RAPHA AW11 KIT NOW AVAILABLE

The long awaited and much anticipated new Rapha Autumn/Winter 2011 range is now available. All us Rapha fans have been salivating at the prospect, teased have we been by the little snippets of information drip-fed by Rapha over the past few weeks.

Well, now the wait is over. Not only can we view the latest new stuff at the usual place, there is also an exclusive online showcase featuring photography and films shot by Ben Ingham in the French-Italian Alps.

How very, well, Rapha of them...

Actually, I am quite relieved that my winter wardrobe isn't sufficiently lacking for me to go out and purge the contents of my wallet at Rapha HQ. One of the reasons I love Rapha so much is the longevity of their products. The winter kit I have now is the same kit that has kept me warm and dry through the last several (harsh) winters, and the stuff still looks brand new.

And the best bit? If I fancy a new piece of Rapha kit, or a new colourway, I just sell the 'old' stuff on eBay to fund it. Everyone's a winner...

EBAY COMES UP TRUMPS AGAIN

You have to love eBay. Having upgraded the pedals on my two bikes to Look Keos on my Bianchi and Outland Keos on my Tifosi, I no longer had need for my lovely, but slightly battered old school Look Deltas.

I was going to toss them in the back of my bike bits cupboard, but hey we all like to recycle and get a bit of cash in the process. Most things sell on eBay, and especially cycling kit. Even so, with these pedals I would surely be pushing my luck?

Not so; there was plenty of interest all week, and OK they only made me £10, but seeing as I'd paid £19 for my new Outland pedals I was pretty delighted with that.

I still struggle to get my head around eBay mind - I always seem able to pick up a bargain whilst at the same time selling my unwanted kit for much more than I ever expect. Sometime I even sell kit for more than I paid for it in the first place?!

I'm off to raid the cupboard for more old bits. I have to fund my winter wardrobe somehow - that Rapha stuff don't come cheap...