Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

I think I'd rather wear a drawstring carrier bag from JD Sports.

Rapha up for sale according to Sky:
http://news.sky.com/story/owners-get-into-gear-in-bid-to-recycle-upmarket-rapha-label-10800668

Nice but pricey?

Probably overdue TBH.

They have majority shareholders who are now the founders, and the business is healthy and profitable after more than a decade.

Typically such investors and shareholders are looking for initial returns in the 7-10 year range and more substantial returns in the 10-15 year range. We're well into the latter, and it's a natural point for what is now a large company (typical definition caps headcount below 250 as medium, below 50 as small) to benefit from mature systems, streamline costs, and new investment to reach the next level.

It was always going to happen (investors always want am exit and return), let's hope it's a buyer who will understand the brand...

... the real debate is surely: fashion house vs sports empire? Which would we hope for?

I think it naturally fits a fashion house, and indeed some of their hiring suggests that is what they think too... but if that happens then the prices will be a little pricier in time.

to reach the next level

What is the next level for Rapha tho?

What is the next level for Rapha tho?

They are still niche.

In % of market, of revenue, and of brand awareness, they are fighting to be a big player.

They may be known to everyone on here, but they're barely a blip on the radar for most, and aren't a purchasing consideration for a lot of commuter cyclists who still just buy whatever Evans had and didn't consider that there might be something else.

They could easily double, triple... or increase by an order of magnitude... their sales, and increase their revenue.

Today, Rapha have a fairly wide range of high quality products... they should be selling this range to a far larger audience, to drive the costs down and the revenues further up.

They have all of the things they need to do this already, except perhaps a hell of a marketing warchest of cash, and more refinement on their logistics to scale up.

I think it would be good, unless Sports Direct go and buy them.

If Rapha want to sell more gear they should run the Core line in all UK cycle retailers. Job done. Or do a diffusion range that they can wholesale at a huge scale without diluting the brand. Its what Paul Smith do.

Is Rapha Mallorca going to be in north or south of the island? Was last pop up in Palma?

Its in Palma.

Which seems daft. Surely north-east somewhere would be best as that's where pretty much all the cyclists stay?

Just realised my nice-but-a-bit-pricey cotton trousers bought last August are now torn on the inside of the right thigh. While tempting to put the blame on the Cambium I just started using, I've put a grand total of 25km on it in said trousers, vs. 370 in bib shorts and these have kept their integrity. So... would the crash repair service handle trousers?

So I've been using a giro wind jacket a lot just recently, it's starting to look a little tatty so I thought I'd treat myself to a rapha one.

Fuck me, how is a wind jacket £260... it's just about the most expensive cycling jacket they do..what makes it £60 more expensive than the pro team jacket for instance

Yeah they should be covered. List of exceptions is on their site, mainly base layers, t-shirts and small items like socks and warmers.

Are you sure you're looking at a wind jacket and not the Classic Winter Jacket?

Nice but a bit pricey.

Cool, thanks for the info!

Lol, yeah, what a dickhead.

They don't seam to have a wind jacket, just the reversible city jacket type thing. Pro team jacket it is I think.

The Archive store will probably still have some wind jackets and won't be that pricey.

Hmm. Maybe Cos could buy Rapha?

That article looks a bit fishy.

There was also a story that the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy group were sniffing around a few months back.

Just send my second pair of lightweight bibs back and asked for a refund. Not impressed with that product.

Want to go hi viz due to the majority of my up coming riding being at dusk. I can't pull off the pink so is the Rapha chartreuse a nice colour in the flesh, or just usual bog standard nodder?

no, chartreuse is green-yellow

@Fox

It really depends on how active, 'Active' are. There may be many reasons why shareholders want to sell, but just as much will be who they appoint and whether those advisors have the connections/market understanding to secure the right deal.

And the current relative weakness in the £ might encourage an investor from outside the UK

Placed a mother load of order Sunday night, 20% off today.

Glubs