoes. The soles are smooth and virtually treadless so you wouldn't want to take these hiking in the hills. Stick to city streets, park benches and coffee shops where you can put your feet up and enjoy the scenery while sipping on your machiatto, dreaming about this year's Giro.

The Dragons are available in two colors: white/silver and black/gold; sizes 37-48. The European fit may not be ideal for high insteps and those that require a wide last. The Dragons can be purchased online from Gitabike for $150. Salute!