Rapha x Patta have returned with the second instalment of what is shaping up to be a pretty fruitful ongoing collaboration. It's a tight, refined cycling collection that does what most kit doesn’t: looks very cool. Yes, there are race-fit jerseys. Yes, there are fancy bib shorts. But this isn’t just about performance. It’s about joy. Expression. The kind of freedom you only get when you're on two wheels pushing pedals.
Launching 23 May, the new Rapha x Patta collection builds on the foundations laid last year and expands the partnership’s original message: more visibility for people of colour in a sport that’s traditionally been anything but inclusive. That commitment remains at the heart of this collection, but the message has evolved. This one is about living well, riding freely and finding satisfaction in the simplest of movements. “LOBI LIBI,” the kit reads – Surinamese for “love life.”
As you’d expect, the gear holds up technically. Rapha’s Pro Team Aero Jerseys and bibs have been cut for speed, with fabrics that feel fast even when you’re standing still. But you don’t need to be racing to appreciate it. There are off-bike pieces too – hoodies, tees, a handy musette – all infused with Patta’s signature streetwear-leaning aesthetic.
Rapha x Patta: Simple pleasures
Vincent van de Waal, Patta’s creative director, helped shape the collection. So there’s cohesion between the clothes and the campaign, which places cyclists in real-world settings: city streets, quiet corners, everyday spaces where cycling feels less like a niche pursuit and more like a way of being. As Anna McLeod, Rapha’s Senior Partnerships Manager, puts it: “It’s about being energised by, and finding happiness in, simple things… spinning around on your bike with friends.”
That’s the real point. Rapha x Patta is for anyone who wants to ride – hard, slow, solo or with company – and look good doing it. Not for the win. Not for the stats. Just for the love of it.
Next up: These alternative cycling brands are making lycra cool.
