It’s the new pretending to not know which end of the racquet to hit a football with
A what? You mean a wendyball?
£15 for a pair of socks!
Jees even Endura do a pair for that. You better not check assos out your head will pop.
more ways to rinse the sheep who fall for all this
Some people shop in Primark, some people shop in Selfridge’s shocker.
And some people think they’re getting something they’re not, because they’re paying a healthy premium for it. Unit price for a made in China Rapha jersey, when they launched, was £5*. Yep £5.
*insider-ish knowledge.
I’m a Rapha ****er on my roadie. The kit just seems to fit and work really well, ideal for a long day in the saddle. I think I look mighty fine in it too 😂
The price though... not sure I’d be happy wearing something that cost that much on my MTB with the risk of tree branches catching at it and the falling off. Like there is no way I would wear my gore shakedry on the MtB.
I have a couple of pairs of Aldi undershorts that you know, have done the job really well and lasted thousands of kms. Much lighter chamois and thinner so perfect for indoors now and frequent washing.
I’m keen to see the range anyway.
I was a Rapha hater for many years. I have 2 of there winter jerseys and deep winter tights. Best kit I’ve used. Also have jeans and few other items for off bike wear. All bought in sales and all very well made.
Kinda fed up of Endura kit falling apart rapidly 🙁
Rapha already make clothes for mountain biking in… they just need to change the fit for fatter midriffs and come up with some breathable but weather proof baggies, and they have a market waiting for them.
even more ways to rinse the sheep who fall for all this
Bitter much?
Exactly. I'd rather be a sheep than pissed off.
come up with some breathable but weather proof baggies
I have never ever thought to myself 'my arse/thighs/baws are too warm' when biking!
Why does anyone need breathable shorts (yes, I said shorts, not baggies, cos baggies is a silly name really)🤣😂
I have never ever thought to myself ‘my arse/thighs/baws are too warm’ when biking!
See, that’s what Rapha so often get right with their kit… not assuming that everyone is like you. Outer layers that keep the worst of the weather out while still expecting you will want to put some serious effort in, are one of their strengths. As are baselayers for all seasons. If sweat is an alien concept for you, then don’t assume the same is true for other riders.
Yeah I was a hater as well...seemed to be a lot of "badge tax" going on - then bought a Brevet jersey and gilet and have to say totally love wearing them.
I wonder if they’ll make it a bit more ‘mtb rider’ friendly…. their roadie stuff is, well, a little snug for many.
My thoughts too. I'm a 32" waist in most things I buy. 32" Sigr shorts measure 34" with another inch in stretch. My Rapha touring shorts are 32", not a 'teenth more, and have adjustment bands to take an inch off either side for if I ever go Full Rasmussen
Given their usual "inspired by the golden age of [Road] cycling" design theme I assume it'll all look like it came out of Gary Fisher's wardrobe anyway.
I'm not sure if I'd be happier if that was repack era or now mind.
Rapha already make clothes for mountain biking in… they just need to change the fit for fatter midriffs and come up with some breathable but weather proof baggies, and they have a market waiting for them.
Biffa By Rapha for the larger mountain biking gentleman.
Mountain bikers to tend to have more around the middle, yes. We like pies and often live for the times when gravity is on our side.
= ;87)
If the MTB range gets the cut right, but still uses their material knowledge, this could be good stuff. Of course, they might make it ugly, or get the prices wildly wrong, or both… but I’m hope they hit the right spot. Fingers crossed.
Jees even Endura do a pair for that. You better not check assos out your head will pop.
exactly, a pair of de-feet woolly-boolie are £15 (and very good they are too.
thing is Rapha are no longer a ‘premium’ brand. roadies have moved on to other brands that are not associated with city **** riders or aspirational cash rich newbs who walk into evans and buy the most expensive road bike they can find and go and ride like a chopper.
Walmart and it’s MTB riding owners want a return on their investment, thats why the club houses and outlet store closed and they got rid of loads of staff.
the next doe-eyed market is you.
Which Club house closed?
thing is Rapha are no longer a ‘premium’ brand.
Of course they're not.
Biffa By Rapha
Haha, shame that "Bipha" doesn't quite work.
the next doe-eyed market is you
An alternative view is that two rich as hell mountain bikers bought a loss making brand for kicks, and their people want to please them.
Which club house did they close? I know that the MCR one was burning through money… but I used to love going in there when I was in the city, especially when races were on. Great food, coffee, location, staff, light… but can see how it would be hard to justify keeping it. Sad if it’s gone, or going.
I've got a few bits of Rapha kit. The cut is nice but the fabrics etc are nothing special, generally well made though. Probably OK value at sale prices, I wouldn't buy their stuff at RRP though.
😂
I need some decent shorts, my Assos have begun to lose bits of padding after 12 years and many thousands of miles. They were expensive, but per year actually pretty cheap.
One pair was the Assos Mille at £80, and they are still £80 on Wiggle. Any others I should look at? I've got a Decathlon pair but the fit was bobbins - I needed XL for the thighs but the waistband is far too large and the bum still a bit small resulting in builders bum and a misplaced pad.
I see Rapha core are £70, what's the fit like for someone with a large (muscular, honest) arse and thighs and a sensible 35" waist?
Yeah, Rapha are gonna do a Nikki Minaj fit Molly, you're sorted.
Molly, I've got some Assos Mille and Rapha brevet bibs. I prefer the Rapha. About 3 year old and still like new. Better pad in my view.
What gets me about this forum is that as soon as there's a PSA of any sort, everyone jumps on it (remember the Scott road bikes that were harsh as? or the Brant's posh trousers). Doe eyed consumers maybe? But I don't get the scorn for Rapha. I don't like a lot of there styling and the mechanics stuff was just laughable but it all just works well. As for prices, have you been to a MTB shop lately?
Can I just check the rules here: do we have to either love them or hate them?
It's just that I've had three bits of rapha kit over the years. The original softshell jacket, which seemed eye-wateringly expensive at the time, but ten years later has turned out to be great value. A winter jersey that is a bit tight around the arms, but is still wearing well and a set of 3/4 bibs where the piping fell off very quickly and which were never any more comfortable than other offerings at half the price.
tjagain
Member
used to be 7 mashr
Mine's 40.
Which Club house closed?
Sydney.
The archive stores in Bicester and Kilver Court are closing soon.
London and Manchester make money. They're good stores, well placed, profitable.
Not wanting to be patronising but isn't this all a bit Jeremy Vine.
Buy it if you want, if you don't. Don't.
London and Manchester make money. They’re good stores, well placed, profitable
At least three times I’ve been into the London store wanting to buy a top and they’ve had no stock whatsoever in larger sizes and suggested I order it online, I like it their kit but the shop is woeful
remember the Scott road bikes that were harsh as?
Still loving mine, not harsh at all with suitable wheels/tyres.
Sometimes I wear Rapha on it too.
I wonder if they’ll make it a bit more ‘mtb rider’ friendly…. their roadie stuff is, well, a little snug for many.
Behave, Rapha stuff is at the relaxed end of the road wear spectrum, try some Italian wear for properly fitting road wear.
I'm 6'4" and wear small or medium in most Rapha stuff, if anything they need to make their sizing smaller.
My thoughts too. I’m a 32″ waist in most things I buy. 32″ Sigr shorts measure 34″ with another inch in stretch. My Rapha touring shorts are 32″, not a ‘teenth more
So they size as they fit rather than vanity sizing. That's a good thing, right?
Some people shop in Primark, some people shop in Selfridge’s shocker.
There is a Primark in some Selfridges.
Just here to put in a PSA for these shorts: https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/limited-edition-transfer-shorts/product/LES01XXUBC
At least three times I’ve been into the London store wanting to buy a top and they’ve had no stock whatsoever in larger sizes and suggested I order it online, I like it their kit but the shop is woeful
You know it's a coffee shop which provides advertising for their gear, not a gear shop which serves coffee?*
I mean who buys stuff in shops anymore?**
Go in, try it on, take up an hour of the staff's time then order online and save ha'penny***. Hell you're so C20th I bet the item they didn't have in your size was boot cut jeans.
*the former being a sensible business model, the later, not so much.
**because this
***obviously don't do this.
I’m 6’4″ and wear small or medium in most Rapha stuff
You are daisy Duke aicmfp
At a lofty 5'9" and wearing size small, i agree with
You are daisy Duke aicmfp
I don't own much Rapha but the stuff I have fits well. I've only purchased items at the Archive store at a discounted price. I'm an XS so there are usually some items that fit me. I used to buy sportful kit but they seem to have removed XS from most of the men's range in recent years so I've ended up looking for alternatives and with a pin chest of 33ish inches if I breathe in most brands don't cater for me.
I'll never buy Le Col, Pedaled or some of the even more expensive brands at retail price, but I would consider them in if it was on sale. Rapha have also managed to have pieces of kit that don't stand out amongst the more garish stuff.
I never considered buying Rapha clothing until I visited the Archive store in Shepton Mallet and tried some of it on about 3 years ago and thought that they stuff was way overpriced and the cyclists that wore it were '****ts', but I've been impressed with the items I own. Shame the store is closing. The staff have always been welcoming and super helpful.
I've become the Rapha ****t I used to laugh at. 😉
I wear my Rapha cyclocross jersey on my MTB quite often. It's comfy, fits well and I like the colours. I also use it for commuting, or road rides when it's cool but not cold enough for a Gabba.
I don't really understand why Rapha appears to instil so much hatred. It seems unfounded.
I've used the Rapha touring shorts for mtb for the last 6 years and absolutely love them (as much as you can love a pair of shorts). Nursing them a bit now though, hoping they'll last a couple more years before falling apart.
It does seem odd though, for a company struggling financially with high levels of stock, to reduce discounting, close their discount outlets and expand their product range into mtb.
I must be incredibly lucky.
I've more than a dozen items of Endura kit, some ancient, all heavily used. I've never had a single item of theirs self destruct. Some I've even gone out of my way to try and destroy, like an old pair of singletrack baggies, used for thousands of miles of muddy commuting. Yet nothing has failed early.
I can't comment on Rapha, it's too expensive for me; The most expensive kit I've bought has been Assos bib shorts, although Endura's FS260 are now just as good.
Just here to put in a PSA for these shorts: https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/limited-edition-transfer-shorts/product/LES01XXUBC/blockquote >
Wow. Even Lachy Morton looks confused as to how they could possibly cost £250! Still, they are at least 'breathable'. Quite possibly because they have a hole at the bottom of each leg. They also have two 'hand pockets' - thanks for the clarification. I was going to stick another appendage in one of them.
I'm sure it's items like these that get Rapha derided on here. Fair enough.
I wonder if the Rapha club will start doing MTB rides? The road rides come my way so MTB rides near me would be welcome! The cross guys do it already
They're probably annoyingly fast though!
I need some decent shorts
Get bib shorts instead and you'll get a much more comfortable fit.
Yeah, Rapha are gonna do a Nikki Minaj fit Molly, you’re sorted.
😀
I must be incredibly lucky.
I’ve more than a dozen items of Endura kit, some ancient, all heavily used. I’ve never had a single item of theirs self destruct. Some I’ve even gone out of my way to try and destroy, like an old pair of singletrack baggies, used for thousands of miles of muddy commuting. Yet nothing has failed early.
Same here. Endura kit, the shorts in particular, have been great for me.
I can’t imagine having £15 spare for a pair of socks. That’s multi-pack money 😀
Just here to put in a PSA for these shorts: https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/limited-edition-transfer-shorts/product/LES01XXUBCWow. Even Lachy Morton looks confused as to how they could possibly cost £250! Still, they are at least ‘breathable’. Quite possibly because they have a hole at the bottom of each leg. They also have two ‘hand pockets’ – thanks for the clarification. I was going to stick another appendage in one of them.
I’m sure it’s items like these that get Rapha derided on here. Fair enough.
Seems cheap when you look at the Byborre website (not for the easily infuriated)
I purchased some Endura Pro SL shorts a couple of years ago for a cycling holiday. I bought 4 pears in total in a regular and long length. The design of the silicone leg grippers was different between the leg lengths and the glue used on the leng length failed on both pairs.
Sent back to wiggle and as told I'd washed them incorrectly and they wouldn't replace them. I pushed back as teh regular length ones which had as much use hadn't fallen apart and they provided a credit rather than replacements. Not impressed as I've had some mtn bike shorts fall apart too.
I'll not be purchasing any Endura kit again in the future.
