More often than not I find myself navigating Rapha's website clicking through the black and white images of cyclists flying down mountain passes.  Something about seeing the product on an athlete who is descending down a 12% grade makes you feel the wind in your face, the rain beating against your skin, and the sound of your tires humming beneath you.  

We've all been there.

I picked up the Classic Softshell Jacket several years ago when it was first released - the current model has gone through several generational changes since the beginning.  However, the original still holds the same warmth and windproofness since day one even though it's seen abuse.  The leather on the shoulder has worn exposing the bare nylon beneath, the reflective piping has been scratched away, the "bite grip" has faded and parts of the hand warmers have dissolved into nothing but the intricate details of this finely grafted garment hold it together and it feels brand new every time I slip it on.

A jacket like the Classic Softshell isn't something you purchase every day.  Rather, it's something you purchase once for a lifetime.