Apparently they now have an in-house travel agent and organise trips to Alps Pyrenees etc.
To reinforce a stereotype I had a look…. £2800 for a week in the pyrenees!!!
Last year me and some mates did a week in Italy for about £500 including airfares and bike hire which we obviously organised ourselves.
Rapha must throw in something we didn’t get.

I’m sure they’re very nice, but that’s a bit pricey.

Special massage?

Every day for that price.

Rapha = Marketing genius!

They are pricey, but they have
A mechanic – did you?
Roadside support – did you
Luggage transfer – did you?
5 different hotels – did you?
Food included – did you?
Jersey included – did you?

Yes admittedly one of us who worked in a bike shop
yes [hotel had a rescue van]
yes just to and from airport but that was all that was needed
no just the one
yes
no but you could buy one in hotel team colours if you wanted

I think it just a different way of thinking about money, they obviously have their market but it won’t be me.

Rapha in ‘stuff costing a sh*tload’ shocker! 😉

Can’t afford it or don’t want to pay that much?
Don’t go on a Rapha cycling holiday.
Making that kind of decision doesn’t need a big flow chart or complex reasoning.

There is/was a company round here doing road cycling holidays for not much less than that (and didn’t go to the Pyrenees ‘proper’). Staying in posh hotels, gastro food, ex-pro guides, etc.

Can you imagine how insufferable the other guests would be? *shudders*

In the grand scheme of money wasting frivolities it sounds pretty cheap to me for a weeks holiday, my mate used to do exclusive shooting weekends at his estate/big house in the country, these used to cost upwards of five figures for the full 3-4 day all inclusive package where every whim was catered for, he stopped doing them a few years ago as his partner and him got fed up of running around in their own house after the sort of folk who they wouldn’t normally socialise with, it’s now run as a farm again, breeding specialist stock and he let’s out most of the land and they’re much happier having it to themselves and their 5 dogs.

£3k or thereabouts for a weeks holiday is not even pocket change compared to folk spending £20k+ on a weekends shooting and quaffing extremely fine wines and vintage Champagne, I remember one guy in his early 30’s turning up in his brand new Aston Martin with his beater driving the £100k Overfinch Range Rover and £60K of guns in the custom built rear gun safe along with some seriously expensive port, they drove up from london for 3 days shooting.

Can you imagine being stuck with a load of city w/bankers for a week, dick swinging over Lightweight deep section rims and DI2 group sets , while waiting for them at the top of every climb with their excuses of ‘high resting rate when I woke’ and ‘my saddle’s 2mm too far forward’; they can keep it, I’d rather be in a tent with you lot.

Rapha = Marketing genius!

maybe, but their stuff is also top notch

maybe, but their stuff is also top notch

China make some great stuff nowadays

Cough, I’ve been on one of the first holidays they did back in 09, went with mates and it was Ace.

Not going on one again though, but you do get some great service and it really does feel like you are on some kind of “set”

As far as fat w/bankers go… Those that were on the hol were nothing like that, all fit as and keen to beat you up the hill, I had trouble keeping up and I’m no slouch..

Dunno what it would be like now but then it was quite good being part of something.

China make some great stuff nowadays

yup they do, what’s your point caller?

I’m just not Rapha; I’ve had their stuff, think its overpriced but very seductively marketed, and think there is better and cheaper stuff out there. Giordana is my brand of choice, I’ve got Assos shorts that are 7 years old and looking good and I’ve got a Rapha jerseys that are falling apart.

In my experience the quality doesn’t match the price whereas with Assos it does.

Perfect kit for Movember… Nuff said.

That’s a helluva lot of money – what exactly do you get for it?

Well, seeing as 12 weeks ago none of you would even think about a road bike, the fact that you’re thinking about road bike holidays is all quite good as far as I’m concerned.

This was bound to happen, and is admittedly pretty funny but at the same time..

Your levels of contrarianism are off the charts captainflashheart.

Their website is clean and looks pretty good. Better than the cluttered, cheesy crap most other bike shops go with.

I’ll admit to owning a couple of the rapha fixed merino jerseys they sold 4odd years ago, i bought them cheap (ish) in the sale and to be fair/honest to rapha they are still in perfect condition despite being worn a helluva lot as they are my goto jersey for a multitude of uses. I’d like to own a few other rapha bits n’ bobs but on my wage there is absolutely no way i could ever afford them.

But….and this is a biggie….they are starting to lose the plot and believe their own hype with this riding jacket below

A smart, city riding jacket that combines technical fabrics and riding features with relaxed, semi-formal tailoring. Details include an action back, storm collar and hi-vis details.

Are they serious?, is this an in-joke at rapha headquarters?, i fear this is a step to far.

Or what about their transfer jacket?, ideal for sitting outside cafes?

Warm, lightweight jacket using PrimaLoft® ONE insulation for comfort pre and post-ride, travelling and sitting outside cafés

However if there is a secret santa out there with cash to burn on a good cause then I would like one of each of the following please in a medium, long sleeve city riding jersey, long sleeve merino jersey, track top, cyclocross jersey, long sleeved country jersey, long sleeved pro team jersey, long sleeved jersey and finally a winter jersey.

It only comes to £1135.

makes the likes of Bikeverbier look pocketmoney-cheap 😯

I’d be on a trip in a flash if I had that cash lying about. Fully fledged fanboy.

I’ve just bought their lovely winter jersey, £160 but its great. Wearing it on all road rides at the moment.

Think ill get some leg warmers and the pro tour Ls jersey too.

Oh dear, I’m breaking the principle of a lifetime and entering a forum post.

If anyone can find an alternative road 10 day, 50,000m, 2,000km fully supported trip with a crowd of cyclists who are actually capable of riding those stats, please post it up.

I’ve done 3 cent cols and they were all brilliant, which means superb logisitics, inspiring values and leadership, full on riding, extremely hard, great and mixed company, good craic, impossible to forget and not a sterotype as described on this forum in sight.

Expensive? Yes. Value? Yes. I broke the sums down and was hard pushed to match the 12 nights full board, 100% riding without luggage approach.

Happy trails one and all.

The cent cols ones look a lot better value than the randonee ones, they’re cheaper and longer, I’m not sure what I’m missing (unless someone pedals the bike uphill for you on the randonee?)

They are pricey, but they have
A mechanic – did you?
Roadside support – did you
Luggage transfer – did you?
5 different hotels – did you?
Food included – did you?
Jersey included – did you?

Maybe not the jersey – but everything else, yes..

It’s not that different from the people who did Lands End – John O Groats with the Deloitte Ride Across Britain in September – £1750 for 9 days across Britain, everything laid on.

And that was camping, no 5* hotels there. You can do the same trip yourself for not very much if you go the self-supported route or you can pay £1750 and do it in the company of 700 like minded riders with everything laid on.

Same with the Rapha holiday, no-one is forcing you to buy it. But like all their stuff, it will be impeccably run and when you break it down it’s not *that* much money – not really much different from an all-inclusive luxury cruise or safari.

BenHouldsworth – Member

Can you imagine being stuck with a load of city w/bankers for a week, dick swinging over Lightweight deep section rims and DI2 group sets , while waiting for them at the top of every climb with their excuses of ‘high resting rate when I woke’ and ‘my saddle’s 2mm too far forward’; they can keep it, I’d rather be in a tent with you lot.

Wow you sound bitter.

I don’t get these ‘look at the price of this’ posts. If you can’t afford it, don’t want to do it then why is it of any concern to you.

£3k for a weeks holiday isn’t a stratospheric cost you know.

Hmm, £3k might not be stratospheric to some but it is a significant percentage of my yearly income which I couldn’t justify on a weeks holiday of any sort.

Thats just it though some folk on here don’t seem to understand that if they’re on £30k a year with a couple of kids then the £3k rapha holiday package isn’t aimed at them. Many seem to think it is and can’t understand why its what they believe to be ‘too expensive’. You’re not the target market so don’t sweat about its cost.

a slightly cheaper alternative
bargain winter road ride trips.com

Wow you sound bitter.

He may be bitter but he’s right. Holiday would be ruined by those with more coinage than brain cells. Unless you grouped together with a load of mates and booked out every available space for a particular period I guess haha.

£3k for a weeks holiday isn’t a stratospheric cost you know.

losts of defensive high-earning Rapha fanbois on here then? Most of my disposal goes on riding holidays and for riding hols Ive done 10 days in Morocco, 10 days in India, a week in Verbier, 2 weeks in the rockies, none riding holiday 2 weeks trekking and diving in thailand, all for less than Rapha think a week road riding in Europe should cost.

Your’e right its not aimed at me, its aimed at people with so much disposable income they consider the term “value” a dirty word, and who buy in to exclusive/high end marketing.

(edit function timed out)

Bikeverbier is a good comparison- in one of the more expensive countries in Europe, fully catered, guided, full vehicle support (uplifts, transfers to other valleys and areas), luxury chalet etc. Not cheap (but far cheaper than Rapha) but good value for your money, and why I have an issue with Rapha’s pricing; I just can’t see any justification other than for exclusivity and branding.

He may be bitter but he’s right. Holiday would be ruined by those with more coinage than brain cells.

I ride (road and mtb) with clubmates a few of whom are relatively / very well paid in the city – big houses, couple have Porsches they’re all perfectly nice, interesting people who like cycling, tools are tools wherever they work and however much or little cash they have.

I don ‘t have any rapha kit and £3k is more than I spent on my last car

Bikeverbier is a good bad comparison.

Not quite sure what an mtb holiday has to do with a road holiday.

3 k for an all inclusive holiday doesn’t seem too outrageous to me. Its all relative really, from what I can see about 50% of this forum wouldn’t think twice about spunking 3k up the wall on a new bike.

How much is the trans provence out of interest? I know its over a grand, and you have to camp…, but I’d jump at the chance to do that.

It is expensive for a weeks holiday, as most people rekcon things. Doesn’t mean it’s not good value though.Expensive and value do go together sometimes. Wouldn’t be my kind of thing though, even if I could afford it. But if you can, and like a very organised, everything done for you holiday, can’t see a problem with it.

.He may be bitter but he’s right. Holiday would be ruined by those with more coinage than brain cells. Unless you grouped together with a load of mates and booked out every available space for a particular period I guess haha.

Wow you sound bitter. Oh hold on…

Lol at ‘more coinage than braincells’, do you think this coinage came from being stupid, bitter and jealous.