Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

I got Core Winter tights with pad for £47, don't care if they came from the same shop as DHB...

On this note; is the rapha softshell BL realy worth double the dhb attempt?

I'm with you and @dancing james on this in fact, my main source of Rapha is Ebay and I buy/like it primarily for the quality and durability, pretty new to it in fact, but the bits I have are much better and more comfortable than the previous cheaper bibs and jerseys. I was more commenting not with a #buyer hat on.

The way, at times, they seem to advertise Rapha as a select club, just the feel you get from some of the images and website, at least used to. Then thinking that by expanding to Wiggle makes that idea less strong, but the tradeoff of using Wiggle's coverage is understandable. In the meantime of the last few years it seems like DHB have been growing into having a more premium quality, copying elements of what Rapha did well and the previous defined gap between Rapha and brands like DHB is blurring a bit now.

Probably not. The Rapha softshell baselayer is one of the least successful bits of Rapha kit I've got. It's not very well cut, and the material is very odd, rather like a very thin neoprene. It works, but if you just want a windproof baselayer then there are better options out there. Although TBH, unless you're racing and you have to wear team kit which isn't windproof, I usually struggle to see what the point of a windproof base layer is. I wear mine once a year, when I'm racing in the Ely Hardriders TT. The rest of the time, if I want windproofing I'll use a windproof top layer.

I've had a softshell base layer from the first time they were in a sale and I've still not worn it.

Snap.

I love my soft shell base layer. Picked it up on sample sale. Saved my life riding in alps in winter.

Saved my life

Off to the helmet thread for you with hyperbole like that! ;)

Wore mine once, got a trapped nerve/almost dislocated my shoulder trying to peel its damp rubbery fabric from my sweaty Bisto-scented skin, never worn again... I can only speculate that although for slightly different uses, the failings of Rapha's design illustrate perfectly why gimp costumes have zips on them.

Did you wash it after? Can I have it if you didn’t?

I’ve worn mine once. Don’t like the tight collar. I know that’s to keep the rain out but I find it too restrictive.

Welcome to Linkedin

PM'd

Brill. That's exactly why I want it. Just to extend the wearability of my club kit tbh.

At least it avoided the typical LinkedIn lingo: "Rapha did too little too late. Do you agree?"

Who reads articles on LinkedIn let alone takes them seriously anyway?

It's all self-aggrandizing shite by self aggrandising shites designed to turn other self aggrandising shites heads that they couldn't get published anywhere decent.

You, by not specifying. Also, a lot of commuters also do 'leisure cycling', and vice versa.

Just been given a £180 Rapha voucher but no idea what to spend it on. I have so much kit already.

But have you got a Rapha down jacket?

buys one immediately

(no but I do have one from Decathers)

There's nothing more depressing than a generic 'happy birthday' message from a stranger on Linkedin.

thats the only ones i get..................

I don't even get them as I'm not on Linkedin.

Rapha do biscuits?

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How do you keep in touch with all your close, personal friends?

I always make sure I send the glib standard 'congratulate xxxxx for 18 years in current role' messages.