Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

justMouse Why are they building a bike from top to bottom as a present (for whom?). And why would this be considered somethign worth seeing?

So many questions.

raphaboy begins to start questioning 'the way' - you'll be thrown out of the sect shop for that

Sorry Paul I was laughing more at the syntax rather than the event (tho I remain to be convinced on that).

@ Wayne: since going to Polo and LFGSS soirees I've been drawn to female denim as my riding attire of choice. It's risers, clips & straps for me from now on. Me & Mr Smith are thinking of setting up a West London polo league.

When hell freezes over.

*In this week's "Faking It" a city high-flying young conservative from West London tries to pass himself off as a bike polo player in the rough and uncompromising Brick Lane of London's famous London.
Will Rupert be accepted as a carefree courier or will his Etonian accent, Dunhill wristwatch and Bently arouse suspicion? *

don't come crying to us when your rapha top comes unseamed from the navel to the chops and your rapha-condor bicycle collapses into a turgid pile of carbon dung.

Pwned! :o(

I think the question is not, why are they building a bike, but rather why are they charging £15 for the pleasure of watching. The building is cool, the charging for what is clearly a promotional event is......

roxy I think the question is not, why are they building a bike, but rather why are they charging £15 for the pleasure of watching. The building is cool, the charging for what is clearly a promotional event is......

is standard Rapha practice and will not stop the event being run at capacity (-2). Rapha fans are loyal. I'm surprised Mouse hasn't cut off his right hand or something for his own blasphemy..

I've been spotting a Rapha-lite on my way home most nights on OKR; team colours bike and head to toe Rapha lycra.

Well this morning I saw him with two mates ALL on identical team colour bikes in full Rapha kit. It was quite unnerving. I hope they work for them.

were you in front of them? cos if so that would make you a pre-raphalite

Look out Jimmy Tarbuck.

where?

If you want to see Rohan put a bike together just pop down to Dauphin Cycles and sit in the workshop. They normally give you a cup of tea too.

If they build a bike from top to bottom, what's going to hold the saddle and bars up before they fix the frame?

Dick Turpin?

(joke courtesy of nimhbus)

that's a little unfair

It was a compliment. You're on fire today.

shucks, baby

Yesterday on my commute I saw someone wearing a Rapha cap and those Rapha knickerbockers, and riding - perhaps inevitably - a slightly boutique fixie.

It reminded me of another Rapheur (if that's the correct term) I had seen a few weeks previously who was wearing full kit of Rapha leggings, a Rapha jacket, and Rapha cap.

Both outfits were very striking, and I found that odd given Rapha's brand is intended to be understated and subtle.

Is Rapha still cool? Or is it slowly being Burberrified?

Who cares if it's cool? I don't, and I don't know if it is.

What I do know is it's expensive, but quite nice. I wouldn't buy it, but then again I'm a student and only work part-time, so I don't really have a choice anyway ;)

Some of their stuff is really nice... the waterproofs, the fixed shorts (providing you get the right fit), the socks are ace, and the hats are great (smart fabric and lots of sizes).

And some of their stuff is shoddy, I own a softshell that unstitched itself pretty quickly. justMouse saw the same thing happen to his.

The bits that are really nice are worth it, the bits that fall to bits are worth nothing and give them an appalling name.

I still love the looks, just wish the quality was consistent.

Something I also dislike is the exclusivity of it. Condor are the only place in London that sells it I believe, which is a bit shitty as it gives you no choice in which bike shop you want to purchase from and gives them a monopoly in London.

I have no idea what my point is. I like it all, wish it were more widely available and of a more consistent quality level... I guess that's my point.

Sigma Sport in Kingston sell it too.

I was over at my Mum's at the weekend - up in the Pennines above Oldham. Spotted Ryan Bonser.
Not that he has to buy his Rapha kit...

Huge props for keeping the spliff behind his ear...

Huge props for keeping the spliff behind his ear...

ha ha

it's odd that wearing what is essentially very plain and simple bike clothing in muted colours (compared to euro fluro kit) seems to get up the noses of other cyclists.
i only wear it for it's ability to suggest other attributes about myself that aren't true therefore hiding behind a mask of superiority while consumed by my own self loathing.
like:

i shop at waitrose
i am a city boy wanker and drive a bmw
i think poor people with tattoos should be forced to live in slave camps
my other bike is a colnago.