Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Bordeaux-Paris jersey just landed here in Oz. It's nice and not as pricey as the Paul Smith one.

What are peoples thoughts on head to toe Rapha?

I know a few people on here must do it..

I popped in the shop on Brewer Street on saturday with the girlfriend, to check out the new stuff. A group of about 5 were sat supping coffee and eating cake dressed completely in Rapha.

It's nice stuff, I've got a few pairs of bibs, some excellent base layers, a couple of jerseys and a jacket.

I'd fail the coffee shop test due to DeFeet oversocks and gloves, plus Assos leg warmers, but the Rapha stuff is well made and comfortable and I have no issue with wearing bibs/base layer/jersey.

The other thing is that if you have bought it direct from Rapha and run out of talent then they will fix it for you free of charge- which is a massive winner in my book.

'Rapha Coffee Shop Test' indeed!

Fail...but do have a selection of jackets - my preference is to 'mix n' match'.

What are peoples thoughts on head to toe Rapha?

I know a few people on here must do it..

I popped in the shop on Brewer Street on saturday with the girlfriend, to check out the new stuff. A group of about 5 were sat supping coffee and eating cake dressed completely in Rapha.

I do it all the time. The whole poseur/pretentiousness discussion aside there are good reasons for it.

I wear all rapha when i'm training solo. I've done tons of research and for me all the separate key pieces jersey/baselayer/bibs/gilet are the most agreeable and best looking alternatives out there. Not because I think the rapha design ethos is head and shoulders above the rest but much more that the alternatives are so hideous.

If I ride with friends or the team I wear the team kit of course. Same goes for racing. But I can see why people are a bit put off by someone wearing the whole rapha uniform but I much prefer that to some sportive nodder in a pro team replica.

Its the symbiosis of the golden triangle of instagram / rapha / strava. You can hate on it all you want but in part and together they have done a great job of opening up cycling to new crowds.

Edit: Oh and I wear the winter baselayers around the house because they have become my favourite tshirts as well. Amazing fit and comfort

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.

When I first started cycling I thought the full kit wanker approach was a bit too much. However aesthetically it is much cleaner than having a mis match of rapha tights, castelli top and a prendas cap with endura gloves. Plain bibs can be worn with a club jersey and look fine, it just becomes problematic when there are 3 or 4 different logos and colour schemes in one outfit. I know a few people who will decide to buy a complete set of kit each year from one manufacturer, one year it will be Assos, the next Castelli. When they go out riding it will be in a matching outfit.

DHB all the way

DHB all the way

Disagree. I wear their bibs, because they're cheap, but they're not as nice as Rapha bibs, they don't fit as well. Their jerseys/jackets can gtfo. They just aren't as well made and having now worn merino jerseys, I will never buy a synthetic jersey again, be it DHB or anyone else's.

i know i was just trolling DJ

Sarcasmrecognitionfail.jpg

I've built a decent collection of Skins stuff, in black, yellow, and white. My bike is also black, yellow and white. So I'm currently at MAMIL level 9.

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.

people move and dress to match their social circles. If making these choices on clothing that's primary function is technical rather than just visually pleasing is sad, then be it. The conformity and generally poor clothing choices of the british people in general sometimes saddens me thus I welcome a group of men in pink. Unless they clog up the traffic lights in regents park that is :|

I don't think I could ever be a full kit wanker no matter how good it looks. I just think it would make me look to keen or trying to hard. Fair play if thats your game. It would be similar to having an amazing bike and being shit, to me. I like having an old pair of shitty specialized shorts with the logos half coming off... I have a decent top. And the colours match.

I think that aesthetically speaking if you're careful with colour and pattern you can mix and match brands with out to much trouble.

I'm on the mailing list for Competitive Cyclist, an American bike chain shop. Some of the gear you can get over there that you can't here is pretty sexy. No brands spring to mind at the moment though but easily on a par with Rapha.

My 2012 grey merino baselayer is noticeably thicker and saggyer than my older black one. Although I'm more likely to buy Icebreaker now, I'll be curious to know if others have noticed this?

yeah my grey one from last year is sagging a whole lot but given i must have put in north of 200 hours of stretching it in all kinds of directions being more or less drenched id be surprised if anything could hold up better. At least if we are talking about wool.

So much overthinking going on in this thread. Existential crisis over whether to mix Rapha with Assos/Castelli/whatever or wear the whole shebang = you need to ride your bike more and think about it less.

oh.. and FWP!!

Thicker and saggyer than my older Rapha one though. As if the grey wool is different altogether?

So much overthinking going on in this thread. Existential crisis over whether to mix Rapha with Assos/Castelli/whatever or wear the whole shebang = you need to ride your bike more and think about it less.

This^

...and FTR, you should just buy Skins compression gear. If you stop long enough for anyone to get a good look at you, let alone sit in a coffee shop. You will be arrested for exposure. That stuff is fitted!

Thus they are performance enhancing.

you need to ride your bike more and think about it less.

A thousand plusses for you kind sir.

What are peoples thoughts on head to toe Rapha?

I know a few people on here must do it..

I popped in the shop on Brewer Street on saturday with the girlfriend, to check out the new stuff. A group of about 5 were sat supping coffee and eating cake dressed completely in Rapha.

I would if I could afford it. Currently dressed in head-to-toe Uniqlo, even my boxer shorts. Hang on, I'll take a pic...

I'd get the whole kit, just because it looks cool and works well, I'm not interested into buying into their dream though, climbing mountains in Italy in the pain cave, who wants to be in pain? Pain is bad, literally hundreds of years of evolution has taught us that.

I'm buying the Norweigan Rapha kit because EBH is a Badman

I'd get the whole kit, just because it looks cool and works well, I'm not interested into buying into their dream though, climbing mountains in Italy in the pain cave, who wants to be in pain? Pain is bad, literally hundreds of years of evolution has taught us that.

I for one want to sweat and suffer in black and white, while staring purposely down at my front tyre. Possibly even in sepia, while staring at the climb ahead in brace determination.

Seems so much better than being all puffed up and red faced in technicolour.