Cafe du Cycliste's Rosalie bra is a cut above your average crop-top sports bra, but you do pay a premium for its cycling-specific design and features (a basic Shock Absorber one is about £25).
- Pros: Seam-free comfort
- Cons: Quite expensive
The Rosalie's virtually seamless construction (there's just a tiny seam on each shoulder strap) helps ensure day-long comfort, as does the soft feel of the stretchy, synthetic mix fabric.
> Buy this online here
Considering it is made from a double layer of material throughout, the fabric wicks pretty well. I've tested it in winter and expect, because it is quite thick, it might feel warm on a hot summer's day. CdC claims the integrated patterned panels are 'specially structured to further increase ventilation' so they should help keep you cool, although to the untrained eye they don't appear that different.
The Rosalie is described as a low-impact bra offering light support for cup sizes A to D. I'm usually a 34B and the medium size fits me well. If anything, I found the wide elastic chest band is on the loose side, so no digging in or red marks on my skin, and it didn't affect the support as this is provided by compression. I would say this bra is probably best for up to a C cup though, because the compression style works by squashing your breasts into a 'uniboob'.
Although it's labelled as suitable for low-impact sports, for flatter chested lasses the Rosalie is adequately supportive for more jiggly activities – I've worn it mountain biking on rough descents and it is perfectly fine. The racer back and nice broad straps are very comfortable, keep everything happily in place and remove the risk of slipping shoulder straps.
> Find more reviews of women's cycling clothing here
Clearly a lot of thought has gone into the Rosalie's design, and a clever touch is the lack of any labels, which could irritate – instead the care instructions are printed on the inside of the chest band.
Although £43 isn't cheap, that puts it in between Rapha's light and medium support designs, now £40 and £50, though both are currently reduced.
It comes in three sizes and is also available in an off-white 'Papyrus' colour.
Verdict
Comfy, stylish and well made cycling-specific bra for smaller busted women
Make and model: Cafe du Cycliste Rosalie bra
Tell us what the product is for
Cafe du Cycliste says: "The low impact Rosalie brassiere has been specifically developed for cycling, combining superior comfort against the skin with optimum compression, support and performance."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
54% Polyamide | 36% Polypropylene | 10% Elastane
Low impact support
Moisture management properties
Seamless construction
Super soft comfort
Made in Germany
Rate the product for quality of construction:
10/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
9/10
Rate the product for fit:
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
9/10
Rate the product for weight:
9/10
Rate the product for comfort:
9/10
Rate the product for value:
5/10
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Machine wash 40 degrees.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well, just as you'd expect.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Its comfort and racer back.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
A very good bra, if a little pricey.
Age: 45 Height: 170cm Weight: 62kg
I usually ride: Marin Point Reyes 29er My best bike is: Whyte T-130 RS
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, mountain biking, audax
the key is having a decent LBS, one you can trust to do the work, and not invent things to do, or start overcharging you, and not everyone has that...
No sticker is required in the case of the empathy disabled. If you see someone in yoga wear getting out a wankpanzer it's clear they are crippled...
I run 10+14 on my summer tyres and 11+14 on my intermediates and full on winter muds. And I can feel differences as the week progresses.
I think that you have it the wrong way around: the £10-15 lights on eBay (other marketplaces are available) are cheap copies of Lezyne's originals....
Does it happen outside the Moldavian Embassy? Or maybe it's the chip shop.
'Safety Is a Shared Responsibility, Says Traffic Officer Whose Tips Are Aimed 100% at Pedestrians and Cyclists
We can't have that can we. Much better to risk killing vulnerable road users. Less damage to the cars.
I've just had the outcomes from 4 reports I put in last week. 3 of them were for driving at me on my side of the road. Two I had to brake and...
I have seen this image several times and can see no scientific reason for the conclusion it supports. I have been unable to trace it's source....
Sounds massive, doesn't it, but whilst we should obviously be aiming for as little carbon release as possible that's the equivalent of what...