Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

I agree, it is lovely, well made, great looking stuff. But seeing the group in the coffee shop in full Rapha uniform was pretty cringing. My girlfriend thought it was very sad. But then she hasen't a clue about anything bike.

I don't think it has put me off the brand, though. Just.

The point. I think, of Rapha is brand recognition and "status". Many of their designs and cuts are clearly targeting the leisure set that spends more time at the cafe eating cake then on their "design object" bicycles. Most seem designed for guys with hairy legs and shiny bicycles. Workmanship and materials are quite good but not in parity with their price. The gear is put simply "luxury priced". There are a number of companies that make better competitive grade jerseys and bibs and there are a number of companies making significantly better woolens--- and nearly always at lower price levels. Gloves? At Aldi I can get a pair of cycling gloves for around 2% of the price that Rapha demand. Are the Aldi gloves worse? They are quite frankly as good if not better than many of the pro team gloves that everyone in the peleton used 10-20 years back. Sure they are not leather but leather went out 30 years ago for gloves and pants chamois as a number of synthetics have proven themselves (heck even the Royal Lifeguards as a outpost of tradition have long switched to synthetic faux-leather materials for their white breeches in lieu of buff leather). If I want good leather gloves... there are still a number of glovemakers about and for a similar price--- perhaps even less-- I can get a bespoke pair. Do the Aldi gloves have a similar cachet? Of course not... but when you are not sitting at the cafe eating cake nobody is going to get a glimpse of them as you pass ...Descente Rockl, Castelli, Assos, Gore and... Rapha versus Assos bibs and jerseys.. Assos is priced lower.. and still overpriced.. Used to be that Assos was worth getting but the cheaper stuff has gotten so much better that I don't see any reason..