Rapha has today unveiled a new special edition women’s clothing collection, Nomad, inspired by the spirit of adventure found in the 1970s golden era of cycling.
Looking back to the 1976 ‘Bikecentennial’, when cyclists from across the US celebrated the nation’s 200-year anniversary by cycling 4,250 miles from Astoria, Oregon to Yorktown, Virginia, Rapha recognized the cycling boom of five decades ago can be mirrored in today’s world as more and more people have taken to two wheels since the onset of the COVID pandemic.
With that spirit of adventure still ever-present, Rapha has followed up its 2020 collaboration with Outdoor Voices to produce Nomad, a special edition women’s clothing collection ‘made for discovery, not speed’. It depicts Lael Wilcox — Rapha-sponsored ultra-endurance athlete — in its marketing, and celebrates the golden era of cycling through the lens of female adventure.
The collection consists of nine pieces, designed to combine performance fabrics with practical features, prioritizing safety and comfort without compromising aesthetics. The collection includes a packable wind jacket, a technical t-shirt with a choice of long and short sleeves, cargo bib shorts and a bar bag.
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Rapha Nomad women’s collection
Nomad Hooded Wind Jacket
The eye-catching design of this jacket is, according to Rapha, inspired by geological patterns visible from the TransAm Trail. The lightweight and windproof jacket features a chest pocket for essentials and an adjustable hood.
Price: $190 / £140 / AU$245
Nomad Cargo Bib Shorts
With a similar pattern to the Wind Jacket, the Nomad Cargo Bib Shorts are designed for long-distance comfort with a highly supportive chamois, lightweight mesh uppers and stretch side pockets on the legs for those all-important snacks.
Price: $270 / £195 / AU$340
Nomad Technical T-Shirt
This is a special edition version of Rapha’s ever-popular Technical Tee, featuring a design to honor the TransAm Trail first ridden coast-to-coast in the 70s. It comes with a short-sleeve and long-sleeve option, both of which feature reflective details on the front and back.
Price: $90 / £65 / AU$110 (short sleeve), $100 / £75 / AU$130 (long sleeve)
Nomad Cotton T-Shirt
The special edition cotton tee features a very 1970s design on the rear that lists all the states included on the TransAmerica Trail. It has a relaxed, classic cut for a modern silhouette with vintage undertones.
Price: $55 / £40 / AU$70
Nomad Bar Bag
The Nomad Bar Bag is for carrying essential supplies. It’s a clever design that can very quickly and easily clip to the handlebar, but also doubles up as a fanny pack or shoulder bag thanks to a separate body strap. There’s also reflective webbing for attaching a light to.
Price: $75 / £55 / AU$95
Nomad Cap
No kit is complete without a cap, and the Nomad cap features the geologically-inspired design seen across the range. It’s designed specifically for riders with a ponytail and features a convenient gap at the back to accommodate it.
Price: $40 / £30 / AU$55
Nomad Socks
There are two pairs of socks available in the Nomad collection: the first features the same geological pattern seen in other pieces, while the second bears the same graphic at the back of the cotton tee, with the names of the TransAm Trail states.
Price: $20 / £15 / AU$27
