Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

That would have made them exclusionary and therefore not BC affiliated.

exclusionary

does BC have a definition of this in terms of membership fees?

Not sure if it’s explicitly stated anywhere but I’m certain it wouldn’t have got past review.

Plenty of BC clubs are exclusionary. Try and join RPR.

But they would have likely lost less money on free coffees...

Aren't there plenty of clubs/teams that are invite only.

I am not suggesting that a £1000/year membership would be a good idea at all - but that I am surprised that Rapha priced their membership at the level they did, especially with all the "new-golf" chat and their previous on trying to be super exclusive (Imperial Works range anyone?)

Maybe thats the re-education plan.

Imperial Works

@pastry_bot was into Rapha then!

A coffee costs like 20p to the company

Not if you are turning away paying customers though.

ignoring the associated costs of serving that coffee, from ground rent, equipment, staffing, music licence, etc etc etc

I’m not sure whether we’re agreeing or arguing any more...

Rapha in another bringing-out-the-worst-in-us shocker

Rapha used to be able to justify their prices on technical performance, quality, style and services like free repair.

early generation items are head and shoulder above today's offerings on all counts, with perhaps a few exceptions. There's been loads of fundamental quality issues on stitching etc, a lot of more fashion-ey rather than performance items, not to mention some fuck ugly designs (neapolitan rival jersey, Spok peace race two most prominent examples) and service isn't what it was-last pro team bibs I bought arrived to me soiled from whomever had bought them before sent them back. That's just gross.

I actually think on the good items you still get good value even at full price, it's just that the good items are fewer and farther between-maybe because the early gen stuff lasts so long?

Yes well not everyone had the chance to buy Rapha's first gen bibshorts made burlap, jute and leather.

haha :)

I was referring to the comments earlier in the thread about customers in the cafe being turned away/unable to buy a coffee etc as the staff were busy making coffee for RCC members.

My wolf fur lined felt Rapha Paul Smith jacket was sublime until the moths got to it in the winter of '16...

I think the point was more that they were getting turned away because of the silly new early closing times and that it wasn’t a move to stop losing money because clearly they were still making some from the cafes. Probably just not enough for new management.

I was referring to the comments earlier in the thread about customers in the cafe being turned away/unable to buy a coffee etc as the staff were busy making coffee for RCC members.

? I've never seen this happen.

Yeah, I think I misinterpreted some of the comments looking at them again.

I cant help but feel that the majority of people airing their grievances here are doing so because they actually quite like Rapha, or likED Rapha, and are genuinely quite disappointed that a concept that held so much promise is withering away as fast as the possibility of continuing to reduce their coffee bill from £135 a month to £135 a year....

is that hate speech towards me?

Everything is hate speech towards you. I hate you.

i dont really, i actually really liek you.

I just don't understand some of your component choices

If anything, it's Amey who hates us all.