Other apparel companies mimic the obvious: Rapha makes a classically styled, lightweight wool jersey -- it gets aped by a competitor. Rapha makes bike-friendly, but off-the-bike fashionable shirts and trousers -- again, it gets imitated 9 different ways by others. But where no other company has dared to tread is perhaps where Rapha shines the most: Their gorgeous leather gloves. Their Grand Tour Mitts -- made from African Hair Sheep leather -- has been a superstar in the Rapha line for nearly two years. Despite its near $200 price, we literally cannot keep them in stock. And, perhaps in one of the coolest non-paid endorsements we've ever seen, both David Millar and Tom Boonen sported the Grand Tour Mitts for the UK stages of the '07 Tour de France. We don't think of them as "luxurious" because, to us, that's damn near a pejorative term -- codespeak for "unnecessary extravagance." Rather, the Grand Tour Mitts are a masterwork -- the byproduct of absolute artistry and absolute functionality.

The Rapha Criterium Gloves are built in the same vein as the Grand Tour Mitts. Like a Brooks saddle they conform to your hands as you log big miles. They have 4 knuckle holes to aid in customizing their fit to your hands. They have a sweet softness to them that no synthetic can match. They have the same selective use of 2mm pads to protect your hands from road shock. You'll find only two main points of distinction: (1) Unlike the Grand Tour Mitts, the leather isn't perforated. Rather, it's textured with no holes. (2) Rather than being built with leather thumbs, the thumbs are made with a suede-like nose-wipe area.

The Criterium Gloves are available in classic Black and in an unbelievably cool Brown. They come in sizes Small-XL.