Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Quite pleased with the Stage 4 TOC casquette that just popped through my door.

If Rapha could find it in their hearts to make their hats normal size it would spare me the need to strategically unpick stitching and snip the elastic at the back to stop them cutting off circulation to my scalp whilst wearing, that would be greatly appreciated.

For all you pea-heads out there that fit them without this palaver, 'chapeau!' for being more aero, even if your brain power is significantly reduced as a result.

true they can decide whatever they want,
but it's just dwr sprayed polyester fabric, nothing like high-end leather.

ok, then here's a £475 printed cotton t-shirt

http://www.matchesfashion.com/products/Givenchy-Cuban-fit-Jesus-print-cotton-T-shirt-1040921

I'm sure you get my drift

There are pricier less technical cycling garments made by other manufacturers

i do, but check ou this shadow groupset it works in the rain as well
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-ultegra-6800-11-speed-groupset/rp-prod110818?gs=1&gclid=CM2-hbvl6MwCFRKNGwodTxsJKg&gclsrc=aw.ds

you're thinking arc'teryx right ?

I don't think it's even that though. I think it's that in a sporting context there is an expectation amongst users that price has to be justified on the basis of performance. In the fashion world price very often has little to do with quality. Rapha unfortunately straddles both the sporting and the fashion and people often forget about the latter and concentrate on the former.

ultimately i'm pointing out that while the PT range for instance has visibly evolved with the taped seams and so on, the price doesn't fell like it's jumped, whereas i was suprised at the shadow kit pricing. it seems like you're paying over 100£ more for some DWR on top. which might be explained by the smaller numbers produced and sold though...

which interestingly is exactly what I said

it seems like you're paying over 100£ more for some DWR on top.

Except that the shadow material isn't just normal jersey material with DWR on top. So you're not.

Still silly money, I agree.

well it's not really true, if i buy an expensive item, i will look at what the material is.
With rapha i feel like the logic is twisted, their merino stuff is the most durable and confortable, making it their best value for money pieces, but they don't sit really high in their (price)range.

best kept secret in north london

If I'm honest I could replace every bit of my Rapha With something equally functional from another brand. Probably not much cheaper, and probably not so 'styled'.

That is except the softshell base, and the racecape. I've come to need these Things.

Quite pleased with the Stage 4 TOC casquette that just popped through my door.
If Rapha could find it in their hearts to make their hats normal size it would spare me the need to strategically unpick stitching and snip the elastic at the back to stop them cutting off circulation to my scalp whilst wearing, that would be greatly appreciated.
For all you pea-heads out there that fit them without this palaver, 'chapeau!' for being more aero, even if your brain power is significantly reduced as a result.

I have the same problem with the one size fits all special edition caps. The RCC cap gives me a headache for instance.

The none special edition caps in the M/L sizing are great though.

got one of their jerseys, i think signature or something like that... really nice one.

These garments are very expensive because the store mark them up usually by 2.7 or 2.8. The brand then has to sell directly to consumer (from their own store or online) at the same price otherwise they undercut their client and lose their wholesale business.

Rapha don't have a wholesale business model so these examples are technically flawed.

I don't know where Rapha manufacture their garments, but it is likely a short sleeve shadow jersey costs around £30-40 to produce up to the point at which it arrives in the UK warehouse so the mark up is 5.5 (£40). This mark up will be larger for the items they sell a higher volume of. Excluding costs such as marketing (which is why many believe this level of quality is 'good value') they have operating profit of around twice that of the kind of store used in your example.

Definitely shows the benefits of entering a market where potential customers have deep pockets and the competition is weak.

all on point here

I don't think the point was about profit and the levels of, it was whether their garments are of good value. Which isn't always a product of their cost to market, manufacture and sell.

I agree that the market for people with a bit of money who wanted to look less shit on their bikes was poorly served until Motram's army stole cycling ;)

the store mark them up usually by 2.7 or 2.8

I work for a full-price luxury retailer who would love to get margins like that! Unless you're including VAT?

I like my race cape, but I'm under no illusion that it does anything unique, or is any better than the Gore jacket it replaced. It's just a lightweight jacket which is water resistant and fits nicely - hardly ground breaking stuff.
Can't comment on the softshell thingy - don't own one.

I wasn't making much of a comment on the perceived level of value, as its always subjective (only pair of shorts that don't leave you with sores = value etc. etc.). Was mainly pointing out why some may have an issue with the pricing and how direct to consumer differs from wholesale.

Yes, VAT included. Was making a very simple cost of manufacture >>> price on rail in store comparison. Obviously not entirely how things work but wanted to save myself whole page of typing.

Some stuff slightly less pricey for the next 10 days.

#buybuybuy

Don't buy. You don't need it. Stay strong.

How can you expect to get anywhere with that sort of attitude?