Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Goonz, what did you expect when you took your pilgrimage to the store?
That you would be feted and coddled and shown the special items.
Sounds like you expected a level of service that no staff for any brand could have provided..

Not at all, just didnt expect to feel so uncomfortable when I was there.

Do you really think your ethnic origin / skin colour adversely affected your shopping experience?

To be brutally honest with you, yes.

Sounds like you expected a level of service that no staff for any brand could have provided..

Which bit sounds like that? I think you're filling in the gaps a bit.

It's not uncommon to get employees high on their brand at fashion boutiques. There is a pretence and that's naturally exclusive and excluding.

There are other places to buy great cycling clothing.

Not at all, just didnt expect to feel so uncomfortable when I was there.

I have that feeling in most shops.

To be brutally honest with you, yes.

I've had the same experience on one occasion. They're usually really helpful but I had one of the women treat me like I was a thief when I tried to return something faulty. I said I didn't like her attitude & somebody else took over & was excellent. The people queuing behind me even looked at her, like WTF....haven't seen her there since.

The new team mitts look and feel the bomb. Want.

How did they compare to the classic mitts, if they had any left?

The New York store is super-friendly. Hang your bike up for you, talk to you even when you're wearing Pearl Izumi shorts and an old ACG long-sleeve from the early noughties.

On very hot days I'll go for a Pro Team baselayer

On very hot days, why wear a baselayer at all?

I find it helps wick the sweat away and keeps me cooler than just wearing a jersey, where it's a mesh type base layer. The best option is of course just to wear the base layer, but as Sky and Froome found out with the mesh skinsuit, that does have its issues, not least the aesthetic ones which come with wearing just a mesh top.

...just to wear the base layer...

Or wear a lightweight full zip jersey and no baselayer? That is one less product to sell though.....

How did they compare to the classic mitts, if they had any left?

They were fairly similar, the back is stretchy and ventilated and te palm is slightly less padded than my classic mitts. I do want a pair.

Do you really think your ethnic origin / skin colour adversely affected your shopping experience?

To be brutally honest with you, yes.

Fuck. Was it a particular member of staff or a general attitude?

I wonder when is this gonna come out!

The Marco Pantani jersey

They were fairly similar, the back is stretchy and ventilated and te palm is slightly less padded than my classic mitts. I do want a pair.

Thanks goonz

What's the general opinion on the gilets? A good bit of kit or are there others out there (less pricey) that are worth considering? Was windy and cold this morning so I think it might be time to invest in one.

nice

but pricey

Theres always one.......

I'm half way toward full kit wanker.

Very nice gear. But kinda buying into a stereotype....
Dunno, I always think waste. Especially when I think what parts I could get for my bike for like 2 items of their clothing. Its like a top of the line crankset or a nice wheel build....

Been using Howies base layers for years. And I think those are pricey!

Ive spent too much on rapha in the last year. If I hadnt, i could of got the fratello that I wanted and not the kaffenback I could afford. Hey ho

Fuck. Was it a particular member of staff or a general attitude?

I think more a general attitude in my opinion. In the sense the company perhaps has a specific image for its brand and if you do not fit that brand image then you are perhaps looked at outwardly. Again, this is the impression I got from being in there.

What's the general opinion on the gilets? A good bit of kit or are there others out there (less pricey) that are worth considering? Was windy and cold this morning so I think it might be time to invest in one.

I've got the softshell gilet and the brevet jersey gilet. Both are excellent pieces of kit. It was not cold enough this winter to break out the softshell gilet but I usually ride in most mornings with the brevet gilet on as a windbreaker. It performs perfectly.

The softshell was also a lifesaver in really cold temperatures where it saves you form the windchill but does not let you overheat from not having any sleeves.

No doubt there are cheaper alternatives but I have found so far with Rapha, you get what you pay for.

It's just exclusive innit? Like goonz said.
It's like when I went into Liberty just to see what was inside and staff followed me around the shop. I did look different to everyone else in there. But still.

I have a job you know.

Do you normally tell people you have a job when you walk into a shop. Because it's not always obvious who does have a job and who doesn't.

I like the Rapha stuff. It's nice.

I don't like the Rapha prices. It's pricey. I can't remember the last time I actually bought anything from them at full price though...