Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

nimhbus - you're a genius.

Yeah, but that Rapha stuff is pretty expensive, don't you think?

not when you compare it to more expensive things.

Hmm, Rapha is a bit on the expensive side.

i have heard that. you know, maybe we could have a discussion somewhere on the internet about the cost of rapha stuff? where would we be able to take this discussion on-line?

multicoloured stripe, small size, left at fixed mag 2 launch at Richmix. went back to check if it was still there but nout... anyone pick it up?

cheers!

But it pays to look good

but at those prices? personally i just find it downright offensive. in fact, their prices make me so angry you'd think i'd never seen or heard of designer clothes costing hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

I'm fucked off, I ripped BOTH my Rapha merino socks this morning pre RP ride trying to put these fuckers on. They'll be getting those back. Grrrrr...

a tip for you.

when your toes get to the end of the sock stop pulling!

thanks smart arse ;P

Gee, that Rapha stuff is expensive isn't it?

i've heard that.

I like the look of some of the Rapha stuff. But it's pretty pricey, I think.

Actually, I got the winter jersey [about a year ago and before the crunch].
For me, it's been worth it. Firstly, I love the aesthetics. And secondly, although I suppose I'd happily toddle around around in something that "does the job" [some army surplus mac or whatever], I freelance at various places where I'd be loathe to turn up to work looking really shabby and my Rapha top over shirt and tie kind of works. I know, I know, I should ideally ditch any workplace that has an issue with such facile, superficial things. And I could wear a better-priced top that I dump in a bag before entering the office. But that way I just look weird for being cumpled/having road detritus spattered on me etc. Rapha makes me look like I'm professional [stroke: rich-ish] while at the same time explaining why I'm a tad red-faced and sweaty.
It's all very well saying that image counts for nothing, but if wearing something with a nice pink trim etc rather than looking like I'm a tramp who's been shoplifting in Millet's mean that my employers give me more credibility, it may be a worthwhile investment.
Sure, it's expensive, but if shelling out on, say, the softshell jacket means that you can cycle to some place looking really good rather than instead deciding to bus it so that you can wear a nice overcoat or some such, you're kind of saving money [and time] that way. To reiterate, though, I'm coming from the angle that looks are important to others rather than me [although, yes, I acknowledge that by reacting to that means that looks do count in my priorities]. A slightly sad fact about life. [Although, f**k it, I do straightforwardly like the asymmetrical cut of the softshell jacket and would pay a premium for it -- it's just unfortunate that Primark et al haven't ripped the design off].

Am I out of the nursery yet?

But back to Rapha. I'd like it more if it was less costly...

It won't be less costly.. since they continue to sell it at the current prices to people such as yourself who justify the expense.

For me, it's all about the fur-lined, winter mankini. Any workplace that doesn't appreciate this is struck from my list.

It won't be less costly.. since they continue to sell it at the current prices to people such as yourself who justify the expense.

But people like myself used to have a decent income but now don't.
So if they track my income, Rapha will have an ongoing 50% sale. Perhaps, but hopefully not, indefinitely...
Not that I was ever one of the rich lard-arses in Condor that I hear of who put on two pounds over a business lunch and then go into the shop to pay silly money for a bottle cage that shaves 25g off their overall cycling weight.
[I was just one of the lard-arses]
Actually, though, could cycling goods prices be an area that's hurt, rather than helped, but the credit crunch, I wonder. Just that if everybody's looking to economise by selling their SUVs etc, I wonder whether in good old Keynsian fashion the price of bicycles etc might rise.
But I agree that I should make a dirty protest at Rapha to push things lower.
On which note, I'm taken by their winter cap but remember that somebody on this forum a while ago was making cycling caps. They looked great, but I can't remember the name. Who should I be looking for?

Smeear, but he might've vanished. Try PM'ing him.

Talking of Rapha, anyone know If they are doing a January sale?

Holy shit, there's a Rapha Fans facebook group..
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5852486586

"Have a weakness for the "pricey" London cycling label? Can't walk past the racks without casting longing glances at the "ne plus ultra" retro-futurist clobber? You are probably a Rapha junkie and this group is for you.

We welcome those who find that they wear their softshell jacket as often off the bike as when riding and for whom the temptation to wear their sportwool jersey down the pub is just too much sometimes.

For those who find themselves drooling over the lush catalogues and Rouleur magazine, come also and join with us in indulging our shared habit."

It's a bit on the pricey side tho

cringe, cringe, cringe.

mmmmmm.......rapha.........mmmmmmmm

what i've noticed about rapha, apart from the price, is that everything has been designed/re-designed from scratch - it is nothing like anything else available, the materials are better quality and the way the clothes are put together is exceptional.

i think the price is justified in terms of research, development, design and quality. whether i buy it or not depends if i can justify it to myself.....bib tights? no, DHB merstons for me. soft shell? maybe - no-one else makes them like that and they're (apart from the tweed effect one) on a par with what other quality outdoor manufacturers would charge for a lesser product.

okay, they are made in china but even the t-shirts have at least one patent on them.

i'd choose rapha over assos any day - no-one wants to look like a novelty condom, do they?

Rapha may be pricy but you pay for a good service as far as I am concerned. Ripped my Rapha cycling shorts on the saddle, totally my fault, sent it back to them. They repaired it free of charge within 10 days and even refunded the postage for sending it to them. My woolen fixed jersey has a hole on the elbow, just from constant long term use, nothing wrong with the product. I wrote them an e-mail and they said send it over we repair it for you. I am quite busy usually so I really appreciate that kind of thing. Running around getting it repaired myself would probably have cost more time and money than the price difference between Rapha and other brands.

i can justify it to myself.....bib tights? no, DHB merstons for me.

totally with you on the DHB bibs...very, very good value.

however, i picked up some Rapha bibs in the sample sale - and fuck, they are nice. better than the dhbs, pad is much better, material nicer.

but are they worth the price difference over DHBs? probably not, but they are better..

Do you like the cut of his jib then?

he's a doctor .. ;)