Rapha launched a redesigned Brevet collection on Tuesday 19 May, repositioning its long-standing classically-styled endurance line as a system built for ultra-distance racing, bikepacking and multi-day riding – increasingly the focal point of cycling fans less fixated on road race performance.
A previous update to the Brevet line in 2022 saw the collection shift more toward ultra-endurance riding, but this latest update is a big step toward introducing technical features which will make for real-world ultra-endurance advantages.
The updated range centres on increased storage, revised high-visibility detailing and new bib shorts, and is available now on rapha.cc, in Rapha Clubhouses worldwide and through select retail partners.
The collection has been tested by Transcontinental Race (TCR) champions Jana Kesenheimer and Victor Bosoni, who both feature in Rapha's SS26 campaign shot on a journey from Serbia to Albania. Lael Wilcox, who holds the women's Around the World cycling record and is attempting the overall 18,000-mile record this year, said the new Brevet kit will be her "primary outfit" for the attempt.
"Brevet is built around a simple idea: over long distances, comfort and speed are not opposites. They rely on each other," said Ultan Coyle, Rapha's Chief Creative Officer and three-time TCR finisher. "It is kit for the long haul, when the finish line might be days away rather than hours."
What has changed
The most visible update is the Brevet Air Pocket, a floating five-pocket rear system on both the Lightweight Jersey III (£160 / $240) and Merino Jersey III (£195 / $275). Rapha says the pocket structure lifts away from the body when loaded, with an integrated mesh panel designed to reduce heat build-up on the lower back and keep contents stable over rough terrain.
The jerseys work alongside the Brevet Cargo Bib Shorts III (£260 / $360), which add four cargo pockets of their own, bringing the total pocket count across the jersey-and-shorts combination to nine. The bibs use lightweight Italian materials and a new Endurance Seamless Chamois intended for multi-day comfort. The women's version includes what Rapha calls Nature-Break Optimisation, a high-stretch pull-down system designed for roadside stops without removing layers.
Kesenheimer, who won the women's 4,800km TCR, said the nature-break feature alone saved her an estimated 1.5 hours over the course of the event. "At the same time, the elastic pull-down straps added extra comfort to my shoulders," she said. "I love the seamless design on my legs, which prevents skin irritation even after sweating all day long."
The Brevet stripes, the two horizontal bands that have been a fixture of the collection since its origins in audax riding, retain their high-visibility and retroreflective function but are lighter and more flexible than previous versions, according to Rapha. The Brevet Wind Gilet III (£140 / $190) serves as the system's outer layer, with a two-way zipper for ventilation and access to jersey pockets beneath.
The Brevet Packable Backpack (£60 / $85) is a 10-litre pack with reflective straps that compresses into an internal stowaway pocket when not in use. Bosoni said it had become one of his essentials for long ultra races. "I never really enjoyed traditional musettes because they move around while riding, but this feels completely stable on the bike," he said. "It's incredibly lightweight, surprisingly spacious thanks to its stretch, and disappears when you don't need it by packing into itself."
Wilcox said the jersey pockets had proved useful for carrying extra liquids. "I remember packing them with a litre of juice and Cokes during the ride, easy calories for hot weather riding," she said.
The rest of the collection includes the Brevet Mitts (£55 / $95), Brevet Cap (£35 / $50), Brevet Socks (£24 / $35) and Brevet Bidon (£16 / $24).
