If you like rain capes in general and don't want to foot the bill for a "Dandy"-fied version you can purchase a hooded Duxback from Carradice for like 80.00. With the extra you can get a bag and mount for storage of cape and extras. Most of the USA Rando crowd have moved on to sleeker and dryer designs like Showerspass jackets. But we always have a little voice laughing as it mocks us saying , "Do want you want. On a rainy 200K you're gonna get wet!" So always spin those legs and have some wool layers on. I loop my roll my rain gear and strap to the top of a Nelson long flap which is filled with spares,clothing and some food. Maybe Caradice should add saddles? Both Berthoud and Brooks are trying new things.
Rob Dayton Charlotte,NC USA
-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of james black Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 2:50 PM To: Mark Lawrence Cc: Jon Spangler; Dale Brown Subject: Re: [CR] Brooks raincape - apologies and summisation
On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 11:29, Mark Lawrence
<mark.lawrence@firstreadthis.com> wrote:
> But in reality, it is a kind of Utopian statement. It reminds me of a fur
lined silk raincoat I once saw at a fashion show. It may look wonderful on
the catwalks, but it's about as useful as a chocolate teapot as we say.
I scorn the absurdity of the $268 rain cape; and yet I think this raincape, with its ostentatiously practical details like the subtle reflective fabric, full hood, and integrated straps for mounting to your Brooks saddle loops, is rather clever as a fashionable object of desire. I could say the same for a lot of Brooks' new items, as far Barbour or Belstaff. Many of the most offensive items in their lineup impress me for their marvelous packaging of brand mystique - not as a cyclist but as an interested critic of consumer product design.
One mourns the loss of authenticity in the "heritage brands" we hold dear, but that's the price we pay for the glory of living to see the end of history!
James Black
Los Angeles, CA