Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

something like that.

There are cheaper and more functional alternatives though, but they aren't as exclusive and chic.

this reminds me, shall i share with you the text written in my Fixed jacket? it's mad... breathtakingly pretentious.

^ Ha! Yes please.

hee hee, ok hang on...

As a big fat fucker, I was able to get their bibshorts in ahem a larger size for £40 in their warehouse sale and they are pretty freakin sweet. They feel really nice and expensive.

this reminds me, shall i share with you the text written in my Fixed jacket? it's mad... breathtakingly pretentious.

Iv'e got a load of pretentious flannel sown into the inside of my fixed shorts. The wife read it and said somehting along the lines of 'Cyclists really are cunts aren't they' To which I replied. Yup

"COMMUTE. The dictionary says it's the line that joins home to work.
The small print says something else: from the Latin, commutare, 'to change'.
The transformation starts the moment you leave the still waters of back
streets. There you are a partner, a parent, a homeowner, but paddle out into
the main channel of the morning traffic and the peloton soon envelops you.
For the next 40 minutes you are the Hinault of the highway, the Pantini of the
on-ramp, the Merckx of the middle lane. In the office, your desk is occupied
by another self: lawyer, banker, professional. But come the evening they will
rise again: Badger, Pirate, Cannibal. Commutare."

That reminds me. I need to stop by that school on the way home and eat a couple of kids.
FFS. Thats worse than whats written on my shorts

But come the evening they will
rise again: Badger, Pirate, Cannibal. Commutare.

What the fuck are they talking about?

I shit you not, that's what it says. Ridiculous. And they're serious, seriously. Goes to show who their target market is really: vain, affluent fantasists, not cyclists.*

nice jacket though.

badger?!

The Badger was Hinault's nickname.

ok, makes sense

Presumably pirate and cannibal refer to Pantani and Merckx (respectively). Not sure though.

ok, makes sense

Still absolute balderdash overall though.

You're right Josh.

Commutare is cliveo's nickname amongst the* cognoscenti*.

looks nice, though. but rather pricey, no?

If you can't afford the shorts/jackets, you can just buy the book of the labels:

http://www.rapha.cc/inside-stories--a-collection-of-rapha-labels/

I like the little stories. It's obviously an affectation but it's a nice little touch.

It's the "lawyer, banker, professional" bit that riles me. 'Butcher, baker, candlestickmaker' would be much more charming :)

I was lucky enough to have the fixed-t lavished upon me for my bday by my gf. Quality is top and fit is really good. The label in it goes like this;

I get people asking about my bike all
the time, "Where are the brakes?"

I can understand the confusion and
their concern. But how do I explain
it? How can I tell someone what life
feels like? How can I explain to them
what purity means?

Instead I just give them the same
answer. "I don't plan on stopping."

I like the picture next to it though.

As an alternative to rapha, perhaps look into twonfro. (www.twonfro.com).

Cheaper, quite nice looking, and made from a quirky mixture of man made materials (for winter) and natural fibres (for summer).

The website is still under construction, but why not visit their store. It's at 215 westbourne park road, w11. Just off portobello road. They also do a load of quirky accessories from around the world, and they have a few bikes in there too. Aimed mainly at the casual cyclist/commuter rather than the sporty lycra clad type.

Would you describe it as 'quirky'?

Would you describe it as 'quirky'?

Absolutely not.