Rapha – I think we need to have a chat…..

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/5692879/epicly-rapha
Epically rapha.

I do like their stuff, premium quality deserves premium pricing, I dont think it is a rip-off at all. The branding is strong but they run a fine line before tipping over into self-important douche-baggery.

This “sorry you’re not on the list” stuff is pretentious nonsense.

I’m with Groucho Marx

I’m with Groucho Marx

I’m with Karl….

I’m with Karl….

I’m with skid…

God I want that lifestyle.

God I want that lifestyle.

Sorry, you can’t afford it.

😉

chakaping

Sorry, you can’t afford it.

Sad but true. Maybe one day I can aspire to be like the guy kneeling down eating crisps in front of the cool gays guys.

idiosyncratic trademarks like the stripes, the black-on-black embroidery etc.

Really? Nobody else does either of those in clothing?

I’m a bit worried that one of those blokes is my daughter’s boyfriend. No, really.

I think you should be worried that one of those blokes is your daughter’s boyfriend’s boyfriend!

Road biking in being pretentious shocker!

😀

“exclusively for Rapha’s highest-spending customers”. Crikey that’s one of the most pompous things I’ve seen in a long time. Looks like Rapha as a brand has finally gone completely up it’s own arse.

+1

People spending money on cycling products is, a priori, a good thing. Rapha have done well out of it, so good luck to ’em.

But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t funny to behold. 😀

“Lets stay true to cycling’s egalitarian roots” and “Rapha” in the same post. You on crack?

why did this thread continue?
Rapha niche clothes with a price tag for nicheness
Members area is even more niche so get the big spenders to spend more
Seems like excellent marketing tbh
Rapha seperating the pretentious from their money since July 2004

Who or what is Rapha.? Never heard of them until this thread came along.

Nalini

it’s no worse that the lurid faux-motorcross gear ridden by middle management weekend warriors with a bit of middle age spread that can be seen ‘downhilling’ on bridleways on sunny sundays.

This thread is one step closer to Raphas goal.

All the 4th cats in our club seem to wear Rapha stuff, whether ‘racing’ or more importantly on club runs, pink hats with peaks turned up under helmets and shorts with stupid slogans on them.

I say ‘racing’, They are shit in races but look good going out of the back of the bunch on their BMC’s/Colnago’s with £2000 wheels and garmins to tell them how crap they are.

Poncy clothing for pretentious dicks.

Still , if keeps them happy.

Its all about looking good on the bike nothing else matters, coffee shop stop its the only thing that matters, coming last at a race its the only thing that matters.
Now time for a ride were is my 80s euro floro team kit?

just to check – if I’m shit, do I have to wear this stuff ?

It’s laughable that any cyclist, road or mtb, think the clothes they wear look good.

Truly, astonishingly laughable.

😆

On the basis that everyone on this site will have spent more cash on bike stuff than they need to then Rapha seems to fit the Singletrack ethos quite nicely.
But their marketing campaign seems to try a little bit too hard. I wonder if they don’t tone down the smugness whether they’ll end up killing the brand.

Personally I don’t own any Rapha gear, and never thought I would.

But it seems to upset people in an understated way and I find this strangely alluring.

It’s laughable that any cyclist, road or mtb, think the clothes they wear look good.

I always look good on or off the bike. Just cos you look like a wobblespod don’t mean everyone else does…

But it seems to upset people in an understated way and I find this strangely alluring.

that’s one of the main reasons why i wear the stuff, i think of it as a bonus feature.

Is your first name Paul?

If you want to get invited to the Imperial Works programme just e-mail them your monthly salary and your IQ. They perform a simple analysis and decide whether to invite you or not within 24hrs.

What if I send them a parcel of my own poo?

Oldgit I’m waiting on your Lusso picture.

I still have a Castelli LS jersey I bought in 1979! And apart from a few abrasions in the shoulder area from crashes its holding up well

Clever (sic) Combination of minority stereotyping – pop at other peoples business while advertising you own – Consider it a warning Mod

Confirms what I’ve always thought about Rapha, over-priced crap of dubious quality.

Lusso pour Homme and pour Homme

Your doing well so far oldgit, but you would have to say despite the BIG mullet the Aldi chap looks quick up the hills.

The Endura bloke will surely come unravelled 1/2 way round & the zip will also fail.

a) Some people want to pay well over the odds. It’s part of the appeal. It’s a status thing. ‘I have more money than I know what to do with’
b) What’s wrong with Rapha selling stuff to these people? You don’t have to buy it if you don’t want to.
c) What’s the problem with the way they sell cycling as a bit of a lifestyle? It attracts new people to the sport. How else do you expect cycling to grow? Remembering that the more people do it the more funding we’ll get for trail centres, better rights of way, safer roads etc

* I agree with some of the detractors here ie: I don’t buy Rapha because I can get good quality stuff that lasts me years of regular use without having to spend that kind of cash but I don’t see why the world is somehow a worse place because they exist…

The Endura bloke will surely come unravelled 1/2 way round & the zip will also fail.

Exactamundo….that’s what I was trying to get across.

Youre right, he does look a bit Eastern Bloc hardman doesn’t he. Pretty sure he’d be wearing snakeskin road shoes.

My guess is that he has a team mate that sits on your wheel, you just know he’s sat there and doing bugger all to contribute and it’s getting to you so after a while so you try to drop him only for Mr Mullet to come over the top just after your effort as he’s been towed up by Mr Wheelsuckers brother 😕

Yep got the Teeshirt I’m afraid

Aldi mullet man is Nick Stokes off CSI:

As someone who manufactures cycling gear* I’m following this with a lot of sniggering.

it’s not you who’s laughing all the way to the bank though is it.
instead of sniggering maybe you should be looking at their business plan.