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Yes & does the job just as well.
well, depends... Given the amount of threads on here slagging off Endura's sizing (for instance) they seem to have some work to do (especially their shorts). but you know, whatever. No is forcing anyone to buy Rapha stuff are they?
Brands
Scott... especially in the start cycles discount
Rivelo...
Mavic
Ground effect
Troy Lee....in more muted shades
Endura
Rapha top paired with dhb shorts.
Thats me 😆 better when I wear them with my baggy endura shorts though.
As for Mavic I own some of their gear. I like their helmets and shoes but the mountain bike shorts suck. A couple of muddy rides and they look like the arse is going to fall out of them.
I was unaware of Rapha until somebody wearing it head-to-toe sat in a train carriage opposite me, and proceeded to drop his orange peel and banana skins all over the floor until I pointed out there was a bin behind him. ****+
Like most brands, they make some nice stuff and some stuff that is a bit crap (except for Endura who just make crap in my experience). Wind jacket - very expensive but long lasting with a really nice cut and fit. Their original sport wool tops were sized for blokes with wee shoulders and fat bellys while the inner face fabric separated from the garment after a handful of washes. Their original softshell had all the water resistance of a soggy tea bag.
Personally, I prefer the likes of the traditional brands such as Castelli. Each to their own though. 😀
All brands will have their good and bad gear. Keep the good, send the crap back and keep peddling.
The only true cycling knobs are the pro team ankers
Bit of a shame how incredibly uncool he looks in his picture extolling the virtues of 'trendy' super-expensive cycling clothing.
I was a staunch rapha hater for years !! Family member got me pair of rapha arm warmers 8 years ago they are worn to death and only now showing signs of wear.
Have two winter jerseys and they are my most worn top on colder days and washed lots and look good as new.
Had a pair of pro shorts over year old I remember pulling at a thread on leg band(after washing it was hanging off) sent back and received brand new pair no quibbles.
Had winter tights for few months but always felt they were not as snug as I'd like. Again sent back and swapped for smaller size no problem.
Only bought my kit in sale and I've ridden around 20 years now and I've tried pretty much every make of kit on the market in that time ..
The kit I have works very well and I ride all year round
Have few casual bits of rapha kit and it's refreshing in the sea of "superdry" clones 😉
“The amount of people on bikes was amazing because it was a sunny morning but actually nine out of 10 looked absolutely appalling,” he says. “Not only did they look terrible but the stuff they were wearing …".
"Aldi does a cycling jersey for £15 to £20 but we won’t do that because that isn’t really a cycling jersey – it’s a piece of polyester".
After actually reading the article, I've changed my mind.
He can throb off.
🙂
Given the amount of threads on here slagging off Endura's sizing (for instance) they seem to have some work to do (especially their shorts). but you know, whatever.
Which is odd as I've never experienced any of that.... 😕
Scott... especially in the start cycles discount
Bought some Scott tights from there, good for the £30 paid, shit for the £95 rrp. Rapha Core bibs i have on the other hand still look and feel brand new after a fair amount of use*
*riding in fair weather and sitting in coffee shops
davidtaylforth, that quote you posted was very good. But there are a few things to be said in response.
Henrie Westlake is 42 and has been road cycling all his adult life, but would never contemplate wearing Rapha’s clothing. His choice is not down to the cost, nor the quality. “It has become the uniform of a certain sector of ‘new’ cyclists,” he contends, “and by that I refer to the stereotypical cliché of ‘all the gear, no idea’.
This is true, but then again, it has always been true. I remember riding in a provincial cycling championship back in Canada in my teenage years, and showing up to ride in a simple pair of black lycra shorts and a cotton nike shirt. I didn't even really know that proper kit was available. But there were kids at the race fully kitted out in 7-11 Team gear, and they didn't do any better than me in the race.
“I’ve frequently heard cyclists say that you rarely see a good amateur cyclist in Rapha.”
I don't think this is entirely fair. I hate the fact that here in the UK, people tend to get categorised by what they wear/ride/drive and a whole host of other things. The man may have a point, but I figure, if your concentrating on getting better, yourself, then how do you have time to notice what others are wearing?
Live and let live (x1000000000). The fadders will weed themselves out.
In his opinion, “the best way to look good on a bike is to drop everyone on a climb.”
And this I agree with 100%. The thing is, as I said above, if we all actually lived by this, then we wouldn't be at all bothered if others wore Rapha or anything else!
Maybe it's worth adding that I get most of my tights and shorts from ebay (Tenn stuff has been brilliant!), while I tend to get my jerseys from sales, whatever the brand. Consequently, I have stuff from Stolen Goat, Northwave, some brand I found on Sport Pursuit, and... Rapha.
But man, do I ride.
So I guess that makes me another one of those Rapha + dhb offenders.
Rapha? it could be worse. They could still be wearing their replica Team Sky kit.
I dont like Rapha because of the brand styling and what you are buying into. Its just not me I see it as just for knobbers riding 4k aero bikes round Richmond park.
AA, after they have watched England at Twickers...???... 8)
You've got it...
Bloody rugby I won second prize in a Telegraph ( I know!!) competition to win a trip for two to the Lions first test last week...lwts just say second prize wasnt as good as first!!
Ahhhh so a Rapha sky kit?
It's clothes. Wear it, don't wear it...each to To their own. But if you judge someone for what they wear, or the bike they ride, then it's you that's the knobber , not them.
[quote=homer ]It's clothes. Wear it, don't wear it...each to To their own. But if you judge someone for what they wear, or the bike they ride, then it's you that's the knobber , not them.
True - and some folk don't want to wear kit sold by such knobbers.
It's clothes. Wear it, don't wear it...each to To their own. But if you judge someone for what they wear, or the bike they ride, then it's you that's the knobber , not them.
I'm genuinely not sure if you're referring to people on this forum, or Rapha themselves?
Personally, I completely agree. I have nothing against Rapha. Some of their stuff does look pretty good. It's obvious they put a lot of thought into it. But when they start calling people out for what they wear, yes, they sound like complete nobbers.
Its just not me I see it as just for knobbers riding 4k aero bikes round Richmond park.
Maybe - just maybe - that "knobber" only has the one bike or perhaps it's a nice day so he/she will use their best bike.
Perhaps they're cycling slowly because it's a recovery day after their epic race the previous week or they're on a taper before their triathlon next week or maybe they're recovering from illness/injury. Or they're on a warm down lap after a 100 mile ride. Possibly they are actually a beginner but they'd appreciate some support and encouragement rather than a sneering reference to "Rule 5" or some other such shit.
I long ago gave up caring what people ride or wear.
They're on a bike. They've put money into the cycling industry. It may mean that next time they're driving their Audi they give the next cyclist just a touch more room because they understand it.
I don't doubt for a second that there are some knobbers on bikes but then there are knobbers in cars, in the supermarket, in the pub and in the park so at least they're relatively benign in the knobber scale of things. And what they are wearing is often irrelevant to the level of knobbishness.
This ^^ +1
bikebouy - Member
H8terzgonnah8
And the more they hate the more it devalues the Aldi brand 😉 perhaps the only reason you see the slow Rapha riders is that the others dropped you, perhaps they are drinking coffee as they already did their ride faster than you 😉
In reality they probably don't want you buying their kit. Marketing is working just fine and for me I really like the jerseys I have.
Marketing is working just fine
Yes indeed and good luck to them. But any brand that builds such a loyal following, which such an emphasis on "lifestyle" for want of a better word is likely to produce a polarised reaction.
I'm glad I ride mountain bikes 99% of the time.
I'd feel a bit shameful going past a "clubhouse" on my mass produced defy, wearing my altura bib shorts and aldi top as those hanging around outside pour scorn on me.
Endura; I agree the sizing is off. Two pairs of shorts from different years: Both L, one fits, one doesn't.
I'd feel a bit shameful going past a "clubhouse" on my mass produced defy, wearing my altura bib shorts and aldi top as those hanging around outside pour scorn on me.
They are probably enjoying their coffee too much to bother with pouring scorn, if it helps you could probably stop and ask them too if it makes you feel better 😉
olly2097 - Member
I'm glad I ride mountain bikes 99% of the time.
Just swap "Rapha" for "Enve" or "Santa Cruz" you want included in the thread
Crazy legs for President!
Agree Endura sizing can be random. Mind you, when Rapha started selling in America their sizing changed, and I went from XL to L.
Which was nice.
Well it proves to me that a good portion of society like to belong to something and this is often exploited by many organizations (the list is endless).
Rapha are no different. Having said that, the group head to foot in Rapha who thought I was in their way in the Etape de Caledonia a number of years ago could have done with some lessons in good road manners and hill climbing skills. They knew how to wheel suck though, which was nice.
They knew how to wheel suck though, which was nice
Pro skills.
"Aldi does a cycling jersey for £15 to £20 but we won’t do that because that isn’t really a cycling jersey – it’s a piece of polyester".
My Aldi jersey's my most worn bit of riding kit after my indestructible Altura shorts- done most of the XC races I've done, at least half of the commuting, it is awesome. But you can't buy that exact model any more which is annoying, if Rapha made one just the same I'd be tempted to buy it even at their prices but tbh they don't make anything I like as much.
Well I ride my mtb in Rapha...:)
DHB and Howies short for a long time now but recently bought some Rapha bibs in the sales are they are very nice. However, been a fan of their jerseys for years (after getting some in the sales) but I do find myself going for the subtle stuff, nearly passed on a gilet as it had Rapha on the tail.
Basically haters gonna hate.
Well I ride my mtb in Rapha...:)
Same. It's a Santa Cruz, and has Enve wheels. I'm powered by a frothing wave of hatred.
Unless I ride the ebike. Then it's a motor assisted wave.
Aldi does a cycling jersey for £15 to £20
I would be asking questions of how it's made, where it's made and who makes it. But then I'd also be asking that of Rapha.
Buy what you like, wear what you like and ride your bike, that's all that matters. It's amazing that we have a thread being snobby about a supposedly snobby bike clothing brand.
I prefer Retro style roadie jersey's to either Gnar Core baggy or Fluro poly so I buy from the company that makes the best ones for the money (That's Torm in this instance. If Torm didn't make them I'd probably stump up the extra to buy Rapha) I've bib shorts from Castelli and DHB both are good on the long rides Castelli are more comfortable but there's not much in it and they both look fine!
Oh and Tea is wayyyyy better than bloody Coffee!
mickyfinn - MemberBuy what you like, wear what you like and ride your bike, that's all that matters. It's amazing that we have a thread being snobby about a supposedly snobby bike clothing brand.
I prefer Retro style roadie jersey's to either Gnar Core baggy or Fluro poly
Says the guy looking down on "gnar core" and "fluro"
Says the guy looking down on "gnar core" and "fluro"
Where did I look down on it? I used the term prefer which is saying I'm stating my personal preferences. If you have issues with my terms I'm using the ones frequently used on here for reference.
What I want to know is where all these coffee shops were 10+ years ago that Rapha thinks roadies used to ride too back in the day?
The uk road scene use to be Cafe. Cup of Tea. Beans on Toast. But most roadies didn't do cafe stops back then! #fakeheritage
Assos is my benchmark for quality cycling kit. And I've only bought two items of it - shorts in 2005 - I still wear them all the time.
Is Assos more expensive than Rapha?
The Manchester "club house" is a great cafe, especially when a race is on TV.
Rapha try very hard (too hard for some) to be a brand that is more than just a label on clothing. Good luck to 'em.
Anyone want to do some photoshopping 😉
How about some Aldi Man with his polystyrene cup of weak tea and one of those cheap as reclaimed meat bacon & sausage sandwich from a greasy spoon and an undeniable air of superiority
How about a retro style (similar to a Rapha one from a few years back actually...) jersey sponsored by everyone's favourite high street purveyor of lukewarm, salty meat based snacks? 8)
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You know, that's a really good point. I've no idea which is the more expensive. The difference is that I don't think folk see an Assos ad and think "tossers". That suggests it's the marketing and branding rather than the cost that's the issue.molgrips - Member
Assos is my benchmark for quality cycling kit. And I've only bought two items of it - shorts in 2005 - I still wear them all the time.Is Assos more expensive than Rapha?