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  • Interesting comments.

    For all the snobbery on LFGSS against Vulpine for not being Rapha, they did make some pieces that worked well, alongside a lot of other misses and near-misses that were just a bit meh. I've picked up some things from them over the years and generally have found it to be pretty solid, hard-wearing stuff that works well for the desired objective of cycling around in casual clothes without needing to get changed at my destination.

    But the prices were always massively toppy - I never bought anything full price. But then, I've never bought anything from Rapha full price either - their prices are pretty toppy also.

    And Rapha also has some bizarre products whose very existence I can't fathom. Designer leather Paul Smith collab 'town gloves' for £300, anyone? Or perhaps some Rapha-branded Bang & Olufson headphones at a 33pc markup on the regular price?

    None of this is to excuse poor management or poor use of shareholders' funds. It's just the snobbery against the brand for not being Rapha is something I've never really understood.

  • Rapha came onto the market in a niche and have spent a decade making high quality kit. Vulpine was always going to be compared to it because were trying to move in the same circles right from the beginning without having a particular selling point other than 'not-Rapha'.

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