Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

Agreed, but why does it need a special £155 jersey and why the fuck do they have to write one of those ridiculous "it was so epic" ride reports.

It's a 600k Audax, it'll be ridden by nutcases, social misfits and people whose bikes cost less than £150, i.e. not Rapha's target audience, whose idea of an epic ride is 100 km into the Surrey Hills when there's the threat of a shower or two.

To me audax is ride to the posh Fulham, few pints at the Pear Tree, then back to LMNH for a flat white.
I buy Rapha. I am Rapha.

I image Rapha's models sweat in slow-mo

ride to the posh Fulham, few pints at the Pear Tree, then back to LMNH for a flat white.

1. superprecise
   
   

^only half joking

Agreed, but why does it need a special £155 jersey and why the fuck do they have to write one of those ridiculous "it was so epic" ride reports.

Why? Because Rapha's marketing is pure, concentrated bullshit.

You're preaching to the choir, Josh.

1. superprecise
   
   

^only half joking

Next Thursday then.
Might involve contact with Murtle.

Agreed, but why does it need a special £155 jersey and why the fuck do they have to write one of those ridiculous "it was so epic" ride reports.

It's a 600k Audax, it'll be ridden by nutcases, social misfits and people whose bikes cost less than £150, i.e. not Rapha's target audience, whose idea of an epic ride is 100 km into the Surrey Hills when there's the threat of a shower or two.

^This plus they all have bikes held together with cable ties and insulation tape and do not throw away tyres until they have at least three tyres boots in them.

I once wore Rapha to an Audax, "he's in Rapha, c'mon money bags get the teas in" only ever done it the once.

Agreed, but why does it need a special £155 jersey and why the fuck do they have to write one of those ridiculous "it was so epic" ride reports.

It's a 600k Audax, it'll be ridden by nutcases, social misfits and people whose bikes cost less than £150, i.e. not Rapha's target audience, whose idea of an epic ride is 100 km into the Surrey Hills when there's the threat of a shower or two.

.. and your wheelset cost more than the average monthly salary in the UK

Simon Mottram spent 4 days sleeping on a public toilet floor to test those Audax jerseys for comfort.

I mean, he's not the kind of guy to wander round cycling events in white leather brogues whilst people laugh and point.

At times it can be odd seeing the petulant carping on this thread.

I know the main designer behind this jersey. He does a lot of night rides, endurance cycling etc, he specialises in such ventures and is probably one of the fastest distance cyclists I know. The jersey was designed for a specific purpose, there were many challenges to be overcome. PBP has very detailed requirements in terms of the reflective nature of the clothing for the evenings. One will probably be added to the wardrobe sometime soon.

At times it can be odd seeing the petulant carping on this thread.

I can't quite work out whether Rapha's marketing is genius or too aggressive. They do have a few excellent products, but the 'smells of mont ventoux' approach is certainly alienating more and more people. The market for people with disposable cash and a Cervelo is probably more profitable for them than selling a few caps to people that build their own bikes. Personally, I own about four Rapha products and they all work well, but I also like the Swrve stuff I own equally. I don't really understand why people get so aggressive about clothing. It's more to do with what it stands for, I guess.

I can't quite work out whether Rapha's marketing is genius or too aggressive. They do have a few excellent products, but the 'smells of mont ventoux' approach is certainly alienating more and more people. The market for people with disposable cash and a Cervelo is probably more profitable for them than selling a few caps to people that build their own bikes.

^This. I bought a bunch of their stuff recently, mainly because a lot of the other brands just look either too sporty or just plain awful to me. An overall discount of 40% (clearance, bundle offers, code) made me take the plunge.

Mind you the total amount was still a little more than it cost to built up my main ride...

But I do look all nice and pricey now.

They do have a few excellent products, but the 'smells of mont ventoux' approach is certainly alienating more and more people.

you have their sales figures in front of you? are they increasing or decreasing?
the opinions in this thread do not qualify as market research.

just sayin like

<<

I recall reading an interview with Mottram that asked whether he'd consider a budget line and he said there was no chance as it'd just cheapen the brand and in fact, they were investigating the possibility of releasing a 'premium' line that would be even more expensive, exclusive and infused with the scent of Mt Ventoux etc. So I take it that not only are they making piles of cash on the back of the ponciness, pretentiousness and brand, there are plenty of folk out there (quite a lot in the US, I think) that are prepared to pay double the going priciness for even more lashings of exclusivity and ponce. I don't know if that project turned into the secret range that regular folk can't know about; just those that have spent over £xxxx/year or are on the inside, or whether it's something different that's still to come. Speaking of which, does anyone have any details of that range? What's available, prices, pictures etc.?

Personally, it leaves me conflicted. I see that it's pure marketing, brand bullshit and I hate the selling of a lifestyle by sticking a pink tag onto an otherwise plain piece of clothing, but at the same time, I can't help but be sucked into it. I have lots of their kit and just the other day, for shits and giggles, went through the site adding all the things I want that I could realistically use to my basket (not just clicking everything that caught my eye) and the total came out at just over £3600! If I had the cash, I'd be head to toe, and somedays when the washing cycles sync up I am now, as empty as my bank account may be.

I had an accident the other day when I was in a new pair of Assos bibs and a £150 Gore jacket. Luckily both came through unscathed, but when I got up off the deck, my first thought was for the kit, not the blood running down my leg. It's made me seriously consider the implications of Rapha's free crash repair service when weighing up the costs of kit.

I have a perverse desire for that PBP pink tabard.

Is that wrong?

yep, its the same feeling i have

Good. Glad my moral compass is still in place.

Though dids for one at a sample sale...

I know the main designer behind this jersey. He does a lot of night rides, endurance cycling etc, he specialises in such ventures and is probably one of the fastest distance cyclists I know. The jersey was designed for a specific purpose, there were many challenges to be overcome. PBP has very detailed requirements in terms of the reflective nature of the clothing for the evenings. One will probably be added to the wardrobe sometime soon.

Good job Rapha came along, otherwise they'd had to have cancelled PBP this year due to the lack of available reflective cycling clothing.

Andy made me laugh uncontrollably.

My main problem with Rapha (and Assos for that matter) is that I don't seem to look as impressive while wearing it as those dried up middle age guys from their marketing shots.

It's very flattering for crackheads as it gentrifies their svelte wrecks of the bodies. Local East London councils should give Rapha to the addicts and homeless to make our streets more attractive to tourists. We could pretend it's just affluent cyclists resting near the cashpoints with a cup of espresso.

That dude looks like MCA.

Good call

whose idea of an epic ride is 100 km into the Surrey Hills when there's the threat of a shower or two.

This cuts a little too close to home for my liking...