Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

have to eat my previous words on this thread about the merino hooded top now i've seen one in the flesh.

ordered one using the 10% code after seeing roboto's on saturday and also gave in and got one of the backpacks too as I keep aggravating my shoulder injury carrying too much in my mission workshop shed and having looked at them in condor when I was buying the shed they have a decent amount of storage spaces for all my various bits without being too large.

rapha backpack, worth it?

HatBeard

More about the hoody please, persuade me, I'm only 45% there.

have to eat my previous words on this thread about the merino hooded top now i've seen one in the flesh.

I actually went in to the Cycle Club to buy one yesterday, and walked out with the Rain Jacket. The Hooded Top has a bit of a weird fit - the arms are LOOOOOONG. I took a medium in the body but the arms were too long (even when stretched out as if I was riding). In a small, the arms were perfect but the body was tight. Not a big fan of the snug bottom hem either. And the hood is flappy - I'd have preferred that to be merino, too.

I really love how it looks but it just didn't have the 'wow' factor that made me want to pay that much for it (even at sale price).

The Rain Jacket, on the other hand, fit like a goddamn glove and actually fills a niche in my wardrobe (both for cycling and around town) and was so discounted I couldn't really say no.

Hmmm all this talk about the rain jacket is making me want one. What colour is best? I have enough Black rapha tops. Need some colour!

I actually went in to the Cycle Club to buy one yesterday, and walked out with the Rain Jacket. The Hooded Top has a bit of a weird fit - the arms are LOOOOOONG. I took a medium in the body but the arms were too long (even when stretched out as if I was riding). In a small, the arms were perfect but the body was tight. Not a big fan of the snug bottom hem either. And the hood is flappy - I'd have preferred that to be merino, too.

The hooded top is one of the only hoodies I've ever found that fits me properly in both torso and arm length. C'est fantastique, clearly designed for the slimmer, taller gent. (got a medium, am 188cm)

Like Superdry then, not designe for the short stocky types. Long in arm and tight in body.

Funny that because all other Rapha fits me like a t.

^ none of this is good news... I ordered mine yesterday.

being short and fat, I'm now down to 30% likely to get one

have to eat my previous words on this thread about the merino hooded top now i've seen one in the flesh.

ordered one using the 10% code after seeing roboto's on saturday...

It looks good, but the zip knackered up on mine and cos I didn't keep the receipt from the PS sample shop they couldn't replace mine with a new one after they couldn't fix the zipper.

I've bodged a fix for myself at the moment and the fact that I still choose to wear the hoodie even though it has this fault is testament to a quality piece of kit.

I also love my PS City Rain Jacket, but I only paid £40 for it from Bicester Village.

Full price Rapha can >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Got the race cape as I already sort of worn out last years rain jacket. Defenetely fits better than the rain jacket and is not as crazy tight thorugh the cuffs.

It looks good, but the zip knackered up on mine and cos I didn't keep the receipt from the PS sample shop they couldn't replace mine with a new one after they couldn't fix the zipper.

I've bodged a fix for myself at the moment and the fact that I still choose to wear the hoodie even though it has this fault is testament to a quality piece of kit.

I also love my PS City Rain Jacket, but I only paid £40 for it from Bicester Village.

Full price Rapha can >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The zip on mine also went. But I went at it with pliers and restored it for a few months. Has gone again but not cool enough to try to get it back into service yet.

you lot are ruining my shoppers high. now all i have to look forward to is buyers remorse you bastards.

Mine was a sample sale special, and the ps one. Yours'll be fine, maybe.

I've just replaced the zipper on a PS rapha top.

Those RiRi zippers are nice, but the teeth wear and they aren't great for heavy wear.

Is the PS rapha cycling stuff much much better than the normal stuff?

Got the race cape as I already sort of worn out last years rain jacket. Defenetely fits better than the rain jacket and is not as crazy tight thorugh the cuffs.

I loved the Race Cape when I tried it on, but it's mega-bucks for something that is only applicable when riding, and of that time, a minority involve rain.

At least the Rain Jacket can be used in town as well (which is probably where it will see at least half of its use, honestly) - it looks pretty fly.

Is the PS rapha cycling stuff much much better than the normal stuff?

Its nicer, but a bit pricier.

Ha jus read the race cape shpeel.

You can cut the sleeves??? Pay £220 for a jacket and then cut the sleeves off??? Are you mad?!?

Its uglier, and a bit pricier.

ftfy

Like Superdry then.

;-)

Sudocreme doesn't really allow that much movement, plus it soaks through the chamois and leaves a lovely greasy patch on your bibshorts/saddle. You will also smell like a baby.

Aqueous cream from a pharmacy is the top tip. Something like £4 for a big tub, works brilliantly.

I discovered that Assos chamois cream will enliven your ride with a spicy garry and it is very good at eliminating saddlesores too.

Sudocrem will just make you smell like you're wearing paedo's aftershave.

In other news, the Rapha sale shit is all sold out in any fucking size that will fit those not born into a circus freakshow's unicycle troupe.

Nope.

Vaseline is the best thing for the undercarriage. You don't need much, 2 thimbles. Cheap as too.

I find sudocreme and vaseline a bit slimy and don't wash out.

That Udderly stuff is as good as anything I've used and cheaper than Assos. Rapha/Assos/Elastic interface 'touring' spec chamois are the smoothest I've used and keep my ass happy for miles more than the others.

/overshare