Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

I just got a le col eco pro bundle which seems to be very nicely made, added bonus of always getting £50 off vouchers via strava.

Albion is the one. Good kit, good guys.

Had the same thoughts on the Albion stuff when I tried on a jersey/bibs the other week.

It's stocked in Condor and the Pinarello store if anyone wants to have a look at it.

Just worked out how to pack my lightweight rain jacket into its own pocket only had it a year. #raphail

I had a similar experience with an Adidas jacket I've got. I thought I was being really clever, stuffing it in to one of it's own pockets, unprompted. I recently realised that the other pocket was specifically designed for it and had a full waterproof outer shell.

Interested in the merino beanie but my head is pretty large. Any other large headed people used one?

Look at edz

Family owned business in cumbria

I have two and a massive head. Get loads of wear out of them in the colder months. Bought both of mine years ago though so not sure if the fit has changed

Rapha wouldn't do repairs as I didn't buy direct.

I'm looking for replacement flyweight PT bibs, their recommended alternative is the Powerweave which are out of stock, anyone have any suggestions to similar lightweight bibs? cheers

La Passione and Le Col both do some, do they compare to the rapha stuff?

https://fr.lapassione.cc/collections/prestige-lightweight-bib-shorts/products/prestige-lightweight-bib-shorts-blue?variant=37696363036844

https://lecol.cc/products/pro-lightweight-bib-shorts?variant=39347281297471

Posted a week ago (in fact at the top of this page) about the le col jersey and bib bundle i got, worn a few times but seems really good quality so far. Strava codes (£50 off) aplenty as well.

I have a Le Col set, the Sport version which I believe is the lower end. Like @French_Touch mentions I needed some stuff, had a Strava code so tried it out. In my opinion its pretty decent, for the discounted price its probably about right. Jersey is nice, cant fault it. Wore the set for a whole season. It bobbled pretty quick between my admittedly meaty thighs, not totally stoked on that (no others have)

However, I also have the Rapha PT Training Bibs and a couple of Core jerseys (£60 is really good imo) and its much better than the Le Col Sport stuff, I think its a different level range but still. More compression, better feeling material, better pad, less shiny...just all round better.

In conclusion....Assos T Equipe Evo Bib and Rapha PT Training Bib and tbh the Galibier Cargo type bibs are all ahead of the Le Col for me in my kit drawer.

Thanks, this is my experience so far, I was anti rapha till I tried it, now I can't find anything that compares. I like the Assos NeoPro and X-Bionic bibs I've had but the pad seems way comfier in the PT kit.

I've been comfortable wearing the Flyweight all year round, unless anyone could recommend an equal to the pad and lightness I'll likely end up going with the regular PT.

Thanks again for the input

Anyone know how long Rapha repairs take?

Elastic has worn out in the straps of my pro team bib shorts, I’ve never had a pair last longer than a year. In the past they have just replaced them as they couldn’t repair. This time they have offered to repair.

Within 4 weeks is what they say. Often faster in my experience, but that was before COVID

Thanks.

I noticed they use the same company for repairs as Patagonia does. I waited 3 months for a Patagonia repair (about 6 months ago).

https://cyclingtips.com/2021/08/raphas-custom-division-has-been-shut-down/

https://cyclingtips.com/2021/08/raphas-custom-division-has-been-shut-down/

Always sad about redundancies but Rapha need to stick to what they are good at. Well made but boring and overpriced roadie kit for mamils.

Just about to post that above, oh well onto something else then

Hmmm, I've been a victim of the core shorts going see through on one panel. They've offered me a 30 quid voucher, which I don't think is great, given that a replacement costs 85 quid, and they're only 3 years old. Is that par for the course for what others have received?

Go back to them and ask for the full 85 - I laid the disappointment on a little thick with my reply but they did cough up in the end.

3 years? I mean you do you but I can't even imagine complaining about wear and tear of a product I'd been wearing for 3 years

Are the new Core shorts sorted then? Different material?

Got the same see through on a pair of Core Cargo bibs I bought last year. Got a voucher to buy a new pair.

Snap, mine lasted less than a year though.