Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Interesting stuff; so did they publish that Rapha blueprint for racing report mentioned in the press release? Wasn't it originally going to be released over the summer?

Lays off folks then announces world tour sponsorship a few weeks later?!

Sponsoring American team for targeting strategic markets sounds like a management consultant recommendation to me

Just realised Van Garderen is going to be in Rapha next year...

vaughters must've sold them a pipe-dream .. "the combined social media footprint of taylor phinney is bigger than whole of team sky combined" .. the man can sell anything .. he will sell NJS fixie in 2018!

the man can sell anything

Is their lack of results mainly due to Vaughters selling races then?

Or is it his complete inability to sign anyone other than kooky climbers?

his riders read loads of books and he brings 'character' .. can you put a price on that?

"character" is the answer

Sounds like you're not taking McLay's stage win at Circuit de la Sarthe-Pays de la Loire very seriously there.

Don’t get me started on EF’s ‘sprint train’...

CyclingTips interview with Simon Mottram:
https://cyclingtips.com/2018/10/whats-happening-at-rapha-an-interview-with-founder-simon-mottram/

@skinny to get an EF contract...?

"more traditional distribution channels"

Ok, so, I bet they will partially move away from 'direct to customer' selling and will release the Rapha Core range to selected premium cycle stores to sell.

I’d imagine more net-a-porter or the like.

Interesting interview. I hadn't realised the RCC stuff had been cut to that extent (including Mondial, boo - I always liked that). I can't decide whether Mottram sounds like a steely-eyed visionary with a goal or a Nick Hussey trying to hold everything together while the company's on the skids - I suspect the difference may only appear in retrospect.

The comment section has some insights by some apparently 'relevant' parties, but then >>>>>>>>> https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/258849/

Is the Rapha club kit service ever going to happen? Wasn't that a thing once?

disappearing into the eye of a needle when customers are going off-road or doing gravel bike riding or mixing it up and trying endurance.

There's the investors speaking, but mainly also @cake

hahaha

But i do do those things draped in Rapha.

And the finest Mink.

He is definitely not like Nick Hussey that's for sure.

Simon is ime an honourable chap with a genuine passion for what he does. My take is that they have tried some stuff which hasn’t worked and just need to reappraise what they are doing.

I found Simon to be a really inspiring person to work for. Unfortunately other people in the organisation dragged down the whole experience, but yeah, I like Simon a lot. Some wise words from him in that article.

Simon is responsible (ultimately) for hiring those other people though. Without a moment of clarity regarding that aspect I suspect the same mistakes will continue to be made.

Sounds fair to close down I.e. a clubhouse that never made profit once your contract runs out.