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review
£43.00
VERDICT:
Comfy, stylish and well made cycling-specific bra for smaller busted women
Weight:
87g
Contact:
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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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.
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
road.cc test report
Make and model: Cafe du Cycliste Rosalie bra
Size tested: Medium
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.
About the tester
Age: 45
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
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