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?
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?