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Been using them for close to a year.

Pros
Great shoes, very stiff and lightweight and if you tie them up fine you're golden. Perfect fit for my normal to slightly wide (in the toe) feet with a high arch (using the Giro red insert). Very good for short events and track where they're aerodynamic. They also look cool, are very customisable with lace colour, and get a lot of chat from young and old cyclists alike. I gather most people think they're all style and no substance but it isn't true.

Cons
If you have made even a slight error lacing them up, however, ie too tight or too loose they're a PITA and you have to stop and do it again. Very embarrassing when another cyclist passes you to see you fiddling with laces or when you have to ask your cycling buddy to stop with you. Generally, however, this is avoidable once you've learnt what works but it still happens occasionally. Also you have to sit down properly to put them on, I've taken to using a shoe horn, which is a hassle when you've been used to taking 5 seconds to put cycling shoes on in the past. I haven't tried them in full ITA summer yet but the venting has been adequate so far and they make a great Aut/Win/Spring shoe as you don't really need overshoes if you wear wool socks.

Hence why I probably won't buy another pair for road use but do enjoy using them.

So what places can you ride in Berlin? I see Templehof...are there any places like Herne Hill etc? I gather I won't be allowed near the Velodrom even though I have a UCI license etc.

The guy who works for Rapha just listed a lot of them.

It would be for Berlin so I'd like the ease of flip flop hub and a front brake (basically would just have to change the bars) in order to use it on the track occasionally.

I'm a full on road racer (and occasional track) so flexible and the geometry might not be too bad?

Would the AC364 build up into a decent city bike with a front brake?

The bibs are different in many ways...straps, fabric, and leg grippers being the main one. Even Assos has moved on from the more antiquated Rapha design now.

You just have to scrutinise the rider kit which comes up on ebay every now and then to see the differences.

The one thing I was really looking forward to this season...pro team climbers collection. Massive disappoint.

I don't understand how there's still such an inconsistency between what the actual pros wear and what Rapha sell us...the bibs that many of the pros have been wearing for two seasons now are so evidently far more advanced in many ways than the so called Pro Team line.

The fit on the jersey on all examples looks awful as well, you simply can't pay €170 for a jersey that bunches like that on the shoulders, arms and stomach. Pro Team my arse!

/Rant

People's thoughts on the AC364?

Mental that it has taken them so long to release one, really.

Any pics of the RCC kit?

I'll be living on and off in Berlin for 6 months but with a road race schedule still in Italy so returning every three weeks for races.

I've two options:

1. Buy a bike box (<€500) and take my road bike to Berlin every time I fly (restricted to Alitalia as I imagine the budget airlines would cost too much). All in all probably end up spending <€800 on this option as Alitalia isn't cheap. I also don't know whether cruising around Berlin on a €6,000 Cervélo is even practical / desirable.

2. Buy a track bike (or rent -€?) in Berlin using the funds mentioned above and embrace the track cycling scene in Berlin in order to keep up a semblance of race fitness. Sell or keep bike at the end of the trip.

Only thing is I know next to nothing about the track scene in Berlin, what places there are to ride, etc. So advice would be appreciated.

Also whilst I hold a full UCI license (I gather that's needed for some velodromes) and have raced track before I am very much a novice track rider so take that into account...

In how many situations is the race cape actually better than a Gabba? I can't imagine training in the rain for several hours (in b4 HTFU) and not very practical in racing situations for your numbers and commissaires break your balls over not seeing your jersey too?

Garmin weren't sponsored and chose to buy Shimano, however I think that was mainly down to Rotor. Who knows why now?

Blatant Castelli San Remo rip.

Bernard, I am disappoint.

The team behind the Wiggo ident must be pleased it worked on everyone...

That mesh jersey they made for Sky was a far more interesting option than the current lightweight jerseys.

Also @Smallfurry, lightweight down to 10º?! I have PT base, PT Jersey, PT Long Sleeve Jersey, scarf and gilet on in that...and leg warmers! Guess I've gone native.

+1 initial kit.

Pad is further forward on the Pro bibs for a road bike position.

Don't people just do this with their gabba anyway? I do.

How cold does it have to be to wear one?

The answer to 95% of questions about UK cycling wear is: SS Gabba.

If you read the white paper basically the only improvements on the S5 came from the handlebars. Not to mention they did the wind tunnel tests with different wheels...

As for no integrated bars on Movistar's bikes, i think that's largely down to the nodderesque sizes of stem supplied in the aerobars. A 10 / 11cm stem on a size 54 / 56 is just wrong for most racers who want long and low.

Personally I can't comment on the Rapha GT, but I did own a pair of the Giro shoes they were based on.

The heel wore out reasonably quick, and if you crash and scrape it as I did, even quicker. The fact that it's non replaceable is a real downside in my opinion. There's also not very much protection on the front of the sole for walking either, and once it's worn through, then you're walking on carbon basically. I must say though that I live in a pedestrianised town centre so had to walk more than usual.

All in all, if you're not going to be doing much walking, the soles will probably last two seasons maybe a little more. No idea about Rapha's uppers or replacements for the buckle if broken in a crash which is a big probability as it sticks out from the shoe quite far and will be the first bit of your foot to hit the ground (conversely one of the major points for an all velcro shoe in racing).