Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

flame retardant cotton dust sheet? Pretty see through but could be doubled up and fairly cheap

Got mine in 2020 spring. Can't remember if they were made in Italy or in Portugal but somewhere in Europe. Got them to tailors to fix them up but so far haven't heard any updates regarding it - hope they haven't messed it up.

I've heard a similar thing happening (stitching coming off) to an acquaintance of mine just after a week of riding.

The worst thing about Rapha is that even though the quality is getting worse/inconsistent, I still feel like buying it over anything else because it just looks so good. 😩

the quality is getting worse/inconsistent

Sizing is the issue for me at the moment.

Core cargo shorts - L
Cargo shorts - M

Similar issues with jackets.

the quality is getting worse/inconsistent

Totally agree. I was wearing my 2012 Winter Jacket last weekend and thinking what a quality piece of kit it is and how well it holds up year after year.

It is probably less that the quality is bad it is more that the garments are just less durable than historically.

it's probably true, and probably also a conscious decision in some ways. i have not bought rapha in ages but i am still wearing my classic merino jersey bought in 2013. no tears, no stretch beyond normal, not sure what i can do... also have a winter jersey from 4 or 5 years for cold weather, it looks new.

I would say as an overarching point, that those early products were loosely designed around a relationship with messengers (who were OG wear testers) and as such were intended to be robust, but as the Team Sky era dawned products definitely went into the more efficiency / performance focussed realm, which inevitably doesn't lend itself to longevity.
Not trying to justify poor construction as noted above (more factories, more products, more people working at a higher pace, cost margins etc will probably be the direct contributors here) but it's worth considering that there's likely only a handful of products that are made for 5/10 year wear cycles now. This isn't an argument btw, just trying to add some more perspective.

I agree and have nothing against rapha aiming at a shorter life span for their garments. the longevity of the particular one i am referring to is puzzling.
Thinner fabrics, taped seams, water treatment, etc. are all good, as long as you know what you are buying.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've been an extra small in pro team for years, but recently ordered a newer pro team jersey and had to go up to a medium. I knew I haven't just got fat, as all my older pro team stuff still fits me in XS.

I knew I haven't just got fat

Think that one's just you I'm afraid.
All my pro team fits consistently a Small, bang on

Still wearing the original fixed short which must be one of the first products they made (2007/8?), the beige merino tops from the same era expired many years ago but the shorts are still going strong.
so much more choice out there now though, if Rapha disappears overnight i doubt anyone would miss a cycle clothing brand a lot like other cycle clothing brands.

It is maybe with all this brands like Rapha, Cafe Du Cycliste, PAS, DeMarchi, etc. the same, that they just buy stuff in various factories at different times with various quality issues. I have to search for the names, some months ago I found 2-3 factories from Italy who probably produce for lots of brands. Still i prefer the Italy tag, even if the China tag could be better quality.

The majority of Italian (fashion clothing anyway) factories employ cheap immigrant Chinese workers so that they can slap a 'Made in Italy' logo on the product, subsequently Italy has a huge Chinese slum problem.
Also, assuming the MIC tag is synonymous with poor quality is antiquated and xenophobic.

While there are only a few factories in Italy that, as you say, manufacture for multiple brands, each of the brands will have specced their own design/cut and fabrics/components. So while differences may be subtle in some cases, products from one factory are completely different for each retailer. Very different from just badging up a generic Chinese frame for instance.

Oh no, MIC vs Europe for me because of globalization, not poor quality - I even wrote the quality could/can/is better MIC.

That's what I was thinking as well...

I remember I had a couple of items that were so good I thought - that's it - I don't need anything else from Rapha because it just works and is enough. And I still have some of those items, for example brevet bib shorts outlasted both core cargo shorts and the pricy cargo shorts.

In the end it's probably not a good business strategy to make long lasting items.
Not much into conspiracy theories but it really feels like planned obsolescence.

In the end it's probably not a good business strategy to make long lasting items. Not much into conspiracy theories but it really feels like planned obsolescence

Check out the 'Phoebus Cartel' 🙂

Does anyone remember the original price for merino winter base layer with the long collar? Looking to pick one up second hand but don't want to over pay.

Cheap Pro Team XS jersey that has a couple of scuffs. Looks a good bargain for a smaller rider!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144293164359?hash=item21988af547:g:wNkAAOSwnj9hgSGF

Not trolling.

Was a rushed post though. I was wondering about the jump from core, to pro team, with some other options in between. I rate all my castelli gear as being pretty high quality (perfetto, some summer weight bibs, arm warmers). But anyway I ended up going for pro team winter bibs, core winter tights, and the brevet insulated gilet.

The shorts are excellent, great quality, very thick and warm, though any colder than it was at the weekend and I'd need something to keep the knees warm. I've now got the brevet jacket and gilet, sized up in the gilet and glad i did, will allow for more layers and was pretty comfortable. I understand why it doesn't have pockets but it's still a bit annoying and the only mild gripe anyone could have.

https://www.sportpursuit.com/sales/rapha-nov21?utm_source=SilverpopMailing&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=w-sp.e-ds.d-20211118.ts-C.st-UK_EU.m-BOS.a-15_Thursday.

Thanks, have picked up some shorts 'RB'

Mottram has gone.

wow he was working late, almost 8:30

Source?

Expect an Uber niche tweed/tech fabric members only side project for semi retired media nodes to hit the gram soon.