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That wasn't much of a rant. Rant 101 - do not praise the subject of your rant half way through. ;p
good point. i realised some pluses as i went along and got confused. i hope the central message held through though.
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What the hell else are you going to do with a bike?
Post on a forum about how you've spent 6 months cleaning it and applying 364 coats of polish, and get your mates into your garage to take photos of you measuring the paint depth.
Ooops, wrong thread.
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BEWARE: rant.
I like most of Ferrari's products but all their spiel stinks of piss. They unashamedly aim to appeal to rich men and women, the type who roll their £150,000 carbon fibre sports cars around London Village at the weekend.
I used to find their photography and 'ethos' seductive but now it annoys the shit out of me so much. Everything they sell is as expensive as they can get away with, and get away with they do.
In economics such products are referred to as 'ostentatious goods', which perfectly complements their elitist arsehole aesthetic.
On the other hand, it could be argued that they do a lot for motorsport and are clearly passionate about it.
Particularly I admire their promotion of the traditional / classic image of the sport, which I feel has been largely spoiled by years of overt branding and technological one-upmanship. Yet with their prices as they are, it would seem that all this serves only to bolster their exclusivity.sorry for kicking off.
Fixed
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I bought a rapha jersey, because I wanted to look like the people in the beautiful black and white photos. However when I put the jersey on, it was too tight around the arms, too hot to wear in summer and didn't make me look like any less of a twat than I acutally am. If I'm going to pay £100+ for a jersey, I want to look fantastic in it and I didn't. I think it might be broken. Their magazine is quite good though, and I like the fact people want to pay £15 for it second hand on Ebay when you can buy back issues from Rapha for £9. Genius.
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I think Superprecise is right their stuff is pretty pricey.. But you cant ague that their quality and traditional styling isn't good, i've had a couple of jerseys/base layers etc from them before and they last forever.. so really as you dont have to replace them so often, they dont work out that expensive.. Thats my thinkin anyway, and of course lets not forget its dead funny seeing a fat middle aged man sporting a tight Jersey and lycra shorts, you need these people around when you're on a long ride through the country side, it stimulates the mind and excersises your jaw muscles as you cuise past them.. I propose a toast to the fat village riders of Britain (Will probably end up being one now that i think about it.. SHIT)
By the way does anyone know of an alternate maker of gloves like theirs? Gotta love those mits, just not the colours at present... -
if Rapha seemed less snooty/pretentious and their clothes were less expensive I would be all over it like stink on doo-doo. I think their designs are really great and unlike anything else available that I know of. It's unsurprising that they make the most of their well-cultivated niche, but they appear to push it so far that they give the game away.
I understand the Ferrari comparison, but for me the difference is that Ferrari was actually part of the heritage it profits from. The same could be said of many companies, obviously (Fender? Coca-cola? Brooks?). Rapha however, a new company, borrows nostalgia and superimposes their brand.
Also, I maintain that the lack of a women's range is problematic, in my humble opinion.
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I understand the Ferrari comparison, but for me the difference is that Ferrari was actually part of the heritage it profits from. The same could be said of many companies, obviously (Fender? Coca-cola? Brooks?). Rapha however, a new company, borrows nostalgia and superimposes their brand.
Good point. But doesn't the sponsorship that they are putting in go some way to making up for the company's comparative youth? After all, we all have to start somewhere...
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Rapha however, a new company, borrows nostalgia and superimposes their brand.
You can find old photos of the Classics in the 60s and 70s with people in Rapha clothing, so I think somehow or other it is an old brand which has been bought and re-launched.
Also, I maintain that the lack of a women's range is problematic, in my humble opinion.
Ever tried asking them why they don't do women specific stuff?
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Good point. But doesn't the sponsorship that they are putting in go some way to making up for the company's comparative youth? After all, we all have to start somewhere...
yeah, i think it does, as I said in my first post as counterpoint to my general negativity. I really like to follow these sort of companies as they seem to do a lot of things well and i find it interesting. Howies is another one that I watched closely. Maybe I'm just bitter Because I'll be a poor student for the foreseeable future. Even if I was minted though I would still be wound up by the haughty marketing.
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Ever tried asking them why they don't do women specific stuff?
No. Maybe I should! They probably wouldn't shift as much but I still find it a little crap, especially coupled with their 'sophisticated, sporting gent' identity.
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Even if I was minted though I would still be wound up by the haughty marketing.
Good point. I'm (comparatively) minted yet still prefer Assos to Rapha. Despite (because of?) the slickness of their marketing etc, I still can't help feeling that they would be laughing up their sleeves as they took my money...
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and adapted it to rapha, i may be wrong, it i only a vague recollection of reading that!
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Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?
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@Velocio
oh, btw, the shipping is also free in the secret squirrel sale