Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Not really a ringing endorsement if you have to differentiate the two parts (presumably) to placate the customers..

Why? They are two different skill sets.

Of course there is a difference between the two skill sets but it doesn't sit right to me..

On one hand, foreign = just a good.
On the other, foreign = worse.

Of course there is a difference between the two skill sets but it doesn't sit right to me..

On one hand, foreign = just a good.
On the other, foreign = worse.

One hand: designed by people who know our climate and daily abuses of the products.
Other hand: made by people who are the best at making things.

Really wanting a hooded top as well but with a new colnago frame to spend my money on, I may have to prioritise, and get the hooded top.

I spent my money on a Colnago frame, and bought the Hooded Top with birthday cash. #boastpost #hipster #wac

Any windproof shirt owners? Reccommendeded?

Another sample sale? Danger.

Not waiting until then, especially as it's unlikely they'll be in there. Hoping for January sale then. Unless I get it now and just use that code ^ .
Decisions.
Do they have decent online discounts in Jan?

I'll be rocking the grey and pink, obvs, as it goes with my bike...

i like the windproof shirt

but the only colours when i got mine were white or purple so got the white

it gets grubby pretty quickly

but the garment is great for windy days

One hand: [st]designed by people who know our climate and daily abuses of the products.[/st] designed by local people who aren't necessarily any better at designing things because of their nationality.
Other hand: made by people who are the [st]best[/st] cheapest at making things.

ftfy

I kind of see what you mean. There are probably designers in China as capable as Rapha's UK based designers, just as there are probably manufacturers in the UK capable as capable as Rapha's China based manufacturers. So cost is clearly a factor.

Disclaimer, I couldn't actually be bothered to read the piece on the Rapha site so it is probably all covered there.

Mottram's reply is fine. The person writing the article however sounds like a moron. The most technologically advanced factories in the world are in China. It's not all sweatshops FFS. As a country we elected China to supersede us as 'the workshop of the world'.

It's a major problem in my opinion, that we're so dependent on such an ethically questionable country for the production of so many if our goods. However, the truth is that the UK has, for the most part, dismantled its once-awesome manufacturing base.

I agree and couldn't have said it better. I usually make a point of disagreeing with Sometimesprecise but it's Christmas...

Any windproof shirt owners? Reccommendeded?

I really, really like mine.

It does exactly what it should (it's made from the same fabric as the wind jacket) and it's comfortable to wear on the bike without looking too out of place off it.

The pockets are good enough to pop your cap/hat into in the pub and the collar buttons up high for when it's cold and you can njust button it rather than zip it for ventilation when it gets a bit warmer.

I'm seriously thinking about getting a second one (or waiting until Rapha inevitably just produce their own) as it's so good.

Sold !

I already have a Wind Jacket and it's sweet like a ginger nipple.

jdp there was a 20% one.

jdp, the GOBBLE11 code is still valid for a 20% discount. Only two pages back, you lazy, lazy person, but since it's the season of goodwill, we'll let you off, eh.

Cheers

made in china page is down now

new page
http://www.rapha.cc/ktc-china

made in china page is down now

new page
http://www.rapha.cc/ktc-china

It looks like it's been quickly shunted into the archive section.

It's a bit of a shame as the actual bare bones of the article and the link to KTC are good. It's just poorly written, as said before.

It has moved back to the old link again now http://www.rapha.cc/made-in-china

"KTC has doubled their workforce’s wages in the last year alone and expects salaries to rise again by as much as 20-30% over the course of the next year."

Such percentages are somewhat useless without a starting or finishing figure...

I'm not commenting on Rapha here at all, but as an aside, the cost of labour has risen significantly in China recently.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15456509

Perhaps at some point the brand will bring some of it's manufacturing to the UK. That would be healthy.

I'm using a Club Jersey for the cold weather (with 2 baselayers and sometimes a gilet). The website says they're ideal for summer but I'm finding the big pockets and fast drying, thick merino mix fabric great at this time of year.

i bought some winter gloves...they went back. not great for 75 quid if im honest
best thing ive bought of them is the merino padded shorts
the thing to always bear in mind with rapha is never pay full price
wait for the mystical sample sell off or their own sales
went down to perren st HQ, was nice to see the place. their marketing and website is up there with the best
i like rapha but its far too expensive

splutter, you don't rate the winter gloves at all? I was thinking of a purchase....

Perhaps at some point the brand will bring some of it's manufacturing to the UK. That would be healthy.

It'll be interesting to see if Shutt VR continue to manufacture in the UK in future (as far as I know they have no plans to change things) as the clothing I have from them is very impressive. I think the quality and some of the fabrics (on comparable products) are certainly very similar to Rapha.

In terms of performance I don't notice the difference between Rapha bibs/jersey or Shutt bibs/jersey over rides of 80-100 miles.

The pads in the bibs is a slightly different shape but I get on well with both.

@jimmy_fingers
no mate
they werent actually that warm
very similar to motorbike gloves
and the palm padding for hand nerves etc wasnt all that
i was expecting something mega for 75 quid and those are not them!

and whoever is going on about the hoodies
assume you mean the one with the zip down the front..its ok but the merino arms and back fluff up like crazy so if you wear a backpack or something else expect it to look like its 3 years old after a month
i bought the paul smith one so i know what im on about. lovely fit and design tho so up to you :)

That's odd, my PS hoody has stood up to a lot of use. Are your back pack straps particularly abrasive?

Winter gloves are a difficult option - too thick and you lose tactile feedback, too thin and the cold sets in. I was using the gloves yesterday in when it was 8 degrees and they were fine. There is a whole thread devoted to the problems of winter gloves and no clear winner has come out, horses for courses. But I did try the assos 851 gloves, first pair lasted 3 weeks, second pair one ride before they split, they were no warmer than the rapha ones and had less padding.

thats just a characteristic of the material. Merino is an incredible fabric if you treat it right and layer it right, but it's not supposed to be hard wearing, friction-proof outerwear. Even Goretex suffers eventually if you wear it with a backpack and ride a lot.

Splutter - did you try layering the gloves? I'm pretty sure they're designed as a shell - most winter gloves need a liner when it gets colder (assos winter glove system is £113 and has 3 layers included)... I'm pretty sure its a deliberate thing too, if they were too warm they would only be useful 3 days a year to anyone riding hard. I find that when not 'city riding' my hands are pretty much always hot unless its pissing down or -2.

I've never understood people who need ski gloves/mittens/Zoidberg claw for cycling in town. HTFU or ride a bit faster..